U21A Football Final
Sunday 10th November 2024
Con Magee Gaels 2-07 Naomh Gall 1-14
Report by Niall Kelly
St Gall’s avenged their U20 final heartbreak of three years ago against the same opposition with a four-point win in this year’s U21 Football showpiece. They were imperious in possession throughout and ruthless with any opportunity in front of the posts with Daniel Quinn and Barra McCaffrey spearheading them to victory. The difference in the end was to be Naomh Gall’s ability to be patient and purposeful in possession alongside their rapid transitions on the counterattack.
It was nip and tuck throughout. There was never going to be much in it with these two teams as they’ve been so hard to separate in previous years and today was no different. Glenravel will certainly reflect on a few squandered scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half, which could’ve led to a totally different outcome had they been converted.
Naomh Gall opened proceedings in scintillating fashion as it seemed everything they touched turned to gold. They established a five-point lead with ten played as Daniel Quinn and Liam Lynn saw their efforts sail over the bar before Barra McCaffrey dealt an early dagger blow on the ninth minute with an expertly despatched goal from an incisive counterattack.
Glenravel will have been scratching their heads in this opening ten-minute period as they created ample avenues of attack but just couldn’t get the conversions right which ultimately was their downfall in the end.
The men from the tenth glen eventually opened their account thanks to two well-taken frees from either flank with Daire Higgins and Shea Ó’Broin on target as the half reached the midway point.
There was now more of a spring in the Glenravel step, and they were enjoying more time on the ball as they seemingly had found their rhythm. Cormac McKeown was both the orchestrator and finisher of a flowing move which narrowed the gap to two on the eighteenth minute and the forecast looked a little brighter for the men in green.
However, every time it appeared as though Glenravel were negotiating their way back in proceedings, St Gall’s always seemed to have an answer. The Milltown men began then to seamlessly transition through the gears enjoying an excellent end to the half hitting their opponents for five in succession. Quinn and McCaffrey were in the thick of it as usual with the later striking two of them before Callum Walsh’s bustling run forward was rewarded with another. Aodhan Mullan’s bearings were spot on as he expertly converted a forty five on the thirty minute mark.
Trailing by seven and with the short whistle imminent, Glenravel were in desperate need of a score and some sort of foothold even to keep it at a two score game. With the last kick of the half, Shea Ó’Broin pointed an audacious effort from the placed ball from some 50 metres out for the men in green to leave the score 1-07 to 0-04 at the break.
With a steady slope to climb, Glenravel started the second period in the best possible way as Fergus Donaghy’s effort soared over the bar to narrow the gap further and there seemed to be a bit more of a swagger in their play.
Yet again though, Naomh Gall responded in a positive fashion with Daniel Quinn on hand to put the finishing gloss on a superbly worked score. Padraig Óg Muirigh then got his first of the afternoon after some intricate approach play involving Callum Walsh and Quinn.
With a handsome seven-point lead intact, it appeared that Naomh Gall would cruise home but a gallant Glenravel had other ideas as they put their opponents to the sword in search of a comeback. Indeed, the Glensmen had an ace up their sleeve and the introduction of county talisman Ryan McQuillan, making his way back from injury, wrestled momentum back in their favour.
The lively Shea Ó’Broin was unlucky to see his effort whizz over the crossbar instead of under it before McQuillan announced his arrival to the fray with a curling effort moments later. With the game entering its final quarter, the men in green forged themselves a lifeline as they finally grabbed that all-elusive major. Callum Higgins’ high ball in caused pandemonium in the St Gall’s defence and somehow it managed to bounce all the way through into the net. Fortuitous as it may have been, Glenravel were back in business, or so it seemed.
In what was a recurrent theme though, St Gall’s composure never faltered as they flexed their muscles going forward again in the face of adversity. An excellent point from corner back Dubhaltach MacLiam steadied the ship before Muirigh (2) and Quinn added to their tallies to reestablish a comfortable lead.
Glenravel refused to lie down and rallied bravely though as Eamonn Ward found himself baring down on the St Gall’s full-back line but Ciaran Óg Mullan thwarted his effort standing tall in goal. With only five to go, they frantically foraged for a goal-scoring opportunity and when Peader McDonnell was pushed to the ground in the square, a penalty was the verdict. Ryan McQuillan made no mistake with his execution sending Mullan the wrong way. Three minutes to go with three in it. Game on again it seemed.
However, the composure that the men in blue demonstrated in the closing stages was testament to their management team as they took the sting out of the game with prolonged periods of possession. Try as they might, Glenravel just couldn’t seem to highjack possession and when the impressive McCaffrey pointed his second of the afternoon, it gave St Gall’s that all-important insurance score.
Con Magee’s continued to bomb forward in injury time and created a few half-chances but today was just not to be their day as Paul Burn’s final whistle sparked jubilant scenes with a sea of blue taking to the pitch.
Credit to both sides for a captivating final. Glenravel can keep their heads held high as on another day, it could’ve been them hoisting the trophy aloft. Their resilience was second to none as they refused to accept defeat right until the end. With many of this crop plying their trade in senior football, the future is certainly bright at Father Maginn Park. For St Gall’s, it is a similar situation. Many of today’s starting fifteen form the backbone of their senior panel. Their calmness in possession and running off the ball was exceptional. When their backs were against the wall, their threat on the counter was an ominous proposition throughout. Congratulations to them and I’m sure the celebrations will go long into the night.
Teams:
Con Magee’s Glenravel
D Carey; N Dickson, N Hynds, A Campbell; C Mooney, D McQuillan, E Ward; C Higgins (1-00,) S McAuley; F Donaghy (0-01,) S O’Broin (0-03,) C Ward; C McKeown (0-01,) F Hodgson, D Higgins (0-01)
Substitute scorer
Ryan McQuillan (1-01)
Naomh Gall
C Óg Mullan; D MacLiam (0-01,) L Lynn (0-01,) C Hale; G MacAdhaimh, E Walsh, C Walsh (0-01;) C Smyth, D Quinn (0-05) P Óg Muirigh (0-03,) C McGirr, B McCaffrey (1-02;) A Mullan (0-01,) M McCrossan, N Falloon
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