Agony for the Cilles in All-Ireland thriller
Westport 2-12 St Colmcille’s 3-8
THE sense of achievement in reaching the decider was unfortunately matched by the heartbreak of defeat for brave St Colmcille’s following a pulsating struggle in this All-Ireland IFC Club Final at Croke Park on Sunday.
And while some of the most memorable moments - especially in sport - are tinged with devastation, regret, tears, and what might have been, St Colmcille’s, even in defeat, further enhanced their reputation in this one.
That they came so close will hardly be of consolation to them this week, but their courage, determination and never-say-die attitude will live in the memory for some time to come.
They did, not only themselves but their county, proud as they fought back from being seven, eight and six points in arrears at different stages to come agonisingly close to forcing the game to extra time.
Indeed it all came down to the bounce of a ball as James Conlon’s lofted point effort seconds from the finish dropped marginally short and bounced back into play with the help of a few despairing Westport hands on the goal-line instead of over the bar. It was that close for the Cille’s.
Overall, Westport were probably the better side, but they left the door open for the Cille’s on a number of occasions, mainly due to some wayward shooting and a rush of blood to the head by their keeper Patrick O’Malley in the closing stages.
O’Malley conceded a needless penalty when taking Robbie McCloskey out of it as the midfielder chased an over-hit delivery. It eventually earned the keeper a black card and the Cille’s a spot kick, though it took some prompting from a linesman before referee Niall Cullen decided to take action.
St Colmcille’s sub Jack Reynolds gratefully accepted the opportunity, sending sub keeper Arron Dunne the wrong way to halve the deficit with 56 minutes gone on the clock.
That goal raised the tempo once more and the announcement that there would be six minutes of added time gave the Cille’s renewed hope. Momentum as well as the majority in the 9,075 crowd was now behind them as they went in search of match-saving scores.
The game was in the fourth minute of added time when wing back Eoin Woods got forward to point and a minute later captain Ben Brennan cut the deficit to the minimum. The last action was that Conlon point effort which just hadn’t got the legs to clear the crossbar and Cille’s brave bid was at an end.
It was in the first half that the game was won and lost, though, as Westport cut loose at one stage to open up an 0-8 to 0-1 lead.
Graham Reilly opened the scoring in between two pointed free efforts which were wide of the mark from Ben Brennan. Westport showed their ability to break from defence early on as centre back Brian McDermott went on a forward surge, but his shot from an angle flashed across the front of the Cille’s goals and wide.
A brilliantly taken point from impressive midfielder Shane Scott was the beginning of a long spell of Westport dominance which left them leading 0-8 to 0-1 by the 25th minute. The Mayo champions lost former county star Kevin Keane to injury after just 10 minutes, but it didn’t seem to have an effect and Fionn McDonagh pointed them into a lead they would never relinquish on 16 minutes.
Livewire corner forward Colm Moran, who caused numerous problems throughout, added three points during that period of dominance. Cille’s need something quick to get them back into the game and they got it when Graham Reilly cut through the Westport rearguard before offloading to James Conlon who crashed the ball to the net.
A minute later a point effort from Conlon rebounded off the woodwork and immediately Westport broke for their opening goal. Oisín McLoughlin raced clear of two Cille’s defenders out under the Hogan Stand before hitting a low shot past the despairing Jordan Brown. Moran then increased the lead before points from Cathal Hilliard and Reilly, from a free, brought the opening half to a close, leaving it 1-9 to 1-3 in Westport’s favour.
Within 25 seconds of the restart Ben Brennan had reduced the deficit and then Reilly added a real inspirational point on 33 minutes.
Westport created plenty of scoring opportunities at the other end but hit five wides in a six-minute spell. Eventually midfielder Scott found the target from long range.
Keeper Patrick O’Malley prevented a Cille’s point from a Brennan free by fielding over his crossbar on 39 minutes, which
was to prove one of the game’s defining moments at the final whistle. Cille’s were back in the game, however, when a Reilly effort rebounded off an upright and Brennan was first to react to drive the ball to the net.
That left it 1-10 to 2-5, before Phil Keegan hit back with a Westport point. Ciaran Kelly, who originally came on as a blood sub for Niall Ronan, got off the mark for his side but then in a three-minute spell Westport hit a goal and a point to restore their six-point advantage. Keeper O’Malley converted a 45 before the Cille’s defence was prised open and McLoughlin had the simple task of slapping the ball to the net for his second goal from a Moran pass.
That should have been the end of the Cille’s challenge, but they showed tremendous character to again dig deep and be so close at the final whistle.
WESTPORT: Patrick O’Malley 0-1 (‘45); Keelan Dever, Kevin Keane, Niall McManamon; Brian McDermott, Lee Keegan, James Walsh; Brian O’Malley, Shane Scott 0-3; Fionn McDonagh 0-3 (2f), Phil Keegan 0-1, Liam Staunton; Colm Moran 0-4, Paul Lambert, Oisin McLoughlin 2-0. Subs: David Horan for Keane (11), Ronan Geraghty for Staunton (h-t), Arron Dunne for Patrick O’Malley (BC, 57)
ST COLMCILLE’S: Jordan Brown; Adam Lynch, Ciaran Ward, Jamie McDonnell; Eoin Woods 0-1, Ian Mullen, Joe Sweeney; David Sheeran, Robbie McCloskey; Cathal Hillard 0-1, Ben Brennan 1-2, David O’Byrne; Graham Reilly 0-3 (1f), Niall Ronan, James Conlon 1-0. Subs: Conor O’Byrne for David O’Byrne (41), Jack Reynolds 1-0 (pen) for Sweeney (41), Ciaran Kelly 0-1f for Ronan (44), Jeff Kavanagh for McDonnell (53), Ronan for Hillard (60+). REF: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)