Donegal 1-17 Shannon Blues 4-13
The stands and sidelines were bursting with anticipation for
the senior football final between Shannon Blues and Donegal and the punters
were not disappointed by the classic game of football served up by the two top
teams in Boston this year. Donegal
looked to have the game in the bag with a five point lead and three minutes
left. The Donegal crowd was singing in
the stand, but the Blues forced extra time thanks to a Kieran Hurley goal and
two Sean O’Connor points. At the break
in extra time the northerners again led, this time by three but back to back
goals by the never say die Blues catapulted them into a lead. The Blues slowed it down in the last few
minutes of extra time, and got two insurance points, to win the 2012 senior
football championship in amazing style.
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| Shannon Blues Celebrate the Senior Football Championship |
A goal separated the sides at the end of the first 30
minutes, though it could have been more.
Donegal missed a penalty early in the half after Fergal Clancy was
pulled down in the area. Brian White
went low for the corner and ball rolled wide of the post. The Blues tried to get their quick
handpassing game going and had a degree of success. Sean O’Connor put two well worked points over
the bar, James Hynes two, and Caolan Rafferty one that came from running moves
that the Blues managed to craft. Donegal
had the upper hand though, especially in the middle of the field. Clancy was in great form at wing forward and
at times opened up the Blue rearguard.
Conor Phelan did well at corner back to recover several balls, and
Thomas Sayers made three very good saves when a goal beckoned for the
northerners. Dessie Dolan was on form
putting three points over, two from frees while Derek Maguire also found the
mark on two occasions. Donegal’s goal
came from a typical defence splitting move.
Kieran Williams found White who was steaming down the middle and the
Louthman’s shot gave Sayers no chance.
At the break Donegal were a goal to the good.
The excitement level rose considerably in the second
half. Donegal stretched their lead to
five points and were on top of the Blues short kickouts. One score came straight from a short one that
was returned over the bar by Kevin Mulhern.
The Blues kept up their running game but when it was critical to hold on
to the ball, the Blues spilled it at crucial moments. James Hynes netted to bring the Blues within
two points and Cathal McHugh pointed to make it a one point game. The Blues then had several chances to take
the lead but chance after chance went awry as the forwards lost their
touch. Donegal made the Blues pay for
their errors. With less then 10 minutes
to go Donegal turned a one point lead into five. Donnelly, White, Maguire and Kelly each put
fine points over the bar and it looked as the game was Donegal’s. Driven forward by captain Brian Curran, the
Blues earned a last chance to win the game with a few minutes left. Peter Boyle made a great save from Caolan
Rafferty from point blank range but the ball spilled to Hurley who pulled on it
and into the net. Sean O’Connor put two
points over the bar, one from a free to level it, and unbelieveably extra time
was now necessary to separate the teams.
Donegal got off two quick points to get extra time
going. The Kickouts favoured Donegal who
ran the ball at the Blues back line.
Dolan curled over a beauty and Kelly followed with another. Dolan and Cassidy put two more over as the
Blues found themselves under pressure in the early going. O’Connor pointed once for the Blues before
the break in play. Could the Blues keep
the running game up enough to pull off a win?
The answer was a yes. Two goals,
both characteristic of the Blues handpasssing game carved open the Donegal
defence. Cathal Cregg fired home to draw
the teams level and shortly afterwards Rafferty buried a spectacular shot to
the far side after begin fed by O’Connor.
The goal stunned Donegal who were now all at sea and the northerners
failed to score in the second period of extra time. Cregg now went into holding mode and used up
time before pointing and then Brian Curran put another over the seal the
victory. Delight for the Blues which surely more than made up for a
tough season last year. Good luck in Philly!
Referee: Syl Doyle
Man of the Match:
Brian Curran (Shannon Blues) The
Blues captain kept the side going when the chips were down.
Donegal: P. Boyle, D.
Reynolds, M. Canny, K. Mulhern, G. Reynolds, K. Cassidy, B. Donnelly, B. White,
F. Clancy, D. Dolan, E. Kelly, K. Williams, D. Maguire. Blues:
T. Sayers, C. Phelan, R. O’Callaghan, B. Curran, M. McGowan, S. Moriarty,
D. Clark, D. Dineen, C. Cregg, J. Hynes, S. O’Connor, C. Rafferty, K. Hurley.
By Rory O'Donnell
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