JOY FOR ST KEVIN’S
McGrath stars against Tinahely in Ray Daniels Cup final
ST KEVIN’S TINAHELY 4-11 1-6
ST. Kevin’s took home the spoils in the final of the Ray Daniel’s Cup after a huge battle with Tinahely on Sunday morning last.
A devastating ten-minute spell by St. Kevin’s in the opening half laid the foundation for victory, building up a healthy cushion, albeit with the aid of a strong wind. Tinahely put in a sterling second half, in which the play flowed and ebbed in an all-action second period.
Lively Tiernan O’Byrne got Tinahely of to a dream start in the opening minute with a powerful shot that flew into the roof of the Kevin’s net after a great move started by James Kavanagh.
Tinahely won possession of the resultant kick-out with Jack Wall laying off to Tiernan who split the uprights from an acute angle.
St. Kevin’s settled into the game with Peader O’Toole finding the target, registering their first point of the game in the fourth minute.
With the aid of a strong breeze, St. Kevin’s went route one, and it worked wonders, dropping long balls into their inside full-forward line, yielding a brace of points from Luke Kelly and Sean Corrigan early on.
The industrious Ben McGrath got his opening point in the eighth minute, after good build up play by Jayden Gernon.
Tinahely battled hard, with Peadar Mooty Monaghan cutting out the supply to the St. Kevin’s forwards. The lively Matthew Burke and Sean Corrigan registered a point apiece as St. Kevin’s built up a nice cushion.
Tinahely goalie, Niamh Mooty Monaghan, saved brilliantly from a Ben McGrath goal bound shot.
St Kevin’s captain James Mooney receives the Ray Daniels Cup from Ben Daniels with Coiste na nÓg Chairman Pat Dunne.
Niamh then soloed out of danger, taking no prisoners, flooring three defenders in her wake, clearing the ball, much to the approval of a good vocal Tinahely support.
Jack Wall and Charlie Hennessy were putting in big shifts for the Tinahely side but could not register it onto the scoreboard.
Luke Kelly harvested the opening major of the game in the closing minutes of the half after great work by John McCann. Tinahely replied with a long-range point from Cian Breslin on the stroke of half-time.
However, St. Kevin’s responded hugely, adding a second major after an initial shot from Ben McGrath was parried by another brave block by Niamh Mooty Monaghan, with the rebound falling kindly to Billy Miley who fired home as the half-time whistle sounded with the score reading 2-9 to 1-2 in favour of St. Kevin’s.
Tinahely needed to respond
badly, and that they did on the restart. Cian Breslin had a goal chance that was saved by Sean O’Neill, but Tristen Furlong gathered possession, turned and fired a shot over the crossbar in the opening attack.
Myron Davidson Gahan cut through the Kevin’s rearguard and rose another white flag for Tinahely who were building a bit of momentum at this stage.
Tinahely were applying pressure from James Kavanagh and Scott O’Keeffe to the fore, Kevin’s backs were to the wall, with Oisin O’Brien and Ross Mooney holding their own.
Ben McGrath harvested another major for St. Kevin’s after great work by Cathal Crampton. Troy Winterbottam drew a good save of Tadgh Finn who now was the St. Kevin’s goalie.
Tinahely put in a strong period of play, with Peadar Mooty Monaghan and James Kavanagh in a more advanced role. Tiernan O’Byrne and Cian Breslin tagged on a point apiece after powerful work rate by Myron Davidson Gahan, to cut into the deficit.
Sophie Mooney and Ellie Durcan interlinked well to lay off to
Ross Mooney who curled over a nice point. Thorben Klauer off loaded to Ben McGrath, who shot low into the corner for another green flag.
Ian Geoghegan landed the final point of the match as the final whistle sounded to the delight of the St. Kevin’s faithful.
Pat Dunne congratulated both teams on a powerful game, before Ray Daniel’s son, Ben, presented his father’s cup, to the winning captain, James Mooney.
Ben McGrath received the Man of the Match award from Pat Dunne, before scenes of huge celebration by the young under-11 footballers of St. Kevin’s.
- St. Kevin’s: Ben McGrath 1-3, Billy Miley 1-1, Luke Kelly 1-1, Ian Geoghegan 1-0, Peader O’Toole 0-2, Sean Corrigan 0-2, Matthew Burke 0-1, Ross Mooney 0-1.
Tinahely: Tiernan O’Byrne 1-2, Cian Breslin 0-2, Tristan Furlong 0-1, Myron Davidson Gahan 0-1.
Sean O’Neill, Ross Mooney, Oisín O’Neill, James Mooney, Luke Kelly, Peader O’Toole, Sean Corrigan, Jayden Gernon, John McCann, Matthew Burke, Ian Geoghegan, Billy Miley, Ben McGrath, Cathal Crampton, Thorben Klauer, Noel Pavlov, Tadgh Finn, Sophie Mooney, Ellie Durcan.
Scorers ST. KEVIN’S: TINAHELY:
Niamh Mooty Monaghan, Peadar Mooty Monaghan, Tristen Furlong, Cian Breslin, Charlie Hennessy, Jack Wall, Tiernan O’Byrne, James Kavanagh, Patrick Kavanagh, Scott O’Keefe, Troy Winterbottom, Myron Davidson Gahan, Finely Jameson.
REFEREE:
Noel Kinsella (Lacken-Kilbride)