Loughmore Castleiney required extra time to beat Drom to the U19B Mid title

Joe O’Sullivan Cab & Bus Hire Mid U19B Football Final

Loughmore Castleiney 2-15

Drom & Inch 3-9

After extra time

By Mark Dunne

A Richard Morris goal deep into the second half of extra time was the decisive score in this eagerly contested Mid U19B Football Final last Wednesday evening in Dr Morris Park.

Both sides were evenly matched in the opening exchanges of the contest. Loughmore’s Joey Quinn who had a fine performance throughout opened the scoring with a composed kick inside a minute. Both sides had goal chances inside the next five minutes, but green flags evaded both teams. 

Drom & Inch pushed for their opening score and it came in fine fashion in seven minutes, Jack Costello found Jack Johnson in space who made no mistake and got his side's first goal of the game. 

Quinn replied swiftly with another placed ball. Drom Inch remained composed on the ball and quick on the counterattack and were rewarded with the next two points from Darragh Fitzpatrick and Sean Duffe. 

Both sides can be commended for their attitude to the game and Loughmore Castleiney found a purple patch hitting the next three points (McCahey, O’Connell & Quinn) unanswered to cancel out Johnson's goal and tie up proceedings. 

The game really took shape in the closing minutes of the half. Tomás Larkin pulled off a vital double save to deny Drom another goal with Cormac Cahill pointing the resulting 45m. Mark Conroy in the Drom goal also pulled off a fine save in the next play to deny Quinn. Loughmore’s pressure in front of the goal eventually resulted in their first green flag with Philip O’Connell the scorer. 

Quinn quickly tapped over another point before a well-worked Drom Inch move saw Captain Paul Mullen score a wonderful goal to tie up proceedings once again. Cahill added one more placed ball before the break to send his side 2-4 to 1-6 in front at the break. 

Drom & Inch looked to start the quickest in the second half but failed to convert on the scoreboard with two opening frees missed. This gave their opponents a chance to bite back and they did so. Quinn added the first to level proceedings before Loughmore kicked on and scored the next three points unanswered. 

Eoin O’Connell picked off a nice 45m before the score of the half saw the aforementioned O’Connell pick out Morris with a sublime pass to score. Captain McCahey led from the front with the next score to send his side three points in front. 

Credit to Drom & Inch who did not panic and played the ball through the lines lining up the best kicker and this paid dividends with a brace of scores to once again put the teams level. 

Daniel McCallister, Jamie Shanahan, and James Duffe all contributed to the scoreboard. With just over ten minutes left in the half, this game was still very much in the melting pot and there to be won. Quinn knocked over another free after a short kick out when a stray. 

Morris who was really settling into the encounter kicked another score before Paul McCahey once again put his side three to the good with four minutes on the clock. Drom & Inch searched desperately for a score and pushed everyone up the field. 

Their patience around the Loughmore square was rewarded when captain Paul Mullen was fouled inside the large parallelogram. Referee Michael Heffernan quickly outstretched his arms and Mullen himself stood up to score to send the game into extra time.

Both sides emerged from the dugouts and sought the early adventure. Loughmore Castleiney did not appear to let the late concession affect their play and Philip O’Connell quickly put his side in the lead. 

Quinn again doubled their advantage on seven minutes but Drom Inch did not wilt and Darragh Fitzpatrick got a fine score on the half-time whistle to put one between the sides. 

Captain Paul Mullen who was his side's best player once again levelled the game with the talk on the sideline beginning to turn to penalties. 

Loughmore Castleiney had other intentions and mid-way through the second half Morris was on the end of a pin point accurate pass from Philip O’Connell and he shot low past Mark Conroy to the shouts of the Loughmore contingent. 

Drom & Inch though still had time for a reply and they came close on three occasions in the closing minutes. Jack Johnson saw his shot saved, with Oliver Barry’s attempt blocked close to the line but the closest saw Cormac Fitzpatrick’s rasper hit off the crossbar with Loughmore Castleiney holding on for a 2-15 to 3-9 win.

Credit to both sides on this wonderful game of football. Both teams looked to attack and kick the ball where possible. The large crowd were well entertained throughout with Captain Paul McCahey collecting the silverware from Mid Board Chairman Joe O’Sullivan.

Loughmore Castleiney: Tomas Larkin; Paul Cormack, Jay Shorley, Colm Gleeson; Michael Ryan, Eoin O’Connell (0-1), Cathal Ryan; Bill Ryan, Paul McCahey (0-3); Daniel McCahey, Joseph Maher, Philip O’Connell (1-2); Joey Quinn (0-7), Aaron Hickey, Richard Morris (1-2). 

Subs used: Billy Meade, Oran Breen.

Drom & Inch: Mark Conroy; Conor Gleeson, Eoghan Kennedy, Jack Costello; Tim Comerford, Paul Mullen (2-1), Jack Johnson (1-0); Aaron Shanahan, David Kinnane; James Duffe (0-1), Darragh Fitzpatrick (0-2), Cormac Cahill (0-2); Cormac Fitzpatrick, Oliver Barry, Sean Duffe (0-1). 

Subs used: Sean Dempsey; TJ Kinnane; Daniel McAllister (0-1); Jamie Shanahan (0-1). 

Referee: Michael Heffernan (Moycarkey Borris)