Greyhound run out of steam as Lantern shine
LANTERN BAR GREYHOUND BAR 6 4
DEFENDING champions Greyhound of Duleek relinquished their crown as a very strong Lantern Bar team fought back from 4-2 down to snatch a surprise victory in the final.
Greyhound went into the decider having gone unbeaten in the league all season, and as such started as slight favourites over Lantern who only just qualified for the knockout stage in fourth spot.
The final, played at Morning Star in Tullyallen, looked to be going with the form book as the four individual games were completed with Greyhound 3-1 ahead.
The momentum briefly shifted in favour of the Navan men in the first of the best-of-five singles, which was an absolutely super match between Mark Clinton and young Keane Barry.
There was some fantastic scoring and superb finishing from both players and they were level - two legs apiece - before Clinton checked out under immense pressure in the final leg.
It seemed that win might be in vain, though, when James Keogh outpointed Richie Timmons 3-0 to put Greyhound 4-2 up overall and back in control.
The Duleek men would have fancied themselves to win the next two singles matches, but both Gary Flaherty and Thomas Brodigan were beaten 3-2 in tight last-leg finishes, by Stuart Lanney and Gabriel Finnegan respectively,
Now Lantern were on level terms at 4-4 for the first time in the final, and they then produced one of their allowed subs, Richie Walsh, who didn’t play in the earlier format, and he outpointed Greyhound captain Niall Barry 3-1, with better finishing getting him over the line,
It now looked as if Greyhound might have left too many chances behind them during earlier games, and so it transpired as Stephen Andrews powered home to a comfortable 3-0 victory over a gallant Niall O’Brien to clinch Lantern’s first title since joining the Duleek & District League three years ago.
Indeed, they now have a chance of doing the league and cup double as they play Sally Inn in the Tom Grimes Cup Final this coming Saturday, bringing down the curtain on the current season.
After the match, members of the committee made the various presentations to both teams, with the Man of the Match award going to Mark Clinton of Lantern.
It was good to see a large crowd turning out for the final, with several clubs within the league represented on the night, and the resident DJ kept them all entertained during and after the final was completed.
The committee would also like to thank the management and staff and club officials of the Morning Star for all their help and assistance in hosting this final. LANTERN: Mark Clinton, Richie Timmons, Stuart Lanney, Gabriel Finnegan, Paul Madden, Steven Andrews, Stephen Lyness. Sub: Richie Walsh for Paul Madden.
GREYHOUND: Keane Barry, James Keogh, Gary Flaherty, Thomas Brodigan, Niall Barry, Niall O Brien, Ollie Thompson, Niall Barry.
MARKER: Ian Lowth. Caller: John Andrews. Presentations: Anthony Goodman. Pictures: Pat O’Brien.
•After both the Premier and Division 3 finals a minute’s tribute was held in memory of the league’s former chairman Kevin Campbell, who passed away prior to the start of the season. RIP.