Owenmore Gaels are left stunned by Saints revival

Connacht Gold Jnr ‘A’ C’ship Semi-Final

St Molaise Gaels 2-12

Owenmore Gaels 1-13

OWENMORE Gaels face a terribly long autumn-winter-spring of introspection. Just how did they let this one get away?

That Owenmore Gaels are left with months of regret is due to the neversay-die St Molaise Gaels, whose hero was goalkeeper-turned-midfielder John Gilsenan, the contributor of a wonderful 2-2 to ignite their two-point win, 2-12 to 1-13, at Markievicz Park last Saturday.

Owenmore Gaels had put themselves in a clear position to win, with perhaps only the most optimistic St Molaise Gaels diehards thinking otherwise. Seven points up by the 44th minute of this Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship semi-final, they deserved their 1-11 to 0-7 advantage against St Molaise Gaels’ second XV.

Ryan Phillips, the winners’ top scorer and best player, had just pointed from a pass by Mark Walsh, who was showing glimpses of his inter-county class.

That Phillips point was the sixth score in-a-row from Owenmore Gaels, who dominated the third quarter and clipped several delightful points, including superb efforts from corner-forwards Gary Anderson and

Oisin Geraghty. Owenmore Gaels, who pushed on significantly from an interval lead of 1-5 to 0-7, an advantage that hinged on Ryan Phillips’ superb 10th minute goal, were also exploiting their nummerical advantage, given that St Molaise Gaels substitute Daragh Fallon was red-carded for an off the ball incident in the 55th minute.

Even when St Molaise Gaels got moving again with three scores, among them a big point from John Gilsenan, Owenmore Gaels were six points in front, 1-13 to 0-10, with five minutes of normal time left.

Ryan Phillips almost scored a second goal but Owenmore Gaels still had a sizeable cushion.

Then St Molaise Gaels, for whom Conor Watters and Daniel Keaney were working hard, began their comeback.

A 56th minute free from the busy Jack McGovern dropped short in the Owenmore Gaels goalmouth and John Gilsenan punched the ball into the net. Two minutes later the goalkscorer when close with a similar attempt and Diarmuid O’Grady, the Owenmore Gaels goalkeeper, tipped the ball over the bar.

Oisin Gilmartin’s superb point for St Molaise Gaels, on the stroke of fulltime, brought the gap down to a point. This game was abruptly in the melting point and an Owenmore Gaels loss was as much a possibility now as their victory had been only 16 minutes earlier.

Stoppage time was in its infancy when substitute Ed Mullane – who played hurling with Naomh Eoin – set up John Gilsenan for a powerful shot that smashing into the net, breaking Owenmore Gaels hearts as it did so. Owenmore Gaels almost turned things back in their favour but Rory Dillon’s goalbound flick, from a ball broken down by Aaron Walsh, was somehow smuggled off the goal-line by St Molaise Gaels substitute goalkeeper Dara Currid.

There was panic now in the Owenmore Gaels ranks and some late, late attacks ended in turnovers and wides.

St Molaise Gaels, with first XV manager Jimmy Langan in charge, are to be commended for their comeback. They were more than competitive in the first-half and should have had more on the scoreboard but poor shooting led to seven wides.

They bagged seven points in the opening period, with good points coming from John Heraghty, Jack McGovern, Daniel O’Connor and Conor Watters.

Owenmore Gaels, who never led by more than two points in the well-contested first-half, threatened to cut loose but Gary Anderson’s goal shot was saved – following a tremendous run through the centre by Mark Walsh – and later on Ryan Phillips set up Kyle Mullen for a goalbound shot that John Gilsenan kept out.

Ryan Phillips did net with aplomb and Roland Anderson’s point was the pick of their five points in the opening period.

Owenmore Gaels clicked into gear for half of the second-half but St Molaise Gaels refused to surrender.

St Molaise Gaels: John Gilsenan (2-2), Tristan Watters, Gavin Gilsenan, Tola Carway, Evan Farrell, Oisin Gilmartin (0-1), Conor Watters (0-1), Conor Feigheney, Daniel Keaney (c), Oisin Sheridan, Daniel O’Connor (0-2, 1f), John Heraghty (0-3, 1f), Jack McGovern (0-3, 1f), Aaron Currid, Luke Gallagher

Subs used: Darragh Fallon, Ed Mullane, Dara Currid

Owenmore Gaels: Diarmuid O’Grady, Shane Maye, Liam Gilligan, Garrett Lavin (0-1), Kyle Mullen, Patrick Murphy, Ryan Quigley (0-1), Roland Anderson (0-1), Mark Walsh, Aaron Walsh, Ryan Phillips (1-3), Ciaran Harvey (0-1), Gary Anderson (0-2), Nathan O’Malley (c) (0-1), Oisin Geraghty (0-3)

Subs used: Roan Conneely, Peter Wynne, Rory Dillon, Conor Davey

Referee: Keith Henry