Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Sunday 24th September
Report by Niall Kelly
Cardinal O’Donnells 2-13 Éire Óg 1-13
For the second consecutive year, O’Donnell’s successfully navigated their way through a tough and testing semi-final meeting with familiar foes, Éire Óg, to progress to yet another Junior decider. The semi between the two last year was somewhat abrasive but this year’s duel was a much more pulsating and absorbing contest with inclement conditions playing a central role in a helter-skelter hour of football. Penalties, crunching tackles, fleet-footed soloing and a few scintillating scores made for a fantastic advertisement for Antrim Junior Football in a packed McCroary Park.
A theme that has been somewhat a constant in recent battles between these two, is the nip and tuck nature of their meetings with the teams drawing level on seven separate occasions throughout the game. With five minutes remaining on the clock, the hosts had established a six-point lead though, thanks to majors from Richard McAvoy and PJ Meenan and looked to be cantering toward the finish line. In the end, they had to dig deep to secure the win after withstanding a late barrage of attack from the Derriaghy natives.
The teams couldn’t be separated in the first quarter as trying conditions coupled with a greasy surface made for a real ding-dong tussle to attain the ascendancy. Éire Óg talisman, Kevin Clarke opened the scoring for the visitors before O’Donnell’s replied through Marc McKenna and acquired the lead moments later as Ferghal McNerney added the gloss to a well-orchestrated move. The visitors though responded from the familiar prowess of Clarke.
Momentum continued to sway with a stiff, swirling breeze now exacerbating conditions further. PJ Meenan, who was a constant thorn in the side of the men in red and white, took matters into his own hands as he drove forty yards up the pitch, rampaging through the visitors rear-guard before curling over from an acute angle. Yet again though, that man Clarke was on hand to draw the sides level for a third time after being threaded through thanks to a pinpoint ball from Conor Erskine.
McKenna and Clarke once again traded scores before O’Donnell’s kicked on with a fine score from Meenan after another marauding run and a trademark Sean Pat Donnelly free from the deck to establish a bit of daylight between the two. With the half approaching its climax, it seemed as though O’Donnell’s had found their groove with a greater intensity and purpose to their attacking play but in what was a recurring theme of the game, back came Éire Óg.
Points from Conall Smyth and Daniel Campbell levelled proceedings as both teams now foraged to claim a slender lead at the short whistle. O’D’s number 12, Scott Thompson would be the man to step forward as he curled over from range from a tight angle despite losing his footing to leave the scores 0-07 to 0-06 in favour of the hosts at the interval.
The opening fifteen minutes of the second period mirrored the first as O’Donnell’s couldn’t quite shake off their opponents. Sean Pat Donnelly pointed early in the half from a placed ball before Éire Óg rallied once more. Two absolute stunning scores from full forward PJ Toal brought a deadlock to proceedings again and with their tails up, the visitors took the lead thanks to well-worked score from captain, Conor McKenna on the fortieth minute. The hosts were in desperate need of a score to settle themselves back into the game and their wishes were granted through the trusty right boot of Marc McKenna before retaking the lead thanks to Richard McAvoy’s effort from range.
O’D’s were clicking nicely now and were dovetailing well in attack with the twin threat of McKenna and Meenan asking questions of their opponents. A black card for the visitors only served to further bolster the host’s charge with Donnelly pointing again before they dealt their opponents a hammer blow. A high press from the forward line helped turnover possession from the resulting kick-out and PJ Meenan’s quick thinking paved the way for Richard McAvoy to coolly slot home to the despairing Mark Hamill’s net to send the sea of umbrellas dotted across the fence into raptures.
However, Éire Óg’s resiliency simply wouldn’t waiver as they continued to search for penetrative avenues of attack. O’Donnell’s shot-stopper Conor Murphy was called into immediate action as he pulled off a stunning save to deny Clarke as the visitors had to settle for a point from PJ Toal. The lead was extended to six with only ten minutes remaining as O’D’s flexed their muscles thanks to points from Thompson and Donnelly as it now looked as if the game was out of reach for the battling Ógs. Wrong.
With seven minutes left to play, the Derriaghy men were granted a lifeline with a penalty. PJ Toal assumed responsibility and his rasping drive arrowed to the roof of Murphy’s net and suddenly it was game on once more.
In what was a manic three minutes, O’Donnell’s were then granted a spot kick of their own as their talented attacking arsenal responded to the set-back in style. It seemed fitting that man of the match, PJ Meenan was to be the man to grab the crucial score as he blasted low to Hamill’s net to all but seal victory with the full-time whistle fast approaching.
However, a late rally from the men in red and white had a few home fans’ hearts pounding as they cut the gap to three deep into added time thanks to points from Toal (2) and Conall Smyth. A final ariel bombardment was launched as they frantically plundered for that elusive goal which just wouldn’t come as the O’D’s defence, marshalled well by Conor Walsh and Kevin Kennedy, dug their heels and stood strong.
An excellent game which the visitors can certainly take solace from. Their progression in the past few years has been evident and they will seek to use this game as yet another foundation to greater success down the line. For O’Donnell’s, their minds will now solely be fixed on going one better than last year and taking the Junior crown. Littered with an array of dynamic weaponry in their attack, they will feel quietly confident that they can do just that. A mouth-watering tussle against favourites Rasharkin awaits.
Teams:
O’Donnells:
C Murphy; K Loughran, S Smylie, J McKenna; G McKernan, C Walsh, K Kennedy; J Rafferty, F McNerney (0-01;) R McAvoy (1-01,) SP Donnelly (0-04,) S Thompson (0-02;) PJ Meenan (1-02,) C McKissock, M McKenna (0-03)
Éire Óg:
M Hamill; D Murray, P Loughran, J Devine; C Rice, A McKnight, D Campbell (0-01;) C McKenna (0-01,) C Daykin; G Donnelly, S Erskine, C Smyth (0-02;) C Erskine, PJ Toal (1-05,) K Clarke (0-04)
