Bridesmaids are too strong for Kilbride

‘Hopefully we are coming good at just the right time, but we face a big task in the final against Na Fianna. A senior club’s second team is always going to be a tough one, they will bring a lot of experience with them, several will have played in a senior final or two, but our lads won’t be found wanting come next Sunday.

‘I think this bunch of players AFTER SUFFERING semi-final heartbreak in each of the last three years, Slane eventually reached the Holy Grail at the fourth time of asking in the Junior B FC at Skryne on Sunday.

Victory set up a decider with Na Fianna which is the curtain-raiser in the triple-decker at Pairc Tailteann next Sunday at noon.

It’s 25 years since the east Meath side last reached a final at adult level and ironically it was in this competition when they defeated neighbours Seneschalstown 1-9 to 0-10 in the 1993 Junior B decider.

Slane were well on their way to avenging last year’s semi-final defeat when leading 2-5 to 0-4 following an impressive opening-half showing.

It was difficult to comprehend that Kilbride had emerged winners by 14 points when the teams clashed in the group stage earlier in the year after watching the latest meeting between these rivals. A sharper, fully focussed and more determined Slane dominated for long spells against what a disjointed Kilbride.

Last year’s defeated finalists did have a spell of supremacy in the second half,

Slane Kilbride

know the task they have ahead of them and it will be a big ask.

‘It will be a massive day for the club, 25 years since we last played in an adult final. We won that one back in 1993 and hopefully that is a good omen.’

It has been a tough year for Slane both on and off the field. Only St Paul’s, who didn’t field a team in the league, finished

2-8 0-10

but their passing, ball retention, finishing and everything else needed to get them back into contention deserted them.

Slane played with the advantage of a significant breeze in the opening half and were off the mark within 25 seconds when midfielder Alan Harding split the posts.

Stephen McMullen hit over the equaliser within two minutes, but for the remainder of the half it was Slane in charge and their hopes received a massive boost when Matt Tully held off the challenge of a Kilbride defender and blasted to the roof of the net on six minutes.

Slane could have gone further ahead from the kickout as Alan Harding cut through the middle, but his goal effort was charged down and Peter Martyn drove the rebound wide of the target. However, Harding found the target from below them in the Division 4 league table.

Last May the club lost a great Gael with the passing of Oliver Harding, club president and honourary member - a man who had given a lifetime of dedicated service not only to Slane GAA but also the county.

Then, less than a month later, the club was mourning the tragic a free a minute later as Kilbride squandered chances at the other end. Twice the Dublin border side shot wide from close-range frees, while a promising move involving Craig Sheridan, Cathal McKenna and Stephen McMullen was cut out by Jim Marry.

Full forward Tully and Joseph Donnelly swapped points from frees within a minute of each other and the deficit was down to two after David O’Leary pointed another free for Kilbride.

A fine run and finish down the right flank by Eanna Mooney restored Slane’s three point advantage and the eventual winners finished the half in style with a goal and a point just before the break.

The goal came from the penalty spot, scored by Alan Harding, following a foul on Killian Gough which resulted in a black card for Kilbride keeper Craig Manning. Harding then pointed a free to leave his side seven clear at the break.

It got even better for Slane at the start of the second half as Gough increased the lead before opening-half substitute Podge McGowan pointed on 34 minutes.

David O’Leary did his utmost to get Kilbride back into the game and accounted for four successive points in the third quarter, two of which came from frees. Michael Farrell reduced the deficit to four when pointing shortly after his introduction and Kilbride did have opportunities to get much closer, but they either took the wrong option or the final pass went astray.

Sub McGowan lifted the pressure on Slane with a point, his side’s first score in 22 minutes. O’Leary added to his tally in added time, but after all the heartaches of recent years there was no denying Slane. SLANE: Darren Berrill; Shane Harding, Eoin Gibbs, Liam White; Jake Tallon, Francis Marry, Eoin Feeley; Alan Harding 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), Jim Marry; Kevin Reilly, Eanna Mooney 0-1, Peter Martyn; Barry Carolan, Matt Tully 1-1 (0-1f), Killian Gough 0-1. Subs: Podge McGowan 0-2 for Martyn (27), Danny Carolan for Tully (40), Finn Searle for Tallon (50).

KILBRIDE: Craig Manning; John Smith, Karl Stapleton, Dean Stapleton; Ronan O’Leary, John Bruton, Gareth Lynch; David O’Leary 0-6 (3f), Cathal McKeown; Brendan Courtney, Craig Sheridan, Paul Donnelly; Joseph Donnelly 0-2 (1f), Cathal McKenna, Stephen McMullen 0-1. Subs: Jamie McWeeney for Manning (BC 29), Stephen Walsh for Lynch (h-t), Michael Farrell 0-1 for McKenna (46).

REF: Jack Gordon (Walterstown)