Kerry 2-14 Westmeath 1-16
The pundits were predicting that this senior football final would be a close affair and they certainly were right. Earlier in the season both teams had met on two occasions, each experienced the role of victor and vanquished, but Kerry did claim the senior league football title.
On Sunday it all square at the end of regulation time, 1-15 for Westmeath and 2-12 for Kerry, thus necessitating extra time to determine a winner. In extra time it looked as if Westmeath would grasp the trophy as Gavin O’Brien unleashed a goal-bound shot but keeper Keith Leary saved brilliantly to deny him. Then at the other end Bobby Regan split the posts with a free from the 50-yards mark to ensure the Kingdom were champions for this season.
For the statisticians this was Kerry’s 29th senior championship title. Meanwhile on the playing field Westmeath were first on the attack but their efforts amounted to a yellow card and a shot dropped short before Frank Reilly pointed a free. At the other end ace sharp-shooter Bobby Regan opened the Kingdom’s account with a pointed free. Indeed Kerry then fluffed a bone fide goal chance that evolved from a wayward kick-out. Both sides exchanged exquisite scores, Regan from a corner spot and Reilly sailed over a “50” with lots to spare.
Westmeath were then the beneficiaries of a rather dubious point. The umpires were indecisive, so the referee consulted with the linesman and decided to award a point, though from my position it looked wide. Kerry jumped ahead on the back of a brace from Niall McCarthy and Bobby Regan, but a Jack Robinson point had it tied at the first water-break.
After hydration, Westmeath’s Robinson and Reilly shot over two points. However for most of the second quarter Kerry were dominant as midfielders Eoin McElligott and Liam Kearney kept the forwards well supplied as they would hit 1-4 without reply. Niall Madine started the scoring spree and Niall McCarthy levelled from play. Then a great individual effort saw Eoin McElligott cut through the Westmeath defense but his rasping shot was brilliantly deflected over the bar by keeper Guerin for a point. Another Niall Madine free saw the lead increased before a speculative shot from James Walsh was knocked into the net by Madine for a five-point lead as half-time was approaching. However a last attack at the other end saw a high ball knocked down by Gavin O’Brien into the path of Killian Butler for him to scramble over the goal-line as the buzzer sounded for half-time. Kerry led by 1-8 to Westmeath’s 1-6 at the break.
In the third quarter, the exchanges were more evenly balanced, Gavin O’Brien courtesy of a fine catch for a mark and a subsequent point narrowed the gap. However at the other end sharp-shooter Regan scored from play and a free after target-man Madine was fouled. At the other end Westmeath were staying in touch as corner-man Robinson maneuvered his way for a well-earned point and then wing-back Rob Wharton scored an inspirational long-range point. Then just before the last hydration break a Donal Hunt run ended with Niall McCarthy pointing leaving Kerry ahead by 1-11 to 1-9. Upon returning to the playing field Pa Warren set up Jack Murphy to point and increased Kerry’s lead.
Then Westmeath hit a purple patch and their most productive segment. They would go ahead with four unanswered points and appear to have Kerry on the ropes. Robinson led the scoring spree and then an interception set up Killian Butler for the next point. A careless clearance set the scene for a Frank Reilly point and a free by Robinson had Westmeath ahead by 1-13 to 1-12 with five minutes on the clock. However Kerry were soon back in front courtesy of a Niall Madine goal. Westmeath didn’t wilt. Jack Robinson worked his way in for a point, while Frank Reilly coolly sent over a long-range free to leave the full-time at 1-15 for Westmeath and 2-12 for Kerry, necessitating two 10-minute periods of extra time.
In the first period Robinson scored despite very close attention, while Kerry’s efforts were off target. In the second added segment Westmeath looked to on target for a goal as timely pass by Robinson was blasted wide from close range. At the other end Bobby, Regan levelled with a point, but a good chance was spurned by another forward to go ahead. Then came a pivotal play that might have sealed the issue. Gavin O’Brien looked destined to score a goal but Kerry keeper Keith Leary made the save of the day by denying the full-forward. Then with the sides still level and twenty seconds left on the clock, a foul was committed on the 50-yards line. Up stepped Bobby Regan to take the all-important free. He coolly sent it over the black spot for the lead, and of course set the stage for rapturous scenes as Kerry were now New York senior football champions.
By any rational analysis there was very little between the sides, but two most critical moments were keeper Leary’s save and corner-forward Regan’s free kick at the end. So when you make the big and decisive plays, you deserve the accolades. The game certainly was exciting, played with great passion, commitment and a little fury, and the sideline was a tad tempestuous occasionally.
