Palatine deliver dominant display in Minor final
Mark Buggy jumps for joy after receiving the minor football trophy on behalf of Palatine.
Palatine are the Carlow Minor Football Champions. At Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday they out-fought and out-played a determined Éire Óg side in this Cental Under 18 Division 1A final to emerge as worthy and convincing winners.
As minor finals go, this was a classic as Peter Lynch popped over a Palatine point with just 14 seconds gone on the clock. The Teach Asca side hit back with a Cormac Murphy point and Leon Fitzgerald followed up with a two-pointer from play into the O’Hanrahan end of the ground. Mark Buggy equalised with his own two-pointer and it got better for Palatine when they were awarded a penalty. Buggy took on the responsibility but his shot flew high over the crossbar.
The Palatine three-pointer duly arrived when a Peter Lynch rocket beat Tommy Cooney in the Éire Óg goal. The Teach Asca said were playing catch-up against a side who just seemed to be marginally better but they hung in there and were only 1-4 to 0-5 in arrears with half-time approaching.
Before the break, the eventual winners enjoyed a good spell with Luke Byrne landing two points from play and Buggy converting a free to leave Palatine 1-7 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.
As the second half got underway, Éire Óg almost enjoyed a huge boost when Ronan Dooley out-smarted the Palatine defence but saw his shot come off the woodwork. It just needed a colleague to be in the correct position but unfortunately for the YIs, a score eluded two players who had been wrong-footed by the loose ball.
At the other end, the Éire Óg keeper, Cooney earned his keep when making a brilliant save with his legs from Lynch. Palatine were in control but mindful that they had coughed up a big county final lead to St Martins last season nobody from the Bennekerry based club was relaxing.
Their breathing did become more steady when substitute, Allen Bowe, was on hand to finish to the net from close range to stretch the lead out to 2-9 to 0-5.
The classy Leon Fitzgerald landed another two-pointer for Éire Óg and Brian Louw netted breaking ball. Unlike last year, this time those concessions only had the effect of maintaining Palatine’s focus.
Bowe drew a second Palatine penalty but again Buggy failed to find the net with Tommy Cooney going to his right to make the save. The eventual winners were not for turning. They upped the ante and Bowe scored his second goal when coming in at the far post to tip home. Another rocket from Lynch stretched the lead out to 4-11 to 1-7 with time almost up.
Owen Fitzharris celebrated his introduction with a Palatine point from play and right at the end, an Éire Óg attack saw Louw score his second goal. An eleven point margin at the end might have been a little harsh on the runners-up but Palatine were not for turning on the day.
Cathal Ryan, the Palatine manager was a happy man afterwards. The memory of losing the final to St Martins last season when they coughed up a big lead may not be totally forgotten but this was atonement.
“It was a tough game. It was always going to be a tough game,” he said.
“We drew in the group stages. It was always going to be tight. I could feel it in the warm-up. Obviously bringing so many of the group from last year and what happened last year we were never going to let that happen again,” he ascertained.
“We were here last year ten points up and St Martins came back and beat us. The players were never going to let that happen again.
A Bowe 2-1, P Lynch 2-1, M Buggy 0-5 (2fs 0-1pen), L Byrne 0-4, O Fitzharris 0-1.
B Louw 2-0, L Fitzgerald 0-4 (2-2ps), S Hayden, J Curran, C Murphy 0-1 each.
Ryan Gordon; Jack McDonald, Kyle Martin, Callum Martin; John Hendricken, Ronan Kelly, Zak Nolan; Cormac McConnon, Ben Nolan; Luke Byrne, Dylan Farrell, Mark Buggy; Danny McMahon, Peter Lynch, Cian Dolan.
Subs: Allen Bowe for Kelly (37), Nathan Walsh for Farrell (47), Seanie McMahon for McMahon (56), Owen Fitzharris for Byrne (58).
Tommy Cooney; Peter Breen-Parle, Alex Donnelly Finn, Dan Custerson; Jamie Doody, Darragh Casey, Cian Hennessy; Brian Louw, Leon Fitzgerald; Jacob Curran, Cormac Murphy, Senan Sheehan; Harry Delaney, Sean Hayden, Ronan Dooley.
Subs: Keelan Brennan for Custerson (h/t), Shay O’Grady for Hennessy (37), Adam Haughney for Delaney (45), Oisin Rice for Hayden (49), Evan McGrath for Murphy (56).
Lar Murphy (Grange)
