St. Barnabas 1-10 O’Donovan Rossa 0-8
The result of the rescheduled and postponed Junior A semifinal was ultimately determined on the playing field, though at one stage it looked as if the New York Board might be the arbiter of the outcome. St. Barnabas accounted for their opponents on the basis of a strong closing second-half performance. Overall there wasn’t much between the sides, but the Bronx Boys capitalized more effectively on their scoring opportunities. Indeed O’Donovan Rossa’s case wasn’t helped as they scorned a few bone fide goal opportunities that would have kept them neck and neck with their opponents. It was a tough, dour, physical encounter and the referee would definitely need eyes in the back of his head if he were to be aware of all the late hits or “afters.”
Meanwhile, both sides wasted early scoring opportunities before Darragh O’Keefe got the opening score for his team. At the other end, the tenacious and tigerish Peter Cronin forced a turnover, and thus set in motion the sequence for Tiernan Mathers to point. These two players were also the architects of the next score as a long diagonal delivery from Cronin set up Mathers again for a score. St. Barnabas were dominating the possession stakes but wasted several chances before Mikey Brosnan culminated a three-player movement to split the posts midway in the period.
It was soon double scores as a penetrative drive by Dion Norney ended with a foul, leaving Mikey Brosnan to point the resultant free. However the last five minutes of the period saw a dramatic change in the proceedings, it was O’Donovan Rossa’s most productive spell. They scored three points in five minutes. It began with a close in free and a black card for the Barnabas keeper. The black card punishment seemed unduly harsh from my vantage point as the goal keeper seemed to be fully focused on playing the ball and the physical contact was accidental rather than intentional. Scott Brooks pointed the resultant free and the deputizing keeper gifted another point to draw the sides level. Then just before the interval Phelim O’Hagan sent over a peach of a point from a very acute angle to put his team ahead. The interval was a bit prolonged as there was query about the eligibility of a player. That apparently was satisfactorily resolved and Barnabas wasted no time as Mikey Brosnan worked his way in for a point straight from the throw-in. The teams were now level in scores and also in players as an O’Donovan Rossa defender was also sinbinned. However his team was soon back in front as staunch defender Patrick O’Neill sent over a monstrosity of a point from long distance.
It was tit for tat as sharp-shooter Mike Brosnan pointed after a trademark Tiernan Mather’s run was illegally impeded as he appeared to be on the hunt for a goal. Barnabas went back in front as the Brosnan brothers combined very well with Mikey setting up Shane for the point. When play switched to the other end, Scott Brooks, with a nice vignette of individual skill, looked to have a goal at his mercy, but he settled for a point. On the 10-minute mark Barnabas went ahead with a pointed free from Mikey Brosnan after he was fouled.
Then came the major strike and turning point in the game. Tiernan Mather’s goal-seeking exploits finally paid off as he worked his way past several defenders to plant the ball in the net. Barnabas were now firmly in the driving seat and the lead was extended with another pointed free from Mikey Brosnan. O’Donovan Rossa kept battling but wayward finishing coupled with stern defending by Dylan Curran, Peter Cronin and company didn’t help their cause. Mikey Brosnan capped off a fine performance with a late long-range point and goal-scorer Mathers nearly banged in another goal but keeper James Greene saved superbly. Patrick O’Neill polished off a solid performance by scoring a fine long range effort. In the final analysis, it was his team’s failure to take any of their goal chances that hurt them, especially in a low scoring game. The final now pits the two most dominantly American-born teams, St. Barnabas and Rangers, against each other on Sunday at 3:30. St. Patrick’s and Tyrone will play in the Junior B2 semifinal at 2:00
St. Barnabas: Jack Dennis, Nolan Kelly, Dylan Curran, Mark McMorrow, Liam Rafferty, Peter Cronin, Jack Donoghue. Shane Brosnan(0-1), Mikey Boyle, Colm Doherty, Mikey Brosnan(0-7), Dion Norney, Sean Liddy, Tiernan Mathers(1-2) Cian Craig. Subs Paudi Mathers, John Clarke, Bradley Donoghue, Alan Smith, Ciaran Bennett, Pat McGrinder, Ray 0’Connor.
O’Donovan Rossa: James Greene, Patrick Kerry, Enda Fowley, Timothy Egan, Patrick O’Neill(0-2), Ciaran Conroy, Ryan Mulholland, Johnny Fitzpatrick, Kenny Ideniza, Mattie McElvaney, Mickey Grael, Phelim O’Hagan(0-1), Scott Brooks(0-4), Aaron Teehan, Kevin Barry. Subs Liam O’Connor, Mossy Sweeney, Eoin Mackin, Darragh O’Keefe(0-1), Aaron Birmingham. Referee Jeff Farrell, Man of Match Dylan Curran.
By P.J. Cunningham
Éire Óg 2-13 Tinryland 0-7
Welcome back to Carlow town side Éire Óg who annexed their 31st senior football crown with 12-points to spare at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday.
In a terrible first half the winners led by 0-4 to 0-2 but a brace of second half goals from man of the match Ross Dunphy and Murtough Ware killed off the game as a contest.
St Loman's 0-9 Coralstown/Kinnegad 0-7
A John Heslin-inspired St Loman's claimed their seventh Westmeath senior football crown in 11 years in a tough but interesting duel at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday.
With their skipper Heslin deadly from frees, the winners led by 0-5 to 0-1 at the interval and when Liam Daly got his side’s second score a minute after the resumption, you could sense that the Coralstown/Kinnegad boys were up for the fight.
That proved to be true and they were level within 11 minutes of the restart thanks to points from Shane Fleming (two) and a Darren Giles free.
It was then that the Mullingar town side showed their mettle with Kevin Regan restoring their advantage and while Giles and Heslin and Brían Cooney and Heslin exchanged score, both from placed balls by the winning skipper.
A late goal would have won it for CK or a point brough parity but Loman’s defended well until TJ Fox sealed the outcome with a fine point deep into the time red zone.
