CONNOLLY MEATS MINOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 SHIELD FINAL.
Clontibret2-13 St. Patrick’s 3-8.
Clontibret staged a strong finish to clinch the Connolly Meats sponsored minor football league division 1 shield title at the expense of St Patrick’s in a game that built to a dramatic conclusion in Scotstown on Tuesday evening past. This was a game that was in the balance in an exciting 2nd half as the momentum swung on a couple of occasions, but ultimately it was Clontibret’s ability to absorb pressure and break quickly that saw them clinch the vital scores to seal victory. The elements too played a part in this game with a strong wind favouring each team in either half, St Patrick’s, the Ballybay/Drumhowan combination, enjoying the elements in the 1st half and Clontibret then having the benefit in the 2nd period. St Patrick’s got off to much the better start and they had 1-4 on the board in the opening 10 minutes, and might have had a couple more, 1-3 coming from the boot of top scorer Shane Monaghan, the other point by Owen Quinn, but ultimately St Patrick’s were over reliant on Monaghan’s finishing. It took Clontibret 20 minutes to get off the mark with a point from a free by Dara Hughes and they went on then to add 3 more in quick succession from Michael Savage, Dean McGuigan and substitute Cian Coyle with what was the final score of the 1st half, although there were goalmouth scrambles at both ends before the short whistle, with St Patrick’s 3 points to the good at the break, 1-4 to 0-4.
Clontibret got off to a great start to the second-half and within 7 minutes they had not only wiped out that 3 points half-time deficit but had taken a 2 points lead, hitting 1-2 without reply, the goal the opening score of the second-half by Conor Doyle when he got the vital touch to a high centre and the points by Dean McDonald from 2 frees. 4 minutes later though St Patrick’s were back in front when Colm Lennon converted a penalty for a foul on Niall Duffy. Dara Hughes equalised for Clontibret from a free with Shane Monaghan restoring St Patrick’s to the lead with a point from a free in the 15th minute and the game now very finely balanced entering the final quarter. A goal for Clontibret by Eli Ward and a point by Dean McDonnell put the O’Neills 3 points in front after 17 minutes but 5 minutes later St Patrick’s had it back to the minimum with 2 points by Shane Monaghan. With 5 minutes of normal time remaining Dara Hughes converted a free to put Clontibret 2 in front but within a minute St Patrick’s were back in the lead by a point with a goal by Daniel Caraher, Darragh Drury the provider. Clontibret responded emphatically though to register 3 quick fire points from Dean McDonnell, 2, and Jack Gormley to go 2 in front in the final minute of normal time. St Patrick’s pulled back a point from a free through Shane Monaghan a minute into stoppage time as the tension built with Clontibret then cancelling that out with a point from a free by Dara Hughes to go 2 in front 2 minutes later. St Patrick’s now threw everything into attack for Owen Quinn to be fouled, Clontibret’s Darren Mone black carded for the offence but their effort for a goal from the free was cleared to leave Clontibret winners by 2.
Teams and Scorers: Clontibret: Christopher McDermott, Ciaran Brennan, Dean Brennan, Darren Todd, Dean McDonnell 0-5, Darren Mone, Conor Doyle 1-0, Daniel McDonnell, Dara Hughes 0-4 (4f), Michael Savage 0-1, Dean McGuigan 0-1, Shea Gorman, Ross Lowey, Eli Ward 1-0, Jack Gormley 0-1. Subs: Cian Coyle 0-1 for R Lowey.
St Patrick’s: Tom McGuirk, Simon Browne, Cian Hand, Tiernan McSkeane, Charlie Counihan, Owen Quinn 0-1, Matthew Ward, Daniel Tomany, Daniel Caraher 1-0, Conor Monaghan, Niall Duffy, Colum Lennon 1-0 (pen.), Shane Monaghan 1-7 (0-6f), Colm McMahon, Daragh Drury. Subs: Ciaran McKearney for C McMahon. Referee: Michael Metzger (Magheracloone).
By Majella Boyd Tue 30th Aug
