O’Leary prove goal key to Sliabh Luachra Gaels winning a first U-21 football title
Sliabh Luachra Gaels 1-11 Boherbue 0-11
SLIABH Luachra Gaels inscribed a new name on the Central Sports Stores Duhallow U-21 Football Championship roll of honour by virtue of a thrilling victory over Boherbue at Cullen on Monday evening.
On a perfect occasion, the fare on parade lived up to expectations and satisfied an appreciative attendance before the Ballydesmond and Kiskeam combination emerged deserving winners.
However, credit must go to both sides to ensure an enthralling showdown in a tough and honest hour underpinned by total commitment. Not short of incident, outstanding individual displays surrounded the occasion with excellent scores interspersed by misses and breathtaking saves by both ‘keepers. Just a single score separated the sides at the full time whistle, the all important goal surfaced from a classic move midway through the opening half culminating on a neatly taken Brendan O’Leary strike.
The Gaels dominated the early exchanges with Thomas Casey in excellent shooting form to establish a grip on the proceedings. Indeed, the Gaels might well had goaled only for Boherbue ‘keeper B J Dunstan make a great save from Anthony Dennehy.
Though C J O’Sullivan posted a Boherbue point, they faced an uphill task from the 15th min., a free out of defence by Jack O’Connor saw Darragh Moynihan and Seán Meehan link up for O’Leary to finish in style past Dunstan.
Boherbue managed to find their footing, that stemmed from the rallying efforts of Darragh Ducey, C J O’Sullivan, Brian Murphy and Liam Moynihan. Gaels ‘keeper Patrick O’Keeffe denied
Gerry O’Sullivan and Dan Sheehan in quick succession before points to O’Sullivan and Cathal Ducey offered encouragement.
Still Sliabh Luachra looked dangerous, Maurice and Thomas Casey added points with O’Leary close to a second goal, only for Dunstan to intervene. Both sides were down to 14 players, Patrick Daly and Jack Collins sinbinned in separate incidents as Boherbue finished stronger, Sheehan and C J O’Sullivan points cut the deficit 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.
However, the Gaels took up the running on the restart, driven on by Sean Murphy, Jack O’Connor and Jack Collins in defence with Meehan and Maurice Casey working to a standstill in the centre. And in attack, Anthony Dennehy, Moynihan and Thomas added to the tally to push the Gaels six points clear.
Wayward shooting stopped the Gaels from adding to their tally, kicking eight second half wides compared to three to their opponents, that allowed Boherbue to rally impressively with Oisín Healy and Gerry O’Sullivan landing points.
A crucial moment saw Sliabh Luachra ‘keeper O’Keeffe performed heroics with a marvellous reaction save from a deft Sheehan flick. Though Thomas Casey pointed a Gaels free, Boherbue continued to press, O’Sullivan shooting a pair to narrow the arrears to a goal. In the nailbiting latter stages, it was back to the walls defending by the Sliabh Luachra, good enough to land a historic first time win.
Duhallow Board Chairman Joe Kearns presented the silverware to Sliabh Luachra Gaels joint captains Darragh Moynihan and Maurice Casey.
SLIABH LUACHRA GAELS: P O’Keeffe; K Murphy, S Murphy, J O’Connor; C Murphy, J Collins, J Daly; S Meehan, M Casey 0-1; A Dennehy 0-2, D Moynihan 0-1, B Lenihan; B O’Leary, 1-0, T Casey 0-6 (4f), C Dunlea 0-1. Subs: H Alisane for B O’Leary.
BOHERBUE: B J Dunstan; B Guiney, J Daly, F O’Connor; O Healy 0-1, D Ducey, A Lenihan; P Daly, C J O’Sullivan 0-2f, B Murphy 0-1, L Moynihan, A O’Connor; C Ducey 0-1, G O’Sullivan 0-5 (4f), D Sheehan 0-1.
REFEREE: C Lane (Lyre)