Wolfe Tones 2-8 Shannon Blues 1-3
Conditions were less then ideal when the Tones and Blues met
Saturday afternoon to decide who would advance to the Junior A Football
final. The wet greasy conditions did not
lend themselves to perfect football, but it was an incident filled game that
the Tones did well to come out on top in.
The outcome revolved around a second half penalty that would have drawn
the Blues level with a man advantage.
Gary Henry’s kick was well placed but came off the underside of the
crossbar.
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| Wolfe Tones Juniors will defend their title next week versus Donegal. |
There was just one score from play in the opening period,
Mike O’Brien fought hard to create an opening and put the ball over from a
tight angle. The Tones established a
lead through the opportunities that came from free kicks, and Mick Sammon was
on the mark for three. Gary Henry popped
over the Blues lone score of the half from a 21-yard free as they struggled to
create many openings. The Tones did a
little better working the ball forward through Kevin Keelan, Gavin Walsh, and
Ger Molloy. At the break it was 0-4 to
0-1 in favour of the Tones.
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| Shannon Blues Junior A Team |
The Blues got the second period off to the best possible
start with a well worked goal. Pat
Murray was the link man all the way through, and was the finisher from 14
yards. After Mick Sammon pointed from a
free the Tones netted a goal of their own.
Center back, Cormac Davey too a speculative shot from distance as the
Blues defence frustrated the Tones, and Kevin Gorham may have tipped the ball
into the net and wrong footed Blues keeper, Declan Hawes. The Tones had to play the final 20 minutes of
the game with a man down after Mick Sammon was red carded for an incident after
the ball was played. The Blues had a chance
to draw level after Maurice Young’s shot was illegally blocked in the penalty
area. After a second chance, Gary
Henry’s kick came off the underside of the crossbar and the omens did not look
good for the Blues. The Tones added to
their lead with a goal from Marty McGeough, the opening was created by some
good running from Mike O’Brien and Gavin Walsh.
Instead of what could have been a tied game, the Blues were down by six
points. The Tones worked hard to make up
for the deficit in personnel, Walsh and Gorham added points and with less then
10 minutes left the Blues were looking at closing a seven point gap. The Tones played out the remaining time and
advance to the final next Sunday where they meet Donegal.
Referee: Syl Doyle
(Loch Garman)
Man of the Match:
Mike O’Brien (Wolfe Tones)
Tones: B. Murray, A.
Rooney, K. Gill, M. O’Brien, C. Davey, E. Carr, K. Keelan, J. Farrell, G.
Walsh, G. Molloy, K. Gorham, M. Sammon, J. Carroll. Blues:
D. Hawes, M. Moriarty, C. Fitzgerald, C. Mullins, C. Wallace, T. Hernon,
N. Murray, P. Murray, M. Flynn, K. Killeen, E. Driscoll, J. Feeney, G. Henry.
By Rory O'Donnell
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