Aidan King the star as minor crown secured
DUNLEER YOUTH HAD BEEN ON THE LOSING TEAM IN THREE EARLIER FINALS - BUT NOT THIS TIME October 1982
IF at first you don’t succeed, try, and try again.
On the losing sides in three earlier finals, this year 18-year-old Dunleer youth Aidan King, came lucky at the fourth attempt, figuring on the Sean Traceys/ Baile Philip team which defeated favourites, Naomh Buithe, 1-7 to 1-4, in Sunday’s delayed Louth minor football championship final played in testing conditions at Drogheda’s Gaelic Grounds before a crowd which paid £325.
Lannleire man, Aidan, also had the satisfaction of playing a major role in the first ever success in this grade of football by the twin parishes of Togher and Dunleer. Winners of the championship in 1978 and ‘80 and defeated finalists in 1979, Naomh Buithe, drawn from Collon, Monasterboice and Tullyallen, looked to be on course for a further victory when leading 1-4 to 0-2 in the early stages of the second half, having turned over 1-3 to 0-2 ahead.
But inside the last 20 minutes this match underwent a dramatic change around, and particulary when Peter Lane scored a disputed goal in the 12th minute, cutting N. Buithe’s lead to two points, 1-4 to 1-2. Lane’s first time effort appeared to change flight in the swirling wind, to eventually sneak past Peter Garvey.
After consulting with his umpires, referee Patsy Culligan ruled that the ball had crossed the line, ignoring the protests of the N. Buithe defenders, including the ‘ keeper, who finished up by having his name taken.
A second half switch which brought A. King from the 40 to the left wing contributed significantly to the Baile Philip/Sean (Traceys success. As a follow-up to Peter Lane’s goal, King landed a fine point from play in the 19th minute and scored three frees, one from over 45m out.
Sharing man of the match honours with A. King was another county minor, centre half back and captain, David Reilly. Despite an early knock, he rose to the occasion in great style. second.
Flankers Johnny McKeown and Stephen Matthews were other gritty defenders, while Lannleire’s Richie Callan on the left distinguished himself in the full back line.
Paul Matthews worked with a will and a half in the middle of the field, getting good support from Pat Callan in eventually wearing down the opposition’s experienced combination, Cyril Sullivan and Louis Kelly.
Also contributing their share to an historic win were defenders Niall Reilly, ‘Padna’ Lane and goalkeeper David Matthews, as well as attackers David Rogers (he had spells on the right wing and full forward), Jimmy O’Friel and the original front line of P. Lane (a cousin of the full back), Peter McGuire and Paul Nevin.
It has to be said that goalkeeper Peter Garvey (one of a quartette of county players on the N. Buithe team) was unlucky to find himself on losing combination.
Other earnest battlers included defenders Martin Dowd, Raymond Lambe and Malachy Hickey; midfielder Cyril Sullivan, as well as forwards Nicky Sullivan, Dermot Clarke and Paddy Watters, though the latter found headway difficult in the second half against a no nonsense wing half in J. McKeown. An indication of the turn around which the game took in the second moiety, is reflected in the fact that the losers managed just one score, a pointed free in the 4th minute from D. Clarke.
Winners scores: A. King 0-5, P. Lane 1-1, D. Rogers 0-1. Naomh Buithe: D. Clarke 1-2, P. Watters 0-2.