Mount Sion withstand Kilmac second-half rally to land Eastern title
Mount Sion players celebrate with the cup after defeating Kilmacthomas in their Tony Kirwan Plant Hire Eastern Intermediate Football Final played in Dunhill. Photos: Maurice Hennebry
Trailing by four points at the end of a largely one sided first half and then falling seven points behind in the opening minutes of the second half, fourteen man Kilmacthomas staged a spirited response to dominate the remainder of the game and but for a missed goal scoring chance from a 46th minute penalty might have changed the result.
The weather forecast for Saturday afternoon proved painfully accurate as players and spectators in Dunhill were subjected to torrential rain driven by a near gale force cross field wind. Mount Sion got off to the perfect start with P. J. Fanning breaking forward from the throw in to set up Tadhg Corcoran for the opening point inside ten seconds. A second point followed from Gavin Power and with just three minutes played Kilmacthomas defender Martin Sutton was shown a red card for an off the ball strike on a Mount Sion player who had to leave the field injured.
With the wind favouring neither side Mount Sion proceeded to dominate possession for almost the entire half without reflecting their superiority on the scoreboard. By the 22nd minute the city side had moved into a 0-7 to 0-0 lead with Gareth Duffy converting three frees and Gavin Power adding two points from play. Kilmacthomas’ opening point came from an Eoin Walsh free in the 24th minute and a minute later a two pointer from a free by the same player had his side back in the game. Kealan Kiersey followed up with a point from play to leave just three points between the sides before a late Gareth Duffy point from a free on the stroke of halftime left the score at 0-8 to 0-4 in Sion’s favour as the saturated teams made their way to the shelter of the dressing rooms.
Mount Sion looked set to retain the initiative on the resumption when Jamie Gleeson sent over a spectacular two pointer and Gareth Duffy added another to his points tally, moving their side into a seven point lead. The leaders confidently decided to bring on some of the big guns, who had missed the semi-final against Fenor, with fresh legs to hold on to the lead but things did not work out that way.
With Jack Dee dominating under the kick outs and Ryan Gallagher, Adam Walsh and Kealan Kiersey lording it in the middle third the dynamic of the game changed with Kilmac’ dominating possession. A point by Conor Keating saw Kilmac’ piling on the pressure and forcing a penalty award in the 44th minute. The shot was entrusted to Mark Behan who had come on as a sub minutes before but to the dismay of the Kilmac support his effort struck the woodwork wand blazed wide.
Compensation came three minutes later when Kealan Kiesey’s shot beat Aaron Healy in the Mount Sion goal and when sub Bobby Troy followed up with a point just two points separated the sides going into the closing stages. The pressure was eased on Mount Sion when Austin Gleeson got his fist to a dropping ball from a long range free and directed it over the bar. Gareth Duffy followed up with a point from a free and though KIlmacthomas pressed hard in the closing stages a late point by Eoin Walsh was never going to be enough as the city side held on to take the title.
Mount Sion’s Jamie Gleeson received the man of the match award sponsored by Tony Kirwan Plant Hire. Mount Sion will now play Western Board champions Colligan Emmets in the County Final in Fraher Field on Saturday next.
Gareth Duffy 0-5 (Fs), Gavin Power 0-3, Jamie Gleeson 0-1(2pt.),Tadhg Corcoran, Mikey Daykin and Austin Gleeson 0-1 each.
Eoin Walsh 0-4(Fs. 1 -2Pt.), Kealan Kiersey 1-1, Conor Keating and Bobby Troy 0-1 each.
Aaron Healy, Tommy McGrath, Peter Penkert, Jamie Meaney, Mikey Daykin, P.J. Fanning, Tadhg Corcoran, Stephen Roche, Jamie Gleeson, Ian O’Regan, Gavin Power, Martin F. O’Neill, Gareth Duffy, Adam O’Regan.
John Kennedy (BS), Donal Power, Austin Gleeson, Martin O’Neill, Emmanual Adebayo.
Niall Cronin, Martin Sutton, Gary Kiely, David Sutton, Dean Walsh, Jack Behan, Ryan Gallagher, Adam Walsh, Jack Dee, Colyn Power, Kealan Kiersey , Liam Kavanagh, Alan Fitzsimons, Conor Keating, Eoin Walsh.
Mark Behan, Kevin Curley, Bobby Troy.
Jack Bray (St. Saviours)
The atrocious weather conditions in Dunhill on Saturday last made note taking almost impossible with the lack of shelter. Apologies to both sides for any errors that may have occurred in allocating scores.
