St Mary’s U21s in final
ST MARY’S 4-14 EASKEY/ENNISCRONE 3-14 (AFTER EXTRA-TIME)
U21 A Football Championship semi-final
ST Mary’s advanced to the U-21 A Championship final, but not without an almighty struggle, after a thrilling three-point extra-time win over Easkey/Enniscrone/ Kilglass at Scarden last Saturday evening.
Both sides were grateful for having a second bite at the cherry in extra-time – St Mary’s looked to have had one foot in the final 15 minutes from time when they led 4-7 to 2-7 after a blistering start to the second period, but they still required Nathan Rooney’s late free to force extra time after Easkey/Enniscrone/Kilglass staged a powerful second half comeback to lead by a point heading into injury-time.
In extra-time, however, St Mary’s were vastly superior and tagged on five points to end as three-point winners, as Easkey/ Enniscrone/Kilglass suffered a similar fate to last year in the last four, when they were beaten by two late Liam Gaughan goals for Tourlestrane after extra-time.
On a bitterly cold evening at the county’s Centre of Excellence, St Mary’s started well and hit an early goal through Hubert Gilvarry to establish a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after ten minutes of the first half.
But after this, Easkey/Enniscrone/ Kilglass clicked into gear and dominated proceedings for the next 15 minutes.
Ciaran O’Dowd, playing at centre forward, hit a goal and a point in quick succession to put his side in front, 1-4 to 1-2, and the west Sligo amalgamation took advantage of their superiority in this period around the middle third to create several scoring chances.
Hayden Gilroy and Joe McHugh were among those to register points, and when Andy Kilcullen finished off a fine team move to the net five minutes before half time they led 2-7 to 1-4.
However, a critical moment before half-time swing momentum back in St Mary’s favour.
After Easkey/Enniscrone/Kilglass spurned a guilt edged goal opportunity – which, if converted, would have put them nine points clear – St Mary’s went down from the resultant kickout to win a penalty, which was well converted by the impressive Kyle Cawley to leave the Sligo town side three points in arrears at half-time, 2-7 to 2-4.
On the restart, St Mary’s took control. Goals in the early exchanges of the half from Cawley and Scott Lynch, combined with two Nathan Rooney points, put them into a six-point lead, 4-7 to 2-7. At this stage, Easkey/Enniscrone/Kilglass were struggling in most sectors and it looked as though St Mary’s would stroll to a comfortable win.
What developed, though, was a spirited west Sligo fightback. Joe McHugh generated some momentum when he popped over his side’s first score of the half after 46 minutes, and this was followed by four consecutive scores for Easkey/ Enniscrone/Kilglass: points from Ciaran O’Dowd, Mikey Gordon and Hayden Gilroy, and a converted penalty from Gordon three minutes from time, brought the men from the west level, 3-11 to 4-8.
Joe McHugh’s converted free put his side ahead – a free also agonizingly hit the post in this period – and suddenly it looked as though St Mary’s were heading out. However, in injury-time, they conjured a free 30 metres out and Nathan Rooney split the posts to send the game to extra time.
In the two periods of extra time, St Mary’s held the upper hand.
Easkey/Enniscrone/Kilglass failed to score in the opening half of extra time, and points from Tony O’Kel- ly Lynch, Kyle Cawley and Paul Kilcoyne helped St Mary’s to a half time advantage of 4-12 to 3-12.
In the second period, to their credit, Easkey/Enniscrone/Kilglass summoned a fightback and registered points through Joe McHugh and Ciaran O’Dowd, but insurance scores from Nathan Rooney and Kyle Cawley saw St Mary’s through to next Saturday’s decider with Shamrock Gaels in Tourlestrane at 7:30pm.
ST MARY’S: N Crawley; R Feehily, N Feehily, C Darcy; D Cawley, K Connell, H Gilvarry (1-0); T O’Kelly Lynch (0-2), P Kilcoyne (0-1); A Lynch, N Rooney (0-5, 4fs), P Maher (0-1), K Cawley (2-3, 1p), S Lynch (1-1), M Munnelly (0-1)
EASKEY/ENNISCRONE/KILGLASS: S Kilgannon; E McGowan, I Barrett, E Bourke; E Hallinan, E Moylan, D Sloyan; D Mullaney, R McHugh; B Fitzgerald, C O’Dowd (1-3), H Gilroy (0-2); A Kilcullen (1-0), J McHugh (0-6, 4fs), M Gordon (1-3, 2fs, 1p). Subs used: N Kilcullen, E Brennan
REFEREE: Gus Chapman.