County Junior B Final Report

Lone Shark · Post by **Lone Shark** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:48 pm

(I'll have the intermediate one later - this one had to be done first!!)

Gracefield 1-6 St. Rynagh’s 1-6

The importance of a strong panel is something that modern intercounty managers continue to emphasise as Gaelic Games continue to evolve, and although this is less pronounced at club level, it’s hardly a coincidence that the four semi finalists in this years senior county championship were all clubs that had either an Intermediate or a good Junior A team backing up their seniors. Strength in depth has become more vital than ever as clubs now have to play at least six games to win a county championship, and now that St. Rynagh’s will be joining Gracefield in competing for the Dowling cup in 2006, both sides will be eager for their second string to make the step up to junior A grade and be better prepared when senior teams are forced to come calling.

Of course for the 34 players that took the field on Saturday evening, winning this trophy this year is all that matters, and this resolve was easy to see on Saturday evening. The low scoreline might not be an indication of a spectacular end-to-end game, but St. Rynagh’s reached this final with an average of 9.6 points per game, so taking Gracefield on in a shootout was not in their interests. Their backs, particularly Tony McIntyre and David Flaherty, did great work in keeping the scoring down, but equally James Brady played a fine game from centre back for Gracefield, and curbing his influence will be a big consideration when St. Rynagh’s selectors sit down to discuss the replay.

A replay will have been the farthest thing from St. Rynagh’s minds after they made a fantastic start to this game, dominating in defence and scoring freely up front. They soon were three up, scores coming from Ian Mahon, Joe Carroll and Noel Buckley in the first six minutes. The game could easily have gone away from Gracefield at this stage, but in Kieran McEvoy they had a former county star who still has the feet if not the legs. A somewhat engineered free was converted by him on eight minutes, and he followed this up with another fine score two minutes later.

With conditions beginning to deteriorate, this high rate of scoring was not likely to continue, and so it proved, with a twelve minute fallow period, before the first real goal chance of the game – a great pass from Eunan Martin finding roving corner back Eoghan Grogan in space, and as he closed in on goals, he could have shot himself, passed across goals, or taken the simple point. Perhaps mindful of being a corner back fish out of defensive waters, he took the point, doubling his side’s lead.

It was injury time before there were any further scores, James Brady stamping his class on the game with a great run and point. At 0-4 to 0-3, the game was delicately poised, but with the last act of the half, the picture changed. A high ball into the Rynagh’s full forward line was missed by full back David Moore, and fell to Darren Barrett, who scuffed his shot, but was fouled in the process. He got up to take the penalty, and duly converted, leaving his side four points to the good at the break.

The start of the second half saw the game change completely. Two early points from Dermot Dunne and a McEvoy 45 set the tone, and Gracefield took the lead after a fantastic run down the left hand side by Thomas Doyle resulted in substitute Joe Brereton getting the goal chance and capitalising. The momentum was now clearly with Gracefield, but they failed to take advantage, and could have lost the lead straight away but for a poor finish by Greg Flynn in front of goals after he had done the hard work winning the ball and beating his man.

Another goal chance followed soon after, Tony Byrne being denied by Jonathan Knight, although here there was some reward as Padraig Flaherty put over the resultant 45. When Flaherty added a second dead ball two minutes later to leave the sides at level at 1-6 apiece a great finish looked in prospect. However by now defences were clearly on top, and apart from one or two wides, neither side can really say they took the game by the scruff of the neck in that last quarter of an hour. As a result they’ll both have a full hour to do so again.

Teams:
Gracefield: Jonathan Knight; Aidan Garry, David Moore, Kevin Keegan; Aidan Slattery, James Brady (0-1), Brian Brereton; Joe Byrne, Paul Bracken; John Scully, Kieran McEvoy (0-3, 0-1 ’45, 0-1 free) , Thomas Doyle; Dermot Dunne (0-2), Kieran O’Driscoll, Malcolm Keogh.

Subs: Jason Jordan for Kieran O’Driscoll, Joe Brereton (1-0) for Malcolm Keogh, Malcolm Keogh for John Scully

St. Rynagh’s: Michael T Hough; David Flaherty, Tony McIntyre, Eoghan Grogan (0-1); Mark Reynolds, Greg Flynn, Kieran Butler; Kevin Kelly, Joe Carroll (0-1); Ian Mahon (0-1), Eunan Martin, Noel Buckley (0-1); Tony Byrne, Padraig Flaherty (0-2, 0-1 ’45, 0-1 free), Darren Barrett (1-0, pen).

Subs: Dessie Kilmartin for Ian Mahon, Packy Barrett for Noel Buckley

Referee: Eddie Dunne

duboffaly · Post by **duboffaly** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:20 pm

when is the aul intermediate report due?

turk · Post by **turk** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:05 pm

i'd be interested in the intermediate match report aswell!

it just goes to show what a great job that loan shark and the uibhfhaili.com team are doing that we are dependent on these reports - in previous years we wouldn't have a nuts what was happening!

well done team!!

duboffaly · Post by **duboffaly** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:32 am

Must be one hell of a report you are putting together loneshark...

Lone Shark · Post by **Lone Shark** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:17 am

Apologies - got distracted - I've my end of year club by club thing due soon, and that's been absorbing my time. I'll have it tonight.