The Keane’s come good to win Jakes’ memorial
Nuala Lacey Keane presents the Jakes Keane Memorial trophy to Jake Keane after the Keane's selection got the better of Johnville FC at St. Martin's Park.
The legendary Johnville FC father-figure Jakes Keane was again remembered with great fondness with the playing of the third annual game in his memory between his former club that he did so much for and a Keane selection squad.
After Johnville got the better of the last two games, it was a change of tact from his brother Paschal that saw his selection get the better of the champions in the decider played at St. Martin’s Park on Saturday afternoon last.
It was Johnville that had the first chance on nine minutes when Jake Croke cracked in a shot from the right-side, but keeper Craig Dunphy made a fine save before the Keane select took the lead at the other end three minutes.
Jason Keane was tripped just outside the penalty area on the right-side, and Paul Quilty beat keeper Nkosi Kelliher with a cracking left-footed free-kick that found the near top corner of the net. The hosts were level on 14 minutes when Michael McDonagh got space down the left before crossing for Croke to fire home.
Quilty played his part in regaining the lead for his side on 26 minutes when he put the ball on a plate for Daire O’Keeffe on the left-side of the area, and he found the net with a cool right-footed finish with the aid of the far post.
Two goals in the space of two minutes at the end of the first-half really put Paschal Keane’s charges in the driving seat with the third goal arriving on 41 minutes. Jason Keane sent over a ball from the left that was touched onto the back post for Craig Keane, and he swept the ball to the corner of the net from an angle.
The fourth goal knocked the stuffing out of Johnville before the break when St Ledger touched the ball into the path of Paul Quilty and he applied his second finish of the day to put his side in the driving seat at the half-time break.
Jamie Brazil tried to ensure a comeback for Johnville on 69 minutes when he finished superbly inside the area after a good advantage from referee Paul Butler when he broke through the defence to beat keeper Dunphy.
Jason Keane regained the three-goal lead with a well-taken goal past Larry Connors on 76 minutes before Johnny St. Ledger completed the scoring for his side four minutes from time when racing through the centre to beat the Johnville netminder with a neat finish.
For Paschal Keane, he finally managed to put together a more youthful side than normal as they powered through the game to end Johnville’s stranglehold on the trophy as Jake’s wife Nuala on hand to captain Jake Keane with the trophy with Daire O’Keeffe named as the player of the match.
It brought to an end another super occasion at St. Martin’s Park as friends and family remembered one fo the most likely characters of the local game for many years, but his memory will forever live on with this memorial contest. Well done to all concerned.
Nkosi Kelliher, Jamie Mullally, Tyrece Orai, Josh Duggan, Charlie power, Jack Mulrooney, Mumvan Siywami, Jake Croke, Michael McDonagh, Jamie Brazil, Josh Lenihan, Larry Connors, Tommy Gough, David Browne, Dean Kennedy, Mervedi Ilunga.
Craig Dunphy, Craig Keane, John Keane, Gary Keane, Jake Keane, Johnny St. Ledger, Jason Keane, Paul Quilty, David Kennedy, Daire O’Keeffe, Ben Meagher, Luke Walsh, Adam Heaslip.
Paul Butler assisted by Adam Tszample and Luke Brennan.
