Golden Kilfeacle add to hurling success after besting St Patrick's in U19 football county final

FBD Insurance County U19B Football Championship Final

Golden Kilfeacle 2-10

St. Patrick’s 1-7

By Michael Heverin

Golden/Kilfeacle displayed its strength as a formidable dual club when its U19 ‘B’ footballers emulated the intermediate hurlers with a second county title success in the space of four days, with victory over St. Patrick’s under lights on the Fethard Town Park grass pitch on Tuesday night.

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As the celebrations for the hurlers winning promotion to Premier Intermediate for next season were just beginning to wind down, the young footballers achieved their own milestone with a hugely impressive performance to overcome a stern challenge from St Patrick’s.

The west side looked to be well on their way to victory at half-time when they led 1-5 to 0-3, despite playing against the stiff breeze.

The Drangan/Cloneen side rallied in the third quarter, and a Conor Maguire goal saw them draw level at 1-7 each twelve minutes into the second half. But Golden/Kilfeacle responded brilliantly and added another 1-3 while keeping the south side scoreless for the remainder of the game.

And that response delighted, but didn’t surprise, their manager Daniel Currivan. 

“It could have gone either way when they came back at us, they could have gone on and added a few more scores and we might have fallen asunder.  But it didn’t happen and that’s been the attitude of the lads all year. They won’t give up and they’ll play to the final whistle and that’s all we can ask of them”, said Currivan.

“We are delighted with the win. They are excellent lads, train very hard and have been training since February. And this finishes off a great week for the club”, he said, adding that he hoped the Junior B footballers could also reach a county final later in the week.

Team captain Sam Hall led from the front. He was central to all their best moves as their patient build-up probed for openings in the St Patrick’s defence, which was kept busy with fine play from Harry Fogarty, Ian Ryan, James Finn and Charlie Hall.

Cian Lonergan was outstanding at centre half back, while also coming forward to hit the side’s second goal that put their victory beyond doubt. Ciaran Byrne, Ning Brennan and Conor Marnane also impressed.

After a sluggish first half, St Patrick’s stormed back into the game in the second, and with a little more composure in front of goal they could have been closer to lifting the title themselves. 

They had an over-reliance on the free-taking of team captain Finn Madigan, who was also outstanding in open play, with big games also from Charlie Noonan, Oran Gahan, Cormac Duggan and Conor Maguire.

The game was played in a sporting spirit on an outstanding surface, but got a little heated in the closing stages, with referee Tom McGrath reducing both sides to fourteen players in added time – St Patrick’s Conor Maguire dismissed on a second yellow card, followed by a straight red for Golden/Kilfeacle’s Cian Lonergan.

Sam Hall began the game as he intended to continue, pointing a two-point free in the fourth minute following a foul on his brother Charlie. Golden looked the better side but two pointed frees from Finn Madigan had St Patrick’s level by the 11th minute.

But the game swung in the west side’s direction midway through the half when Sam Hall set up Kevin Hogan for a shot from distance. St Patrick’s goalkeeper Eoin Morrissey appeared to misjudge the flight of the ball and Ian Ryan slipped in to shoot to the net.

With the momentum now firmly in their favour, Golden/Kilfeacle added three points without reply, from Harry Fogarty, a Sam Hall free after a St Patrick’s defender handled the ball on the ground in front of goal, and a great score from Cian Lonergan after Ning Brennan had been heavily involved in the build-up.

They had further chances to extend their lead but were off target from both play and placed balls. Instead, it was St Patrick’s who were next to score, with their first point in twenty minutes, when a flowing move was finished by Conor Brett, to leave five points between the sides at the break, 1-5 to 0-3.

St Patrick’s had failed to take advantage of the breeze in the first and played better against it in the second. Madigan from a free opened their second half scoring in the first minute following good play from Sean Nash.

Golden/Kilfeacle hit back when Sam Hall set up James Finn for a super two-pointer from play to push their lead out to six, 1-7 to 0-4. But then 1-3 in the space of six minutes brought the south side right back into contention.

Madigan pointed a free, then scored from play after taking a pass from Charlie Noonan, and added another free following a great run through the centre from Sean Nash.

Then, a minute later, substitute Nathan Gleeson fielded brilliantly in midfield before sending Noonan clear and his final pass set up Conor Maguire for a superb goal. 

The game was now in the melting pot, and it was Golden/Kilfeacle who upped their intensity when it mattered most. Sam Hall was central to their next two points in the space of a minute, setting up James Finn for the first and Cian Lonergan for the second. They went three points clear when Charlie Hall provided the assist for Jack Donnelly to score.

And then, as the game ticked into added time, Golden/Kilfeacle finished off in style with a superb goal from Cian Lonergan to seal a deserved win.

Golden Kilfeacle: Jamie Moloney; Ivor Ryan, Ciaran Byrne, Conor Marnane; James McLoughlin, Cian Lonergan (1-2), Ning Brennan; Harry Fogarty (0-1), James Finn (0-3, 1x2pt); Kevin Hogan, Sam Hall (0-3, 1x2ptf, 0-1f), Charlie Hall; Ian Ryan (1-0), Evan Ryan, Jack Donnelly (0-1). 

Subs used: Nick O’Toole for Kevin Hogan; Cian Ryan for Ian Ryan.

St. Patrick’s: Eoin Morrissey; Cathal Keane, Cormac Duggan, Conor Danagher; Dane Outram, Evan Holohan, Sean Fitzgerald; Oran Gahan, Sean Nash; Eoin Horan, Charlie Noonan, Finn Madigan (0-6, 0-5f); Conor Maguire (1-0), Conor Brett (0-1), Tom Lee. 

Subs used: Nathan Gleeson for Tom Lee; Bobby Purcell for Eoin Horan.

Referee: Tom McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)

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