Byrne and Fanning find net in Plunketts victory
STAR MAN PJ CALLAN UNABLE TO SAVE LANNLEIRE IN DRAMATIC LOUTH JUNIOR FC DECIDER
OLIVER Plunkets are the new Louth Junior I champions, seeing off Lannleire by 3-10 to 1-08 in the final.
Plunketts, having started like true champions, lead 1-6 to 0-1 inside 20 minutes, but had to survive a sticky patch before and after half time when they failed to register a score and saw their lead almost evaporate.
But try as they did Lannleire ware just unable to get on terms, and were finally killed off by two exceptionally well taken goals in the last ten minutes, the first a brilliant flick by full forward, Martin Byrne, his second of the match, and the other a fisted effort from Hugh Fanning. Plunketts captain.
The penalty, and two further points left only three between the sides at the interval (1 -6 to 1 -3 in Plunkets favour) and the Dunleer revival continued with two quick points within four minutes of the break.
Indeed Lannleire were calling all the shots at this stage for midfioldcr, Bartlc Faulkner, was starting to make his weight tell, and Callan’s speed was becoming a problem that Plunkcts were getting it difficult to handle.
A piece of clever play by Dunleer’s Sean Brennan did manage to find Tom O’Hare in open space in front of the goal, but Plunkett’s ‘ keeper, Malachy Clarke, managed to block the kick.
Plunkets replaced their free taker, Chris Byrne taking over the role, and he stretched them further ahead in the 20th minute, pointing a free after arch tormentor, Fanning was fouled. Indeed the match could almost have been beyond Lannleirc’s reach a minute later for again Fanning did the approach work on the right, and from his cross, Maher was left with an open goal, but ballooned his shot over the bar for another point. Chris Byrne added another from a free in the 23rd minute, when Dunleer had again to resort to the foul to stop Fanning.
It was more with hope than with any certainty about getting a score that P. J. Callan bore in on the Plunkets defence in the 24th minute. Until then Paddy Matthews and his defence looked unbeatable. But Callan was grounded by a group of closing players as he reached the square, and was awarded a penalty.
Up ran Dickie Kieran the length of the pitch to smack home the penalty to put new life in his side. A minute later Dunleer were really back in the game as Thomas Clarke, having to stray into midficld for any possession, took a ball near the centre, and found the middle of the posts for a magnificent point.
A minute before half-time Dunleer got the tonic they needed to take to the dressingrooms for after Callan was again fouled, Sean Clare’s free came back off the post into the waiting arms of Sean Brennan and he pointed.
Plunkets resumed without midfielder, Sean Kierans. who had provided little assistance for the tireless Frank Taaffe. In Kierans’ absence, Chris Byrne moved to midficld, and Noel Kierans came into the side on the wing.
The move, calculated to give Plunkets more midfield possession, didn’t look very effective in the first four minutes as they saw their lead cut to a point. First Callan again found an opening to exploit his speed, but his finishing shot, which brought a point, might have found the net had he steadied himself. Then Sean Clare added another from a free.
Then seeing the game eased from their grasp the Plunketts selectors took a calculated gamble pitching place-kicker Alan Clarke into the fray to bring some accuracy to their shooting. Clarke was only on the field a minute when in the 12th minute of the half he got the score that helped settle Plunkets, a point from a free after Byrne was fouled.
But Lannleire hadn’t shot their bolt, and two minutes later they were back to within a point with another Clare free, this time for a foul on Callan. Clarke restored Plunkets two points advantage, again from a free, ,as the tension of the occasion and the closeness of the marking started to reflect itself in a few over-physical challenges ond a lecturing for a few players.
The Plunketts finished the better and grabbed two vital goals to clinch the win.
Brothers, Martin and Chris Byrne, were outstanding for Plunkets in attack and midfield, and nudging them close for attacking honours was the elegant Hugh Fanning, and the determined Gerry Maher.
Taaffc’s first half performance was undoubtedly decisive in building up that early Plunket’s lead, and when the pressure did come goalkeeper, Malachy Clarke, sturdy full-back, Paddy Matthews, skilful Kevin Walsh, resolute Noel Kerr, commanding Mick Mooney and dogged Brendan O’Keeffe weren’t found wanting.
Pity that Lannleire didn’t have more forwards to match the pace and skill of P. J. Callan.