Kilcoo 1-17 Carryduff 1-11
For a team making history in winning seven successive Down titles, Kilcoo’s exploits largely fly under the radar, but at Páirc Esler on Sunday, they were very much in the spotlight as one of the great club teams in the country.
Think of this, when they went for a previous seven-in-a-row, Burren put a spanner in that works so one can only salute the club and the personnel for getting back on that particular bike again and making it to Seventh Heaven at the second attempt.
The Magpies had six-points to spare over their opponents Carryduff at the end but after a fairly even first half, they managed with a late Paul Devlin penalty to lead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.
That four-point margin raced up to 10 at one period on the changeover when for a while it looked like the game would end on exhibition status.
Credit then to Carryduff who showed resolve to get a number of scores including a great Eoin Donnelly goal.
This came after man of the match Devlin had tacked on a quick second-half point before his side followed suit with an avalanche of scores, seven of the following eight to lead by 1-14 to 0-7.
Sub Joe McFlynn kicked a quick point on his introduction to offer resistance and another from Michael McGrath was the forerunner to Donnelly goal which came via a brilliant pass from John McGeough.
The same passer then weighted in with a brilliant two-pointer of a free to cut the deficit to 1-15 to 1-11.
The clock was now the enemy for the rejuvenated Carryduff outfit, but so was Kilcoo who made sure by kicking the last two scores of the hours per Sean Óg McCusker and Ryan Johnston for a more comfortable six-point win.
Kilcoo: N Kane (0-2, 1tpf); A Branagan (0-3), R McEvoy, N Branagan; M Rooney, D Branagan (0-2), C Rogers; Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan (0-1); C Doherty, R Johnston (0-2), S Johnston (0-1); P Devlin (1-3), E Branagan J Johnston (0-2) Subs J Devlin for E Branagan (35'), S Og McCusker (0-1) for J Johnston (50'), C Laverty for P Devlin (58'), C Rooney for S Johnston (60+1').
Carryduff: R Lavery; L Toal, C Cassidy, O Sherry (0-1); M McGrath (0-1), D Guinness (0-1), P McCabe (0-1); E Donnelly (1-0), T McCarroll; G Henderson, J Guinness (0-3, 1tp), D McCabe; J Tunney, R Beatty, J McGeough (0-3, 1tpf) Subs C Clinton for Tunney (38'), J McFlynn (0-01) for McCabe (42'), L Blaney for McGrath (48'), S McGonigle for McCabe (52'), R Elliot for Sherry (57')
Ref: C Gribben.
Ballyboden St Enda's 1-16; Na Fianna 1-12
The strength of Dublin club football can be gleaned in the fact that both of these sides defeated recent All Ireland club winners - Kilmacud Crokes and Cuala - at the semi-finals stage two weeks earlier.
In Parnell Park on Saturday evening, a club who lifted the All Ireland club crown almost a decade ago - Ballyboden St Enda's - made their return to center stage when they had too much pace, power and football nous for Na Fianna, the current All Ireland club hurling champions, who play Lucan Sarsfield in the hurling denouement this weekend coming.
Na Fianna started the better of the two, despite the fact that they had been whipped by a 17-point margin in the first round of the group stages two months ago.
Indeed they had built up a four-point lead 10 minutes before the interval but from there until the last few minutes, it was the southside team that took control of the match and at one stage were nine points up before the Mobhi Road outfit shaved the margin back to four with a late goal and flurry of points.
Boden simply ground out the result to collect their fifth title and first since 2019.
Once again they can thank their leaders for this victory, with Galway’s Cein Darcy scoring the decisive goal but also manning up well at midfield, while former All-Star and Dublin All-Ireland winner Colm Basquel emerged as man of the match with a great individual performance that managed to bring the best out of his colleagues.
Not far behind was sharp-shooter Daire Sweeney, whose two goals and eight points helped his side in a great second half comeback against defending county and national champions Cuala two weeks ago. This time around, the corner forward accounted for eight points, mostly from frees conceded against the marauding Basquel.
'Boden now advance to a Leinster club quarter-final tie against the Wexford representatives down in Wexford Park in mid-November while Na Fianna’s dual players will hope to make amends with a win this weekend.
Ballyboden St Enda's: H O'Sullivan; B Bobbett, S Clayton, C Flaherty; A Gavin (0-1), P Healy (0-2, tp), P Warren; C D'Arcy (1-0), J Holland (0-1); J McGuire, R O'Dwyer (0-2), J Madden; R McGarry, C Basquel (0-2), D Sweeney (0-8, 0-7f) Subs: R Baines for Clayton 3, C O'Dwyer for McGuire 45, K Kennedy for Warren 51, H Donaghy for Healy 58, D O'Reilly for Madden 60.
Na Fianna: D O'Hanlon; F Potts, A Rafter, J Cooper; Nl McGovern, E Murchan, O Donohoe; J Doran (0-2), K Deeley; C Early, B O'Leary (0-4, 0-3f), D Quinn; C McHugh (0-5, 0-2f), C Reddin (0-1), S Caffrey Subs: V Flynn for Deeley 34, K Sexton (1-0) for Caffrey 46, D Kennedy for McGovern 49, D Clerkin for Quinn 51, D Lacey for Reddin 56.
Ref: D Delaney (Wanderers).
