Extra time needed as 14-man Stradbally Parish Gaels claim glory with defeat over Graiguecullen
The Stradbally Parish Gaels Team celebrate their U20 Football Championship FInal win at the LOETB CoE on Friday Night Photo Denis Byrne
There was a gale force wind blowing straight down the pitch heading for The Town with Graiguecullen playing with the wind behind them in the first half.
It was Stradbally Parish Gaels who opened the scoring courtesy of a free from David Donohue after two minutes. Graiguecullen kicked their first two minutes later as Aaron Cunningham Byrne split the posts. Aaron Dorgan was fouled for the next score with Bailey Cooney pointing the resulting free.
Stradbally got a goal against the wind after Pauric Ramsbottom played the ball over the top for David Miller to smash the ball into the Graigue net. Jake Darcy made it 1-2 to 0-2 after 16 minutes in favour of Stradbally Parish Gaels. Jack Byrne opened his account with a free with Cathal Buggie replying after patient build-up from Stradbally Parish Gaels.
Graiguecullen ended the first period with three scores unanswered to go into the dressing rooms level. Jack Byrne kicked a superb score with Cooney tapping over two frees, 1-3 to 0-6 at the break.
Stradbally Parish Gaels, now having the wind behind them, came out and scored the first three scores of the half, all from the boot of Cillian Maher. He pointed a mark after a great pass from Conor Buggie before producing two splendid points from play. In the midst of all that, Stradbally Parish Gaels were reduced to 14 men as Enda Shortall was shown a second yellow card.
Graiguecullen brought the gap back to one through frees from Cooney and Byrne. Maher scored his fourth point of the half after a beautiful pass over the top of the Graigue defence allowed Maher to split the posts.
Cooney’s free in the 61st minute left one between the sides and Graigue pushed for an equaliser which they got as Cunningham Burke’s effort hit off the inside of the post and crept over the crossbar to force extra-time.
Graiguecullen opened the scoring in extra-time within 20 seconds of the restart as Jamie Murphy blasted the ball over. Substitute Ronan Creery tapped a free between the posts with Byrne doing likewise as Graiguecullen still held a one-point lead. Stradbally Parish Gaels would be ahead two minutes later after a long ball in from Ronan Creery landed in the hands of fellow substitute Fionn McEvoy, who had an easy task of smashing the ball into the net. Dillon Murphy then pointed a 45’ before half-time of extra-time to put a single point between the sides.
Stradbally Parish Gaels’ first score of the second period of 10 extra minutes ended up being a goal as Conor Fitzpatrick raised a green flag with a great finish. Donohue and McEvoy added to their tallies with a point each. Jamie Murphy pointed with six minutes to go for Graiguecullen, but Stradbally Parish Gaels took over and got the final two scores of the contest. Kevin Fennelly and Cormac Deegan sealed a convincing win for Stradbally Parish Gaels.
Cillian Maher 0-4 (0-1 mark), Fionn McEvoy 1-1, Conor Fitzpatrick and David Miller 1-0 each, David Donohue 0-2 (0-1 free), Kevin Fennelly, Jake Darcy, Cormac Deegan, Cathal Buggie and Ronan Creery (free) 0-1 each.
Bailey Cooney 0-5 frees, Jack Byrne 0-4 (0-3 frees), Aaron Cunningham Burke and Jamie Murphy 0-2 each, Dillon Murphy 0-1 45’.
Oisín Ramsbottom; Liam Woulfe, David Miller, Ben Dillon; Jake Darcy, Conor McDonald, Kevin Fennelly; Enda Shortall, Cormac Deegan; Pauric Ramsbottom, David Donohue, Cathal Buggie; Conor Fitzpatrick, Cillian Maher, Conor Buggie. Subs: James Devoy for Conor Buggie (41 mins), Ronan Creery for Liam Woulfe (51 mins), Fionn McEvoy for Maher 60 mins), PJ Daly for Devoy (HT of ET), Cillian Maher for Donohue (78 mins), Oran Darcy for Ramsbottom (81 mins).
Cody Tucker; Sean McGrath, Danny McGrath, Ben Cullen; Mikee Horohan, Conor Harte, James Horohan; Aaron Dorgan, Dillon Murphy; Bailey Cooney, Jack Byrne, Cody Nolan; Aaron Cunningham Burke, Aidan Bradley, Jamie Murphy. Subs: John O’Shea for Nolan (41 mins), Naoise Brennan for M Horohan (53 mins).
Michael Tarpey (Kilcavan)
