SETU Carlow pipped to Division 2 title as ATU Donegal stage late comeback
SEY Carlow have a debrief after losing the Senior Football League Division 2 final to ATU Donegal in Ballymacnab
SETU Carlow narrowly missed out on winning a Division 2 League final in Ballymacnab, Armagh on Wednesday evening as ATU Donegal staged a late comeback to win.
On a tight and poorly lit pitch, SETU Carlow were the better side during the first half and goals from Kildare duo Sam Savage and Ross Harris helped them into a 2-9 to 0-9 lead at half time.
With Odhran Doherty getting more involved, the Ulster side stepped up a couple of gears in the second half and pulled back two early scores before Tommy Gill cleverly created a point for Harris.
ATU cut the lead back to two going into the last ten minutes and but in the face of stern pressure, Sam Ryan’s 51st minute point to re-establish a three point lead felt like a big score.
There were times when SETU Carlow struggled to win possession around the middle third but equally they did have enough of the ball in the last ten minutes to see the game out but ATU Donegal deserve a lot of credit for the pressure they applied and four points in a row put them in the lead for the first as the game ticked into injury time.
Kildare’s Tailteann Cup winner Gill came up with a moment of magic to level the game again and SETU got their hands on the ball from the resulting kick out but couldn’t secure possession and ATU Donegal were able to come forward where Odhan O’Connor was fouled and Patrick McElwee converted the free.
SETU Carlow did have one last chance to level the game when the excellent Kevin Swayne fed Oisin McGraynor but the big Wicklow man’s shot flew wide of the post. ATU won the kick out and Max Campbell scored the last point to seal the win in the 64th minute.
Despite the defeat, the league has been a good preparation for SETU Carlow and they will go into the Trench Cup with high hopes of improving on last year’s semi-final appearance.
A better pitch will suit their inside line and there is real scoring potential there with the two Sams, Savage and Ryan. Oisin McGraynor offers quality whether on the edge of the square or drifting out deeper where he can link up with the likes of Kevin Swyane and Ross Harris, while Tommy Gill is a hardworking threat wherever he is positioned.
Damien McGowan; Jake Kelly, Jack Long, Paddy Teevan, Darragh Hennigan 0-1, Odhran Doherty 0-3; Kieran O’Kane 0-2, Oisin Caulfield 0-1; David Monaghan, Shane Callaghan 0-3, Max Campbell 0-1, Luke McGlynn 0-2 (1f), Jack Gallagher 0-1, Patrick McElwee 0- 5(1f). Subs: Odhran O’Connor for Monaghan, h/t; Noah Barrett 0-1 for McGlynn, 41.
Conor Browne (Portlaoise, Laois); Brendan McDonald (Killeshin, Laois), Ethan Moutaine (Sarsfields, Kildare), Mark Whelan (Johnstownbridge, Kildare), Eoghan Slattery (Courtwood, Laois), Kevin Swayne (Portlaoise, Laois, 0-1), Cian Deering (Dunlavin, Wicklow); Adam Burgess (Rathvilly, Carlow), Ross Harris (Castlemitchell, Kildare, 1-2); Cathal Kehoe (Cloughbawn, Wexford), Tommy Gill (Carbury, Kildare, 0-1), Cormac McGraynor (Avondale, Wicklow), Sam Ryan (Sallins, Kildare, 0-3), Oisin McGraynor (Avondale, Wicklow, 0-3, 1f), Sam Savage (Rathangan, Kildare, 1-2). Subs: Paraic Deering (Rathvilly, Carlow) for Slattery, 48; Gavin O’Connor (Boyle, Roscommon) for Kehoe, 51.
Conor Dourneen (Cavan).