Sarsfields 2-18 Midleton 1-14
Sometimes a wait can make the experience all the sweeter… and so it came to pass for The Sars players this year as after failing at this stage last year, they made no mistake second time around to rule the roost against a stiff Midleton challenge in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
Hero of the hour undoubtedly was James Sweeney who got his side’s two goals as they ended the game seven points to the good.
The Glanmire-based club can now set out as Munster champions to defend their title, having represented Cork last year when losing to divisional side Imokelly who were ineligible to play in the provincial club series.
Indeed, Sars got all the way to the final but lost out on the big day to Dublin champions Na Fianna.
In winning their eighth senior title, the Sars will set sail this year a more experienced crew, though they have the likes of Na Piarsaigh from Limerick and Ballygunner in Waterford, not to mention the eventual Tipperary champions all hoping to add provincial glory to county honors. Sars' defense of their title begins against either the Limerick or Waterford champions in November.
This was a game the winners were always in control of but were far enough ahead to relax until Sweeney rifled home his second goal deep into the second half.
Up to then they depended on Jack O’Connor’s points to keep them far enough ahead not to panic - and his all round display earned him the MVP award at the end of the day.
We must also factor in that Midleton were fighting an uphill battle before the throw-in as an Achilles injury forced county man Conor Lehane out of the frame while they also were minus their dominating full back Eoin Moloney.
Without this pair they labored and had to wait 19 minutes to register their first point, while their opponents found scores much easier to come by all game long.
Colm McCarthy lofted six white flags for the winners and could have had a few more in their first half.
The only boost for the loser in this moiety was Eavan McGrath’s opportunistic goal in the 11th minute.
If they thought that might rouse them, they had another thing coming as Sars hit 1-3 without reply - with Cein Darcy the provider as Sweeney raised his first green flag as his side led by 1-9 to 1-3 at the interval.
There was plenty of action, honest endeavor and scores all the way through the second half and you sensed Midleton’s need for something special as they turned their minds to getting an all important second goal to bring them right back into the frame.
Luke O’Farrell went close but his effort was just wide but it was Sweeney who found the all important score as he buried the ball after Cillian Roche sent a well placed ball into his hand to pounce.
Skipper Conor O’Sullivan’s acceptance speech brought emotion to the victory by dedicating the trophy to club great Ray Ryan, brother of former Cork manager Pat, who tragically passed away earlier this year.
Sarsfields: B Graham; C O’Sullivan, C Roche, D English; C Leahy, B Murphy, L Elliott; D Kearney, K Murphy (0-1); C Darcy (0-1), J O’Connor (0-5) D Hogan (0-1); B O’Flynn (0-1), J Sweeney (2-0), C McCarthy (0-8, 0-7f) Subs S O’Regan (0-1) for McCarthy (53), B Nodwell for O’Flynn (57), E Murphy for Elliott (60+1).
Midleton: B Saunderson (0-1f); C Smyth, L Dineen, S Smyth; T O’Connell, T O’Leary-Hayes, R O’Regan; C Beausang (0-2), M Finn (0-7, 0-5f, 0-1 65); C Walsh (0-1), A Quirke, K McDermott (0-1, 65); P White (0-1), D Cremin, E McGrath (1-0) Subs L O’Farrell for Cremin (41), P Connaughton for O’Regan (46), S O’Meara for Walsh (49), K Burke for O’Meara (57, inj), Pa Haughney for White (60).
Ref: C Lyons (Nemo Rangers).
GAA RESULTS
Sunday 19 October
Antrim SHC final
Naomh Eoin 2-16 Loughgiel Shamrocks 1-18
Carlow SFC final
Old Leighlin 1-11 Rathvilly 0-13
Cork SHC final
Sarsfields 2-18 Midleton 1-14
Derry SFC final
Newbridge 1-17 O'Donovan Rossa 1-15
Down SFC final
Kilcoo 1-17 Carryduff 1-11
Kildare SFC final
Athy 1-17 Naas 0-18
Laois SHC final
Clough/Ballacolla 2-21 Camross 2-15
Leitrim SFC final
Leitrim Gaels 1-19 Ballinamore SOH 0-14
Limerick SHC final
Na Piarsaigh 2-25 Doon 2-18 (AET)
London SFC final
North London Shamrocks 3-7 Tir Chonaill Gaels 0-13
Mayo SFC final
Ballina Stephenites 1-15 Westport 0-18
Meath SHC final
Kiltale 3-19 Ratoath 4-16
Offaly SHC final
Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-24 Shinrone 2-14
Sligo SHC final
Easkey 2-25 Naomh Eoin 1-15
Westmeath SHC final
Castletown-Geoghegan 1-23 Lough Lene Gaels 2-20
Kerry SFC semi-final
Dingle 1-16 Mid Kerry 0-16
Wexford SFC semi-finals
Shelmaliers 1-15 Kilanerin 0-13
Castletown Liam Mellows 2-14 Gusserane 0-11
Saturday 18 October
Fermanagh SFC final
Erne Gaels Belleek 2-14 Derrygonnelly Harps 0-20
Dublin SFC final
Ballyboden St Enda's 1-16 Na Fianna 1-12
Galway SHC semi-finals
St Thomas' 4-18 Craughwell 0-19
Loughrea 1-17 Turloughmore 0-15
Kerry SFC semi-final
Austin Stacks 1-16 Rathmore 1-9
Tipperary SFC semi-final
Kilsheelan-Kilcash 1-14 Loughmore-Castleiney 2-9
Waterford SFC semi-final
The Nire 0-10 Gaultier 0-9
