St Kevin’s hold off brave Gaels
Stunning start serves well
ST KEVIN’S CLARA GAELS
A strong first-half showing from St Kevin’s proved to be enough to help them see off a fine recovery from a 13-man Clara Gaels side in the Minor ‘B’ Shield final in Hollywood last Thursday night.
In front of a decent crowd supporting both sides, it was St Kevin’s who looked to be far superior over the course of the opening half when they harvested a fine tally of 4-6 against Clara Gaels’ 2-2 to leave the Hollywood/ Valleymount combination very much in the driving seat.
However, they would only score a further two points and had Clara Gaels managed to avail of the glut of goal chances they created in the second half they could well have turned this tie on its head.
As perfect as a start as you’re ever likely to see was enjoyed by the St Kevin’s outfit with Conor Reid and the lively Jean Luc Morris both finding the back of Danny Morley’s goal within the opening three minutes.
With the breeze at his back Conor Reid dropped over a bomb of a point in this 13-a-side contest on a brisk but dry October evening.
Clara Gaels were working hard all over the field, but they were finding the showings from Cathal O’Toole, Luka Harney, Aaron Balfe and Brian Keogh very difficult to handle in the early stages and it looked like curtains before the end of the first quarter when Robbie Miley found the net twice in rapid succession to leave the St Kevin’s side leading by 4-1 to 0-0.
Gradually, however, Clara Gaels started to find their feet and the early dominance of St Kevin’s began to fade as players started to struggle to get back from attacks, leaving gaps at the rear.
Cian Ward got Clara Gaels off the mark after a lovely move up the field, but Jean Luc Morris struck back with a beauty off his left before Robbie Miley continued his super first half with a fine score after Conor Reid’s free came back off the upright.
Cian Ward would give Clara Gaels a massive boost soon after with a poacher’s goal although there were strong suspicions that he may have been in the small rectangle when the ball was played into him. and Alex Olohan would add a point to leave St Kevin’s leading by 4-3 to 1-2 with about eight still to go in the first half.
A pointed free from Robbie Miley, a fine effort off his left from the busy Christy Mooney and a sweet free from Jean Luc Morris pushed St Kevin’s out to 4-6 to 1-2 ahead but a peach of a goal from Shane Brown brought Clara Gaels right back into the game at the stroke of half-time.
The Gaels started very brightly in the second half and had a fine point scored by Shane Brown, but, unfortunately, followed that up with three wides on the trot while goalkeeper Danny Morley saved well from Conor Reid.
A pointed free from Tom O’Shea for Clara Gaels left eight between the sides with 14 left but there was a real sense of vulnerability to the St Kevin’s defence if the right ball could be delivered in.
A delicious score off his right boot from Charlie Chamney after great work from Brian Keogh gave the St Kevin’s defence a reprieve but Cian Ward replied with a well-taken free before John Porter stroked over from play.
Substitute Keith Burke landed the last score for St Kevin’s, but the game was reaching the stage where Clara Gaels needed goals and quick. They had a few chances but could only grab one, that from Shane Brown right at the death to leave the final score 4-8 to 3-6 in favour of St Kevin’s who great start to this game served them well in the end.
Scorers – St Kevin’s: Robbie Miley 2-2 (1f), Jean Luc Morris 1-2 (1f), Conor Reid 1-1, Christy Mooney 0-1, Daniel Van Alpen 0-1, Keith Burke 0-1.
Clara Gaels: Shane Brown 2-1, Cian Ward 1-2, Alex Olohan 0-1, Tom O’Shea 0-1 (f), John Porter 0-1.
AGB finished off their Minor football championship campaign for 2019 with an overwhelming victory over Clan na Gael in the Minor ‘B’ Plate final played at Rathnew GAA grounds on Wednesda last.
Conditions were good for football with little or no breeze to interfere with the game. This tie brought together three clubs who had all been involved in county finals the previous weekend. Clan na Gael is a combination of Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue, who had mixed fortunes.
Enniskerry captured the Junior ‘B’ title while Kilmac had come up short in theIntermediate. AGB had made that brave effort against St. Pats but they too had come up short.
For all three clubs this game was a return to basics. In the opening ten minutes or so Clan na Gael flattered to deceive. They were playing into the village end and hit the ground running and they were three points to the good after ten minutes.
AGB for their part were still at the starting line. However, they slowly got going and in the space of the five-minute period coming up to the quarter-hour mark, they had gone into a 1-3 to 0-3 lead.
Joe McGeary had slotted home a goal from a penalty and corner-forward Alan Merrigan had three left-footed points, one from a free.
The Clan na Gael midfield diamond of Sean Clarke, Conor Power, Conor Gallagher and Dylan Henry continued to be very prominent but the north Wicklow lads were not now getting the scoring dividend that they had reaped in the early stages.
Cian Cooney and Conor Gahan at midfield for AGB were now linking up well with the forward unit who were beginning to put the scores on the board. Goals from McGeary and Merrigan left the Arklow lads playing in a more relaxed fashion and they added three more points to bring their tally to 3-6 at the half-time break.
Dylan Henry and midfielder Conor Gallagher had points for
Clan na Gael to leave them adrift by 3-6 to 0-5. They were not yet out of the game, but they did need to get going seriously in the second period if they were to make an impression on a ten-point gap.
AGB had the opening scores of the second half, points from Joe McGeary and substitute Con Kinsella. Clan na Gael did respond with a point from Cian Hind following a great run from Conor Power.
However, further points from Luke Scanlon and a goal from substitute Luke Lennon ended any chance of the north Wicklow side getting back.
Patrick O’Halloran and Oran Dunning had further goals for AGB, and Luke Scanlon had their final point. Clan na Gael continued to compete to the end and centre back Sean Clarke had their final point just before the call of time. Final score was 6-11 to 0-7.
Following the game, the trophy was presented to the winning captain Cian Cooney by Mick Hagan. The Wicklow People sponsored Man of the Match award was presented to Luke Scanlon.
Scorers - AGB: Joe McGeary 2-1, Alan Merrigan 1-4, Luke Lennon 1-0, Patrick O’Halloran, Oran Dunning 1-0, Luke Scanlon 0-3, Liam Cooney, Con Kinsella and Kealan Delaney 0-1 each
Clanna Gael: Dylan Henry 0-2, Conor Gallagher 0-2, John Fox, Cian Hind and Sean Clarke 0-1 each.