Brennan’s brilliance fires Crettyard to ACFL Division 7 final win

Laois Shopping Centre ACFL Division 7 Final 

Crettyard 0-16 

Annanough 0-14 

Crettyard have been crowned league champions after edging Annanough in a thrilling Laois Shopping Centre ACFL Division 7 final.

Brian Brennan proved the difference for Crettyard, finishing with an impressive 12-point tally, including four two-pointers. Annanough stayed in contention throughout and drew level late in the contest, but Brennan held his nerve to kick the final three points and seal the title for his side.

It took both teams a while to settle as several early efforts at either end drifted off target. Criostóir Maher eventually opened the scoring after six minutes before Sean Browne quickly followed up to hand Crettyard a two-point advantage.

Aaron Foley opened Annanough’s account from play before Brennan landed his first two-point free of the afternoon. Eoghan Deegan responded in style, curling an outside-of-the-boot effort over the black spot for Annanough’s first orange flag. Brennan answered with a free to restore Crettyard’s lead.

Deegan was then awarded a two-point free, which he confidently struck off the ground to edge Annanough in front. Ciaran Hennessy added his first score to stretch their lead to two before Brennan replied with another free and then landed his second two-pointer within minutes.

Hennessy was on target again to leave the sides level once more. Annanough had a chance to take a half-time lead, but Adam Murray’s goal chance missed the target, leaving the teams deadlocked on seven points apiece at the interval.

Crettyard made the brighter start to the second half as Brennan immediately converted another two-pointer before Maher added his second point. Sean Tuohy reduced the deficit to two, but half-back Conor Mulhall surged forward to score and leave Annanough three points adrift.

Tuohy clipped over his second point to narrow the gap again before Crettyard were awarded a penalty. Sean Browne was fouled following a kick-out and then Mulhall burst through the middle from a solo-and-go and found Brennan, who was then dragged down in the square. Maher stepped up from the spot, but Sean Hennessy produced an excellent save low to his left.

Deegan’s fifth point cut the margin to one again, only for Brennan to strike once more with his third two-pointer and restore a three-point cushion. Annanough believed they had drawn level when Jack Egan squared for Tuohy to finish, but referee Colin Bailey ruled the effort out for a square-ball.

Substitute Donal Miller got on the scoresheet before Annanough finally levelled matters through a Deegan two-point free. The original foul had occurred inside Annanough’s own half, but Crettyard failed to retreat the required distance, allowing Bailey to advance the ball.

Crettyard were soon handed a similar opportunity after Annanough’s Al Wajud Demilaae over-carried the ball before throwing the ball away. Brennan punished the indiscipline by splitting the posts from outside the arc for his fourth two-pointer of the afternoon.

Aaron Foley made it a one-point game deep into injury time, but dissent from the Annanough sideline over a disputed wide saw Bailey bring the ball up to the 13-metre line, allowing Brennan to tap over. Annanough fashioned one final chance to force extra time, but Miller’s ambitious two-point attempt drifted wide before Bailey sounded the final whistle to confirm Crettyard as ACFL Division 7 champions.

SCORERS:

Crettyard: Brian Brennan 0-12 (2tpf, 2tp, 0-4fs), Criostóir Maher 0-2, Conor Mulhall and Sean Browne 0-1 each.

Annanough: Eoghan Deegan 0-7 (2tpf, 1tp), Aaron Foley, Ciaran Hennessy and Sean Tuohy (0-1 free) 0-2 each, Donal Miller 0-1.

CRETTYARD: Josh Kelly; Brian O’Sullivan, Michael Jordan, Jason Dunne; Conor Mulhall, Sean Browne, Cormac Brennan; Adam Kavanagh, Jimmy Brennan; Brian Brennan, Patrick Brennan, Niall Purcell; Killian O’Shea, Criostóir Maher, Connor Kelly.

Subs: Patrick Fox for C Kelly (ht), Ciaran Hosey for Jordan (47m).

ANNANOUGH: Sean Hennessy; Al Wajud Demilaae, Rory Stapleton, Martin Stapleton; Adam Murray, Ronan Donlon, Cathal Kelleher; Jack Fennelly, Eoghan Deegan; Conor McCaul, Senan Tuohy, Darragh Stapleton; Ciaran Hennessy, Shane Foley, Aaron Foley.

Subs: Donal Miller for McCaul (36m), Thomas Bradley for D Stapleton (42m), Jack Egan for S Foley (42m), Johnathan O’Toole for Kelleher (53m).

Referee: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)