Dwyers defeat Gaels
5-11 5-10
MICHAEL DWYERS secured their place in the Minor ‘C’ football championship final thanks to a dramatic one-point victory over Pearse Gaels after extra-time in Ballinakill on Monday evening last.
The win for Ollie Murphy’s men was a bitter blow to the Pearse Gaels side and their supporters with some venting their frustration at referee Robert Roche during and after the game as he left the field of play. Their discontent had begun very early in the contest and the tension rose steadily throughout, culminating in every single decision being questioned and resulting in a very nasty atmosphere as the game wore on.
It was a terrible shame that the game was sullied as it was because there was some lovely football played by both teams and some very impressive talent on display for both teams.
Pearse Gaels were dealt a cruel double blow early on when they lost the services of Shane Marah and Andrew Watters to injury within the opening 10 minutes.
Much of the Pearse Gaels anger centered around two penalty calls during the game. Keevan Doyle had cause to wonder if he had won a spot kick late in the first half but referee Robert Roche disagreed. And then with more or less the
last kick of the game, the excellent Adam Kinsella rifled home from the spot after Ciarán Harmon went down after what looked like minimal contact as he rampaged in on the Gaels goal.
An early lead for Gaels was cancelled out by Dwyers who went on to lead by 1-6 to 0-4 late in the first half, the goal from Cathal Sheehan immediately after the water break.
But Pearse Gaels fought back superbly and left it 1-6 to 1-5 at half-time, their goal from Ben Kiernan.
Dwyers looked to be coasting 10 minutes into the second half thanks to goals from the very lively Conor Byrne and the superb Ciarán Harmon but Gaels showed wonderful courage and ability to fight back and lead by 4-9 to 3-8 with time almost up with majors from Keevan Doyle (2) and substitute Michael Byrne.
However, a Ciarán Harmon point and that Kinsella penalty meant we were heading for extra-time with the tension rising rapidly on the sideline.
Keevan Doyle looked to have put Gaels in the driving seat with an early goal only for Cathal Sheehan to blast home past the inspirational Fionn Doyle to make it 5-10 to 5-9 for the Dwyers at the break.
Ciarán Harmon opened up a two-point gap and then Gaels lost Josh Odlum to a red card and although Samuel Bishop pulled a point back, Gaels would miss their next three chances and Dwyers rejoiced at the sound of the final whistle.
MICHAEL DWYERS: Shay Barrett; Caolin Goetelan, David Viera, Fionn Morrissey; Cathal Sheehan (2-0), Seán Harmon, Oisín Morrissey (0-1); Adam Kinsella (1-2, pen), Ciarán Harmon (1-5, 3f), Seán Murphy; Conor O’Neill (0-1), Adam Byrne, Conor Byrne (1-1). Subs: Jack O’Toole (0-1), Callum McCrea, Enda Goggin.
PEARSE GAELS: Fionn Doyle; Ethan Mackey, Evan Dwyer, Josh Nichols; Matthew Collins, Andrew Watters, Shane Marah; Samuel Bishop (0-5, 2f), Shane Collins; Luke Deasy (0-3), Noah Sheridan, Josh Odlum; Ben Kiernan (1-2, 1f), Keevan Doyle (3-0), Ben Kelly. Subs: Luke Messitt, Cormac McGrath, Stephen Kearns, Michael Byrne (1-0), Charlie Sullivan. REFEREE: Robert Roche (Carnew)