Shamrock Gaels have the edge in Junior ‘A’ battle of second XVs
TWO POTENT scoring bursts – at the start and finish of the second-half – brought Shamrock Gaels glory in last Sunday’s Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship final.
Inspired by full-forward Frankie Quinn, who was named Player of the Match, and number 13 Stephen Willis, who scored eight points, Shamrock Gaels’ second XV beat St Molaise Gaels’ econd string in a game where the rain made for grey skies and greasy underfoot conditions. Three points down at half-time, 1-5 to 0-5, Shamrock Gaels refound their form of the first-half when scoring an 1-4 in the first 10 minutes of the second period – Frankie Quinn’s well-taken goal was the key score of this commanding spell.
Shamrock Gaels turned on the style again during the final four minutes of normal time.
After St Molaise Gaels drew level for the final time – Daniel O’Connor’s fourth pointed free made it 1-10 each – Shamrock Gaels’ silverware sprint began Stephen Willis kicked a 56th minute, his seventh, to put the combination of Sooey and Knockalassa in front.
A further 1-2 followed, with Brian Boyd’s cool goal on the stroke of fulltime – following a defensive error by St Molaise Gaels – the icing on the cake.
Frankie Quinn completed Shamrock Gaels’ brilliant afternoon by scoring a point from play and even a stoppage time black card for Stephen Willis, this game’s top scorer, didn’t spoil the Shamrock Gaels party.
The way Shamrock Gaels started, gliding 0-5 to 0-1 ahead by the 10th minute, there was cause to wonder would this be a one-sided affair – in contrast to these finalists’ previous meeting in this year’s competition, a one-point win for St Molaise Gaels in a Group Two game played on August 21. Daire Kearns bagged a hat-trick of points in the early exchanges and Brian Boyd drilled a shot over for his side’s first point – this was a goal chance – after Frankie Quinn played the first of his shrewd passes. In a contest where the conditions and not the general standard could be blamed for the unseemly number of turnovers, St Molaise Gaels recovered – a comeback sparked by an excellent
18th minute
Shamrock Gaels’ bright start to the second-half. The eventual champions overturned an interval deficit of three points, 1-5 to 0-5, with five scores (1-4) within 10 minutes of the restart. Although Shamrock Gaels were later pegged back, they never trailed in the second period.
at midfield, found another gear and pressed on. St Molaise Gaels remained defiant and they had three goal shots deep into stoppage time – Ed Mullane, Gavin Gilsenan and Daragh Fallon each had efforts denied.
Shamrock Gaels, who fielded three adult men’s teams this year, are to be applauded for developing their extended pool of players.
Last Sunday’s victory will add to Shamrock Gaels’ celebrations on Saturday week, October 22, when the club celebrates its 50th birthday at the Clayton Hotel. Kerry GAA legend Pat Spillane, also a household name due to his punditry on The Sunday Game, is the night’s special guest.
Player of the Match: Frankie Quinn Shamrock Gaels: Ultan McKenna, John Craig (c), Declan Willis, Shane McCann, Patrick Barrett, Eoin O’Connell, Gavin McMorrow, Conor Merrick, Aaron McKenna, Daire Kearns (0-3), Brian Boyd (1-1), Dylan McKenna, Stephen Willis (0-8, 3f), Frankie Quinn (1-1), Seamus Hailstones
Subs used: Luke Flynn, Conor Kearns, Patrick Kenny
St Molaise Gaels: Darren Gilsenan, Tola Carway, Gavin Gilsenan, Tristan Watters, Conor Watters, Evan Farrell, Oisin Gilmartin (0-2), Daniel Keaney (c), John Gilsenan, Oisin Sheridan, Daniel O’Connor (0-4, 4f), John Heraghty (0-4, 3f), Jack McGovern, Aaron Currid, Luke Gallagher (1-0)
Subs used: Ed Mullane, Daragh Fallon, Colm McBrien, Ronan Keegan, Conor Feighney Referee: Michael Conway