Owenmore Gaels 2-7 Easkey/Enniscrone/Kilglass 1-9
The minor lads secured a place in the final of the A league Shield with a one point win over Easkey/Enniscrone/Kilglass (EEK) at Connolly Park this evening.
There was a cagey opening to the game as both teams sussed each other out and it took until the 8th minute for a flag to be raised when Stephen Fallon floated over a free to open the Gaels account. EEK quickly replied with a goal and 2 points in the next 4 minutes, the goal coming after Mark Walsh saved a penalty but was unfortunate as the ball landed back out at the feet of the penalty taker who crashed home. Playing with the elements, we needed to respond. Fallon pointed another free and Aaron Walsh followed up with a tidy score. EEK responded with a point leaving the score at 1-3 0-3 approaching half time. With EEK defending well and in numbers we were struggling to break them down. However, just before half time Aaron Walsh got inside the EEK cover and from a tight angle arrowed a beautiful shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner to leave the teams level at the turnaround, 1-3 1-3.
On the resumption we took over and were the dominant team over the third quarter, however we failed to show it on the scoreboard hitting a succession of wides. Fallon did point two frees, won by Jamie Callaghan and Kevin Healy. EEK scored on a rare foray forward, we responded with 2 points, a well taken point from captain James Duffy and another great team score finished off by Fallon. Again EEK responded with a point to keep right in touch. Then came what would prove to be the clinching score, and what a score it was. Tony Fox turned over the ball at the back and offloaded to Duffy. He feed the on-rushing Bryan McPartland who carried it forward. When he found Derek Lynch on the 40 he still had a lot to do; he turned and with a lightening burst of pace left 2 EEK defenders in his wake before finishing powerfully to the net. This left the score at 2-7 1-6 in our favour, a seemingly unassailable lead with 6 minutes to go.
However a combination of us taking the foot of the gas and a spirited late show from EEK saw the gap closed to 1 point by the final whistle with 3 EEK frees. We held out to book our place in the final.
This was a satisfactory result, making it 2 narrow wins in 4 days for the team. There is no doubt the team was suffering a hangover from Monday evenings match as we never reached the same level of performance. But the team showed good character and workrate to eek out the result and reach the final.
Mark Walsh played very well, again deputising for the injured Diarmuid O’Grady, a second half point blank save was particularly crucial. Tony Fox again impressed at the back along with Roland Anderson. Best for the Gaels this evening was our No.3 Roan Conneely, who had an excellent game at Full-Back.
The final will be next Thursday evening against either Tubbercurry/Cloonacool or Ballymote/Buninnadden at a venue to be confirmed.
Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Diarmuid O’Grady
Team: Mark Walsh, Tony Fox, Roan Conneely, Vincent Harte, Roland Anderson, Jamie Callaghan, Kevin Healy (Jordan McGuinn), James Duffy (0-1), Ross Trill, Stephen Fallon (0-5, 4F), Oisin Geraghty, Calum Tonry (Bryan McPartland), Aaron Walsh (1-1), Derek Lynch (1-0), Kevin Quigley (Daragh Mahon) Subs: Byron Doherty
Mentors: Pa Murphy & Gerry Walsh