You are Here: Home>Sections>Adult Football>2008

Printer Friendly Version of this Page   Contact Us   SiteMap

Junior A Footballers defeat St Annes to end Long Wait for Champo Glory - Mon, 15 Sep 2008

Back Row: Paul Brady, Alan English, Brian Kevlehan, Brian Murphy, Fergal Coonihan, Mark Hanley, Keith Fox, Ciaran Byrne, Cian Mullins, Willie Tyrell, Conor Hayes, Gerry Byrne, John Dunning, Mark McDaid, Neil Plunkett, Keith Morris, Gavin McIntyre, Warren Lynam, Stephen Cooper

Front Row: Domhnall Fahy, Sean Murray, David Brooks, Stephen Dunning, Eoin O Sullivan, Cian McCaffrey, Brian Kelly, Conor Morris, Damien Fitzsimons, Kevin Brennan, Eoin Mulvihil, Maurice Sweeney, Bobby Kilkenny, Ian Craven

St Brigids 0-12 St Annes 0-6

The Junior A Footballers ended their long wait for Championship Glory when they beat St Annes in Parnell Pk on Sunday afternoon. Having lost two Championship Finals in previous years, the lads weren't going to let it slip this time as they produced a dominant display.

Played in torrential rain, the lads ball handling and workrate was exceptional in the greasy conditions. St Annes opened well to lead 0-2 to 0-0 after five minutes. St Annes style of play was the direct ball into the McNally duo of Alan & Joe.  The lads soon settled down and registered the next four points. Maurice Sweeney opening the Brigids account with a sweet angled point from the right wing. Ian Craven levelled up matters when swinging over a point from 20 yards. Conor Hayes adding two frees to leave the lads 0-4 to 0-2 after 20 minutes.

Brian Kelly and Ian Craven were beginning to dominate proceedings in the middle and St Annes brought Joe McNally out the field to counter act the Brigids domiance but matters soon changed. Ian Craven won a ball on the sideline only to be caught by a late tackle which resulted in the St Annes player being red carded. Craven was unable to continue but young minor Cian Mullins stepped right into the fold with ease.

Annes drew level 0-4 to 0-4 with five minutes remaining in the first half but a monster point from Brian Kelly on the right wing pushed the lads ahead. Eoin Mulvihil added another point to leave the lads leading 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.

Playing with an extra man, Eoin Sullivan was deployed in front of the McNally brother to counter act the high ball being pumped into them. The full back line was immense all day long. The workrate and calmness working the ball out of defence was brilliant. The lads won this game in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Four unanswered point left St Annes always chasing the game. Mullins was commanding the middle with Kelly. Mullins scoring the opening two points along with a Conor Hayes & Eoin Mulvihil point.

Conor Morris was working his socks off as a roving forward. The movement of  half forwards Conor Hayes, Eoin Mulvihil and Maurice Sweeney tore the Annes back line apart. The lads had to keep their concentration as the high balls being launched into the full back was always dangerous. The lads snuffed out the St Annes attacks brilliantly with captain John Dunning cleaning up alot of breaking ball. Half backs Keith Fox & Kevin Brennan were driving forward at all times.The backs were immense restricting St Annes to 0-3 from play.

It was a brilliant win for the lads. They have been training 3 days a week for the past few weeks and it really showed. They couldn't have done it without so much effort being put in by all the players in the squad.

A special thank you to Liam Plunkett and Gerry McEntee who allowed the Junior Footballers to train with them. It was a great help to be training with such a high standard of players. A big thank you to the team sponsor Brian Kevlehan and Paul "Butcher" Brady who put on the massive BBQ after the game in the club.

Return To Previous Page