SFL DIVISION 1 FINAL
ÉIRE Óg 2-8 O’HANRAHAN’S 0-9
ALL the pre-match talk was the decision by the CCC to insist that this game go ahead as scheduled despite strong protestations from O’Hanrahan’s that they were missing a number of players.
The CCC stuck to their guns. The Senior Football League has proven to be a tremendous success with club players being catered for throughout the county with regular games for the last number of months.
While there may have been some misgivings about their decision, it was the ultimately the right move and sets down a marker for next year. On Monday night football proved to be the winner on the night.
Indeed the CCC decision may well have proven to be a motivating factor for O’Hanrahan’s and from the off Colin Nolan and Ray Walker were very much on top at midfield.
Brothers Barry and Karol English were in the ascendancy in the halfback line and up front another set of brothers, Alan and Colm Quigley, knocked over points in quick succession. In addition right half back Willie Kinsella galloped forward and was on the end of a quick passing movement to raise a white flag.
However, Éire Óg did to their old rivals what they have done to so many teams down through the years. Two goals in quick succession, one from Andy Byrne and a penalty from Simon Rea when the same player was hauled to the ground by Barry English in the act of setting himself up for a goal-scoring chance.
It turned the game on its head but Éire Óg captain, Chris Bolger, rubbished suggestions that his team may have been distracted by the pre-match controversy.
“It was a battle as usual. No matter what the form is it is always a dogfight in these matches,” he said.
“It was a good game and we’re glad to have matches like this coming up to the championship. No matter what they say there is always plenty of players to play for the Blues.
“It was nice to come out on top. The goals were crucial and they settled us and we were glad to go in at half time holding the lead.”
For a change the captain had no quibbles with Pat Kehoe’s decision to flash two yellow cards in the direction of Alan Curran in the 26th and 27th minute for personal fouls on the hard running Mark Carpenter.
“Two bookable offences and he probably had to go. At the same time he was unlucky. If a referee pulls up a forward as much as he pulls up a back for holding on for the first foul then half of that wouldn’t happen,” Bolger suggested in mitigation on behalf of his banished player. The goals allowed the league holders to enjoy a 2-2 to 0-5 interval lead and despite the numerical disadvantage one felt Éire Óg were still only in third gear.
Early second half points by Rea stretched his side’s lead but Alan Quigley took a pass from Carpenter to shoot over. Robert Moore brought off a fine point-blank save to deny Bermingham a certain goal and much to the frustration of the challengers the ball spun wide off an attacking hand.
O’Hanrahan’s enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession but were unable to transfer it into scores. Blues chairman, Peadar Bermingham felt the Éire Óg defence won the battle.
“We felt that Éire Óg deserved it as they took their chances and we didn’t. We kicked 14 wides and you can’t afford to do that. Their defence closed down our forwards and their backs excelled. We have a lot of work to do as our forwards are not moving well. It is a worry for us,” he said.
On two occasions in that second period O’Hanrahan’s reduced the lead to a manageable three points but each time Éire Óg moved forward and two fabulous points from Bryan Carbery when under pressure knocked the blue challenge for six.
Simon Rea had the last word with a free to give his side a flattering five-point winning margin. Bermingham, to his credit, declined to get involved in any further controversy over the CCC’s decision but felt that a full strength side will make an impact at the business end of the season. “We were missing three good players in Brian Quigley, David Walker and Ken Kavanagh. They might have been available next week but we have no complaints,” he said.
“We were beaten on the night and the two goals made the difference. We made mistakes and they capitalised on it. We had chances when Éire Óg made mistakes and we didn’t make full use of the chances,” said the big man.
Éire Óg: Robert Moore; Alan Callinane, Paul Cashin, Vinny Kavanagh; Alan Byrne, Alan Curran, Brendan Kavanagh; Sean Gannon, Chris Bolger; Tommy Dowling, Derek Hayden, Bryan Carbery (.-.); Simon Rea ( .-.p, .fs), Mark Kelly (.-.), Andy Byrne (.-.). Subs: Eric McCormack for Kelly (..mins), Alan O’Brien for Andy Byrne (..mins), Shane Myers for V Kavanagh (..mins), Daniel Walker for Bolger (..mins), Damien Farrell for Dowling (..mins).
O’Hanrahan’s: John Brennan; Alan Smith, Seamus Farrell, Denis Lyons; Willie Kinsella (.-.), Barry English, Karol English; Colin Nolan, Ray Walker (.-.); Mark Carpenter, Breffni Hannon, David Bermingham (.-.); Colm Quigley (.-.), Alan Quigley (.-.,
.fs), Gavin Walker. Subs: Jimmy White for Lyons (..mins), Philip Nolan for C. Nolan (..mins), Saul Heavins for White (..mins).
Ref: Pat Kehoe (Rathvilly)