Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HAPPY DES!
Conneely leads Moycullen to first title
CONOR BOHAN’S goal 15 minutes from time fired Moycullen to a historic first Galway senior club football title but it was his captain Dessie Conneely that stole the show. Conneely blasted a brilliant 1-9, was named man of the match and picked up the Frank Fox Cup in just the club’s second appearance in the final – 43 years after their first.
He had kept his side in the tie with six points in a poor first half for his side but his brilliant goal just after the break pushed them clear.
After Eoin Finnerty ’s penalty levelled matters again, Bohan fired the winner at a windswept Pearse Stadium. “We sat down in January in Moycullen and what we wrote up on the board as our goal for the year was to win Frank Fo x ,” s a i d Conn eely. “A lot of people mightn’t believe that was a believable goal for us but we had huge confidence going into this year. Everything happened and we were delighted to get back on the pitch and to win it today is just incredible.”
Moycullen had the wind at their backs in the opening half and Conneely kicked the victors into an early lead but, with Barry Mchugh on song too, they did well to be level 0-7 each at the break.
Mountbellew/moylough were quick out of the blocks after the restart when Mchugh fisted a point but Conneely’s cracking 33rd minute goal was decisive.
When Conneely added a free soon after they were 1-9 to 0-8 clear but Finnerty’s penalty following a foul by Sean Kelly on Gary Sweeney had it all square again.
As the second water break approached Owen Gallagher’s run split the defence and Bohan drilled a low shot to the net which made sure of the historic win.
It was a precious moment for former Roscommon player Don Connellan who managed his adopted Moycullen to victory.
He said: “We faced a lot of challenges against numerous teams this year – against Annaghdown, against James’, against Tuam – we faced huge challenges.
“We were on the back foot at times in all of those but I knew even when we came under pressure that there was a kick in them, that no matter what was thrown at them they were well able to fight back.
“I’m a proud Roscommon man. We lost three county finals with Kilmore when I was playing down there but this makes up for it.”