Deserved win for Newcastle in Tipperary County Minor C football final

Newcastle 0-8 St Patrick’s 0-6

Newcastle survived a spirited St Patrick’s comeback to deservedly win the FBD Insurance County Minor C Football Championship final at Fethard Town Park on Wednesday evening.

They were the better team in the first half, when they held St Patrick’s scoreless, and led 0-3 to no score at the break.

St Patrick’s scored the first two points of the second half, from Nathan Gleeson frees in the first two minutes, and by the 45th minute were level at 0-5 each.

However, Newcastle finished in style with three points in a row – from Zach Cullinan, and two from the outstanding Daithí Goonan, one a free – before St Patrick’s narrowed the margin to two points on the stroke of full time.

The Newcastle defence was outstanding throughout and, at the other end, much more clinical in front of goal, with five scorers from play. St Patrick’s had an over-reliance on the free-taking of Nathan Gleeson, and their only score from play was their last point in the 60th minute from Jack Gleeson.

In an all-South Tipp decider, Newcastle’s quality was evident in their first point after five minutes with Zach Cullinan, Callum Hackett and Cathan Fitzgerald involved in the move before Hackett again finished it off with a fine score.

St Patrick’s had their chances but a combination of wayward shooting, and the excellence of the Newcastle defence, kept them scoreless. Joe Goonan was immense for Newcastle at full back with Dara O’Loughlin, Sam Cullinan and James Williams all defending brilliantly.

Another fine move saw Sam McDonnell set up James Williams for their second point in the 13th minute. The next 14 minutes were scoreless but St Patrick’s needed a great save from goalkeeper Reece Davies to deny Cathan Fitzgerald a goal after he was put through by Cathal Butler.

Newcastle extended their lead to three points three minutes before the break with a fine point from Sam McDonnell. The Drangan/Cloneen side remained scoreless at the break. Tom Butler was wide when put through by Tiernan O’Brien, and then they nearly got through for a goal just before the short whistle, when a great save from Newcastle goalkeeper Eoghan Byrne denied Butler what would have been a shock equalising goal, following great play in the build-up from Turlough Moroney and Nathan Gleeson.

St Patrick’s maintained that momentum into the early stages of the second half, winning a free inside twenty seconds that Nathan Gleeson converted, and when they won another free from the kickout, after great fielding from Turlough Moroney, Gleeson reduced the margin to just a single point.

A minute later Daithí Goonan rattled the St Patrick’s crossbar, after a flowing move involving Sam Cullinan and Callum Hackett, but he was on an advantage and pointed the subsequent free. Two minutes later Goonan pointed another free to restore his side’s three points advantage.

However, St Patrick’s were now a transformed side from the first half, and their pressure resulted in indiscipline in the Newcastle defence, and the unerring Gleeson pointed three frees in a row to tie the game for the first time at 0-5 each with fifteen minutes to play. They had tightened up at the back, with Dane Outram and Conor Danagher resolute at the heart of the defence, Nathan Gleeson and team captain Eoin Horan were doing well at midfield, with Tiernan O’Brien, Tom Butler, Jack Gleeson and Turlough Moroney making inroads in attack.

But Newcastle were the better team in the final quarter, and hit three-in-a-row of their own. Zach Cullinan restored their lead with a superb point, and then Daithí Goonan kicked an equally outstanding score, following great play from James Williams and Sam McDonnell.

And then five minutes before the final whistle, they put together one of their best moves of the game, team captain Adam Cullinan, James Williams, Sam McDonnell, Sam Cullinan and Leon Johnson moving the ball the length of the pitch, before Zach Cullinan was eventually fouled for Goonan to point another free.

It was a score worthy of winning any game, and only a late St Patrick’s goal would deny them victory. That didn’t come, but Jack Gleeson finished the St Patrick’s scoring with a fine point in the 60th minute. Time ran out before they could launch a further attack, and the trophy was heading back to Newcastle following the presentation to proud captain Adam Cullinan.

Newcastle: Eoghan Byrne; Dara O’Loughlin, Joe Goonan, Sam Carrigan; Sam Cullinan, Adam Cullinan, James Williams 0-1; Zach Cullinan 0-1, Cathal Butler; Callum Hackett, Sam McDonnell 0-1, Conal Condon 0-1; Leon Johnson, Cathan Fitzgerald, Daithí Goonan 0-4 (3f). Sub: Daniel Costello for Fitzgerald (51).

St Patrick’s: Reece Davies; Eddie Hayden, Dane Outram, James Egan; Bobby Purcell, Conor Danagher, Donncha Foley; Nathan Gleeson 0-5f, Eoin Horan; Jack Gleeson 0-1, Tiernan O’Brien, Darragh Fitzgerald; Tom Butler, Turlough Moroney, Liam Richardson. Subs: Daniel Holden for Butler (57), Mickey O’Brien for Fitzgerald (57).

Referee: Tommy McGrath (Clonmel Óg).