Boherbue regain County Junior League title from battling St Michaels
Boherbue 4-11 St Michaels 3-10
BOHERBUE made it two outright wins in five seasons after staving off a determined St Michaels bid in a thrilling County Junior A Football League Final at a windy Donoughmore. When Boherbue landed a title in 2014, they looked well equipped to land follow championship honours yet far from a natural course, they have seen neighbours Millstreet, Knocknagree and Dromtariffe hit heady heights.
Still there are optimistic hopes of a breakthrough for Boherbue, their latest triumph sure to provide a spring in their step ahead of a new season. Indeed this league final looked destined for extra-time as St Michaels pressed hard for an equaliser only for a breakaway move into the teeth of the wind saw Boherbue substitute CJ O’Sullivan find the net after superb work from playmaker Jerry O’Connor.
This contest opened at a helter skelter pace with end to end fare, a dream start for Boherbue, John Corkery rolled home after excellent work from JO’Connor. St. Michaels matched it, their starting line up featured a number of their winning county Premier 1 minor side, the cause of the City men boosted from a goal by Ian Giltenan.
A wind assisted Botherbue brought a high workrate to their game, prompted by the efforts of Jack Daly, Niall Murphy, Kevin Cremin and Jerry O’Connor with David O’Connor getting his side’s second goal to ensure a 2-2 to 1-1 lead by the close of the opening quarter.
St Michaels were economical with possession and a delightful chip to the net from David Hurley kept the city side in touch. Boherbue’s David O’Connor landed two fine points from play before Gerry O’Sullivan blasted home a teriffic third goal.
Still St Michaels remained in touch, Eoin O’Donovan clipped over the crossbar to reduce the leeway 3-7 to 2-4 at the end of a high scoring opening half. Again Boherbue took up the running on the restart. St Michaels goalkeeper Jack Lucey denied Kevin Cremin with a brilliant save.
As the rain came down, conditions deteriorated as St Michaels landed points from Pat Doyle, Adam Hennessy and the impressive Micheál Mulconry. And the game was in the melting pot, a superb goal from Eoin O’Donovan reduced the gap to the minimum, 3-8 to 3-7 after 40 minutes.
Boherbue responded with a neat Billy O’Gorman point before the Duhallow lost centre forward Denis McCarthy for a second yellow card offence. The prospects of extra time loomed with Boherbue clinging onto a slender advantage.
Hard though as St. Michaels attempted to save the day, Boherbue weren’t having none of it, the aforementioned Jerry O’Connor landing a brace before substitute CJ O’Sullivan the pass for the crucial fourth goal.
Boherbue captain Daniel Buckley accepted the Jackie O’Shea Memorial Cup from Tadgh O’Shea to complete a fine collection at the season’s end, Boherbue having earlier completed a Duhallow league and championship double. BOHERBUE: D Cremin; J Daly, C O’Riordan, D Buckley; M O’Gorman 0-2, N Murphy, M O’Connor; K Cremin 0-1, B O’Gorman 0-1; A Murphy, D McCarthy, G O’Sullivan 1-0; J O’Connor 0-4 (2f, 1 ‘45’), J Corkery 1-0, D O’Connor 1-3. Subs: D Moynihan for J Corkery (h/t), CJ O’Sullivan 1-0 for M O’Connor (38), S Aherne for K Cremin (40), P Daly for M O’Gorman (45), P O’Connor for J O’Sullivan (50), P Murphy for D O’Connor (50)
ST MICHAELS: J Lucey; C Crowley, D O’Shea, C Tobin; D Corkery, J Golden, T Cremin; P Doyle 0-1, E Sheehan 0-1; E O’Donovan 1-2, M Mulconry 0-2, A Hennessy 0-3 (1f); D Hurley 1-1 (0-1f), I Giltenan 1-0, A O’Connell. Subs: A Coin for A Nolan (h/t).
REFEREE: C O’Mocháin (Cill Na Martra)