Minor B Football Final
Gort na Mona 4-9 St. Johns 2-11
Gort na Mona produced a power packed performance of pace, vision and finishing excellence to overcome the challenge of a fancied St. John’s in this Minor B Football Final under the floodlights at Creggan on Wednesday night.
The Johnnies played their football in division 1 of the Minor League this year while Gort na Mona finished unbeaten to top division 2 but the greater physicality of the Whiterock side saw them start as favourites.
On the night it was a slick and well coached Gort na Mona who finished strongly to win by four points and their football at times was breath taking against a St. John’s side who played their part in making this an excellent advert for football.
It was Gort na Mona who made the better start on an good Creggan surface as they raced into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after 8 minutes with their goal coming from Lorcan Cordner after Aodhan O’Hanlon had opened the scoring with a well taken point.
Team captain Ruairi O’Scollain kicked the Turf Lodge side’s second point and at this stage it looked like being a long night for the Whiterock side but they settled into the game and started to find their touch.
Points from Odhran Quinn (0-2), Shae McKee and a superb effort from Lewis Rafferty from way out on the left had the gap back to two by the 21st minute but Gort na Mona responded and another great build up saw Keelan McCann finish confidently to the net.
The Johnnies reply was precise and immediate as Lewis Rafferty drilled his shot low and just out of reach of Anton Farrelly who got a hand to the ball but could not prevent it nestling in the net.
A late point from Odhran McAuley for St. John’s closed the gap to the minimum and left it all to play for in the second half as the sides headed to the dressing rooms.
It was St. John’s who came out strongly as the second half got underway and Lewis Rafferty fielded a high delivery close to goal before swivelling and firing home from close range to give his side the lead for the first time.
This score lifted St. John’s and the same player added a point and further points from Odhran McAuley and Odhran Quinn had the Johnnies five in front after nine minutes and it wasn’t looking good for the Enright Park side.
They displayed tremendous character however as Aodhan O’Hanlon raised their first white flag of the half from a free in the 10th minute and when Paul Lawlor was on hand to finish to the net after Ciaran MacGiolla cheara’s shot came back of the crossbar, they were right back in contention.
A Caolan Wilson point briefly moved the Whiterock side two in front but Gort na Mona had the wind in their sails and two pointed frees from Daire Keenan had the sides level after 21 minutes.
The momentum was very much with the young Gorts now and a superb interchange involving several players saw Nathan McKenna finish to the net and put his side three ahead.
Fintan McKinley pulled one back for St. John’s but this youthful Gort na Mona side were not going to let this one go and they finished with points from an Aodhan O’Hanlon free and a great effort from play by Lorcan Cordner to take the Division B Championship title.
A great game of football with fortunes changing throughout and St. John’s certainly played their part in making it a fine evening’s entertainment for the good crowd who had made the journey from Belfast to cheer on these neighbouring clubs.
At one point a bigger and more physically imposing St. John’s looked like getting on top but they were forced to bow the knee in the end to a superbly fit and well organised Gort na Mona, 12 of whom are under age again next year.
After the game South West Vice Chairman, Sean McAtamney commended both sides for producing a great entertaining game of football before presenting the cup to Gort na Mona captain, Ruairi O’Scollain.
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW