Impressive Gaultier win Junior C football final
Gaultier team that won the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. Junior C Football final.
Gaultier put the disappointments of recent losses in the Eastern Junior A final and Senior semi-final behind them as their third string side proved too strong for a young Affane team to win the Junior ‘C’ title in the SETU Arena, Carraiganore on Friday last.
Experience was the decisive factor for Gaultier here as their direct approach when it came to scoring opportunities proved more effective against a lively Affane side that retained possession longer than necessary and so limiting scoring chances.
Gaultier led by 0-4 to 0-1 by the end of the first quarter with points from Kevin Keogh, Liam Murphy, Owen Prendergast and Shay Kennedy to one in reply from Dylan Sheehan for Affane. By the 22nd minute the lead had stretched to six points with further points from Conor Stratton, Paul Hogan and Kevin Keogh and a well finished goal by Owen Prendergast. In the period before halftime Affane looked like getting into the game with Brian O’Hara and Craig Dunne adding points as their side enjoyed good possession but failed to make full use on the scoreboard as Gaultier added one further point for a 1-8 to 0-3 halftime lead.
Affane continued to press hard on the resumption with two points from Dylan Sheehan frees and a point from Conor Murray cutting the deficit to five points. Gaultier had all the answers however, as Liam Murphy’s point was followed by a goal from Paul Hogan that stalled the Affane momentum and in the last quarter Paul Hogan’s second goal and points from subs David Corcoran and Keith Bell completed the scoring as Gaultier went on to collect a third title in this grade since 2020.
County Chairman Sean Michael O’Regan presented the cup to Gaultier captain David Horgan.
Paul Hogan 2-1, Owen Prendergast 1-1, Shay Kennedy, Kevin Keogh (Fs), and Liam Murphy 0-2 each,Keith Bell and David Corcoran 0-1 each.
Dylan Sheehan 0-3 (Fs), Conor Murray, Brian O’Hara and Craig Dunne 0-1 each.
Aidan O’Brien, Jack Dalton, David Horgan, Killian Jones, Robin Croke, Donal Barry, Billy Dumbrell, Conor Stratton, Donagh Cooney, Owen Prendergast, Shay Kennedy, Kevin Keogh, Liam Murphy, Paul Hogan, Chris Hand. Subs – Keith Bell, David Corcoran, Richard Finnegan, David Heffernan.
Darren Curran, Brian O’Donoghue, Damien McCarthy, Dara Begley, Brian O’Hara, Conor Murray, Sean Begley, Rory Manning , John Murphy, Dylan Sheehan, Conor Rooney, Niall Fives, Danny Costin, Shane Coughlan, Alex O’Sullivan. Subs – Craig Dunne, Sean Curtin.
Tony Larkin (Ballyduff Lower).
The County Minor Football Championships completed the league section in all divisions last week and it is expected that the semi-finals will take place this coming weekend across the board. At the time of writing the fixtures are not to hand but he big games over the coming weekend will be the Division 1 semi-finals that will see unbeaten Dungarvan against Tramore and Brickey Rangers taking on Gaultier. For the first time in a number of years Abbeyside/Ballinacourty and Rathgormack will not be involved in the final stages of the Minor Football Championship. The Fixtures will be published on the County Board website.