Kerry: Keith Leary, Sean Horan, Donal Hunt, Mike McCarthy, Pa Warren, Barry Mahoney, James Walsh, Eoin McElligott(0-1), Liam Kearney, Peter Fox(capt), Niall McCarthy(0-3), Jack Murphy(1-0), Bobby Regan(0-6), Niall Madine(1-2), Cillian Langan(0-1). Subs Tom Harte, Tom Kearns, Tommy Shalvey, Ollie McLean, Michael Cronin, Sam Dwyer, Keith Quinn, Mike Dorgan, Hugh McDonald, James Kilgariff, Kenneth Quirke.
Westmeath: Pat Guerin, Shane Fagan, Izzy Ilunga, Alan Curran, Sean Moore, Eric Lowndes, Rob Wharton, Kieran Murphy, Shane Carthy, Dan O’Sullivan, Frank Reilly(0-6), Adam Loughlin-Stones, Jack Robinson(0-7), Gavin O’Brien(0-1), Killian Butler(1-0). Subs Peter McKinney, Mark Galligan, Stevie Nolan, Brian Travers, Emmet Kielty, Oran Power, Robbie McDaid, Emmett O’Changhaille, Jordan Ajani. Men of the Match: Bobby Regan and Keith Leary, Referee Peter McCormack.
Cup for Fairfield
St. Patrick’s, Connecticut, 0-10 Westmeath 0-6
This certainly was a big day for St. Patrick’s, the Fairfield County Club, winning the Junior B 2 Championship, their first major title in Gaelic Park. That was more so, given that they lost by a single point to Cork in the same final last year.
This was a low scoring game, with percentage of possession not a valid indicator of the superiority of the Fairfield County team. Center-back Daniel Enright was the lynchpin in defense and simultaneously the spring-board for many attacks. Upfront he had a very capable allay in full-forward Darragh Murphy. Both sides wasted chances before Adam McKenna scored from a very acute angle. At the other end, Cian Murray, Westmeath’s most prolific scorer got his team on the board. St. Pats went on a scoring spree with Darragh Murphy hitting three points with good help from Seamus Cannon, Adam McKenna and Seamus Carolan.
Darren Moore interrupted the scoring sequence with a fine point. Then a defense-splitting run by wingback Conor Duffy ended with a foul and a free. Michael Hallissey sent over a fine long-rage free to put St. Pats ahead by 0-5 to 0-2 with five minutes left in the period. However Cian Murray kept Westmeath in the game by pointing two long-range frees, to leave the score at 0-5 to 0-4 in favor of St. Patricks at the intermission. Upon resumption Michael Hallissey looked hard done by as neither a booking or a free was awarded after he was illegally upended. Two minutes later Hallissey and Luke Kelly exchanged points before both teams experienced bouts of squander mania.
However for most of the second half St. Pats were very much the dominant team, as they would add four more points while limiting Westmeath to just one. Indeed Westmeath’s case wasn’t helped by the issuing a black card. Meanwhile midfielders Michael Hallissey and Thomas shot over a brace before Cian Murray pointed a free after Sean O’Leary-Hayes was fouled.
For the last quarter defenders, Daniel Enright, Conor Duffy Dylan Carroll, John Feeney and company combined well to limit scoring opportunities. Michael Hallissey and Adam McKenna added late points to ensure their team was safely over the line. Westmeath’s Ryan McCusker, Keith Scally, Luke Kelly, Sean Loughlin-Stones and Cian Murray gave it their best shot but St. Pats has more and better options on this occasion. Overall it was a good team performance and Michael Hallissey played a captain’s part. In his victory speech, he noted that St. Patrick’s maestro Jimmy Feeney was the glue, the heart and soul of the club and that this trophy was a fitting tribute for all the effort and time that Jimmy has invested in the club through the years.
St. Patrick’s: Brendan O’Reilly, Charles Wade, Dylan Carroll, Kian Larese, Conor Duffy, Daniel Enright, John Feeney, Michael Hallissey(capt,0-4)), Thomas Conway(0-1), Seamus Cannon, Seamus Carolan, Evan Deegan, Adam McKenna(0-2), Darragh Murphy(0-3), Raymond Holian, . Subs John Passero, John Teelan, Nigel Teelan, Brian Forde, Fergal Byrne, Seamus Keating, Brian Lynn, Nolan Rufa.
Westmeath: Padraig Dolan, Ryan McCusker, Gary Moore, Phelim Finnegan, Keith Scally, Liam Butler, Alan Sherlock, Ger McPartland, Pearse Phillips, Cian Murray(0-4), Sean O’Leary-Hayes, Sean Loughlin-Stones, Luke Kelly(0-1), Darren Moore(0-1). Subs Mick Stones, Aidan McKiernan, Jeff Farrell, Mark O’Connor, Mick Gavin, Ben Cartmill, James Stones, Stephen Monaghan, Dylan McDermott, Jack Walsh, Tommy Warburton, Trevor Holloway, Andres Layden. Man of Match Daniel Enright, Referee Enda Henry.
