Big ball success for Oulart
Bannow beaten after extra-time in high-scoring clash
OULART BANNOW 7-6 4-13 (AET)
AFTER a game of swaying fortunes, it took extra-time before Oulart eventually edged out Bannow by the slender margin of two points in this thrilling Rackard League Roinn ‘C’ football final in a rain-lashed St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Thursday.
Having endured several setbacks during the course of the game, Oulart bounced back with two late Jack Dunne pointed frees to bring the game to extra-time.
The opening period of extra-time failed to separate the sides once again, but it was Oulart, more renowned for their exploits in the small ball game, who broke through for the vital scores in the second period of extra-time to lift a first football title for the parish.
However, credit to Bannow, who made such a huge contribution to what was an excellent game despite the poor weather conditions, and they can feel somewhat unlucky to have gone under after 70 minutes of entertaining, free-flowing football.
For lengthy periods they look the more fluent footballing side, but it was the concession of seven goals that proved their undoing in the end.
The south county school got off to the ideal start, leading by 0-3 to nil after eleven minutes through points from Kian Rossiter, Harry Murphy and Kyle Cleary, but Oulart got back level through an 18th-minute Daniel Gallagher goal.
His low shot slid through a packed defence to find its way to the corner of the net, leaving the scoreline reading 1-0 to 0-3.
Bannow responded with points from Cian Rossiter and a Harry Murphy free and, as the game moved towards the break, both goalmouths led a charmed existence.
Oulart midfielder Eoin Mongan worked his way through to a scoring position before applying the finish with a superb shot to the net, leaving his side leading by 2-0 to 0-5 at the interval.
After the re-start Oulart did most of the pressing as a Seán Stamp goal attempt rebounded off the upright, before a crucial breakthrough arrived their way as a Jack Dunne 30-metre free found its way to the corner of the net.
One minute later it was the turn of Eoin Mongan who solo through for a further goal, increasing his side’s lead to 4-0 to 0-6.
Oulart still led by 4-1 to 0-8 entering the closing ten minutes, but somehow Bannow managed to raise their game, producing two excellent goals through Jack Cleary and Kian Rossiter to leave them with a one-point lead (2-8 to 4-1) with four minutes of normal time remaining.
When Harry Murphy extended the lead two minutes from the end they looked secure, but then came a desperate Oulart late drive, forcing two frees that Jack Dunne converted from 30 metres, to leave the sides level (4-3 to 2-9) and forcing extra-time.
After the sides exchanged opening points, they swapped goals through Kyle Cleary and Daniel Gallaghe.
And the goals continuing to flow via Kian Cummins for Bannow, with Seán Stamp responded for Oulart to leave the sides still deadlocked (6-5 to 4-11) at the break.
Oulart forced the game in the second period of extra-time, scoring 1-1, with the goal from Eoin Mongan.
Bannow could only respond with two points in reply, leaving the Oulart boys to celebrate an historic victory.
Oulart: Feidhlim Proctor-Laird; Josh Sinnott, Ben Harpur, Dean Cox; Oisín Moore, Jack Dunne (1-4, 1-3 frees), Kevin Redmond; Eoin Mongan (3-1), Peter Wickham; Rhys Wickham, Daniel Gallagher (2-1), Jason Rossiter (0-1); Seán Stamp (1-0), J.D. Masterson, Matthew Ryan. Subs. - Tomás Curran, Jonathan Murphy, Ryan Codd, Seán O’Sullivan, Killian Murphy, Daniel Dempsey, Liam Harris-Fortune, Stone Callaly, Alf Parkin-Loughnane, Caleb O’Kane, Finn Smith, Daniel McRedmond, Darryl Beashel, James Walsh, Mark Redmond, Carter Tohill, Saul Lotz, Adam Butler.
Bannow: Patrick Quigley; Diarmuid Wall, Daniel Sinnott, James Breen; Alec Moran, Craig Sinnott, Kian Rossiter (1-4); Bobby Murphy, Harry Murphy (0-6, 2 frees); Jack Cleary (1-1), Kyle Cleary (1-1), Cian Cummins (1-0); Conor Millar, Adam Walsh, Conor Quigley (0-1). Subs. - Mikey Kent, Jamie Martin, Patrick Murphy, Dylan Hayes, Ian Fleming, John Gaul, Cameron Whelan, Seán Murphy, Ryan Scott, Tommie Rossiter, Cormac Neville, Rupert Eaton, Josh Monaghan, Thomas Devereux, Jakub Szymczyk.
Referee: Martin Conway (Clonard).