Minor B Football Championship Final
St. James Aldergrove 4-14 Sarsfield’s 4-13 A.E.T.
St. James, Aldergrove and Sarsfield’s served up the game of the season to date in this enthralling Minor B Football Final in windy and at times, wet conditions at Dunsilly on Monday night.
It took extra time to separate them in the end, and a late 2 point converted free from the excellent Eoin Morris to swing it Aldergrove’s way after Sarsfields had appeared to seal it when a shot from Darren Delander squirmed beneath Brendan Maguire to give the ‘Paddies’ a one point lead with time almost up.
The storm that had put a halt to the fixture, initially scheduled for Saturday had passed as these two well matched opponents took the field and while conditions weren’t great, they went on to serve up a feast of football that was in the balance right to the full-time whistle.
It took a time for this one to get up to speed with Cillian Baker for Aldergrove and Cormac Mulligan for Sarsdfields exchanging early points and Eoin Morris pointing Aldergrove ahead before Cayden Smith equalised from a ‘45’ following an excellent save from his opposite number, Brendan Maguire.
St. James were beginning to get on top however and points from Cormac Morris and Eoin Morris moved them two ahead before Jack Kelly took a pass from Conor McArt on the half volley to fire to the net after 19 minutes to put the Crumlin side four ahead.
Another from Cillian Baker extended the Aldergrove lead to five by the 25th minute and Sarsfields looked in a bit of trouble but they responded well with Paul Dorothy finishing to the net from close range and Dylan Rogers following with a second major after a smart build up.
That put the Stewartstown Road side one ahead at the break and with the element in their favour in the second half they were expected to push on but it was St. James who struck the first telling blow on the restart.
Eoin Morris was the man on target as he fired past Cayden Smith to restore the St. James’ lead with Fiontan McCallum for Sarsfields and Cillian Baker for Aldergrove exchanging points as play continued to swing from end to end.
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A pointed free from Cormac Mulligan and another from play by Dylan Rogers squared the contest before a great point from Ben McCaul edged the boys from the Bear Pit ahead once more as the intensity and speed of the game increased.
With both sets of supporters urging their teams to greater efforts the play continued to swing in favour of one side and then the other and it was Aldergrove who struck another telling blow when Eoin Morris got on the end of a good move to fire home from close range.
Back came the ‘Paddies’ with Cormac Mulligan pointing to close the gap to the minimum before Eoin McGrady fired over at the other end with the goal at his mercy to restore the Crumlin side’s 2 point advantage.
It looked to have sealed it for St. James but with time almost up Cormac Mulligan struck an excellent 2 pointer to send the game into extra time, much to the delight of their travelling support.
EXTRA TIME DRAMA
It got even better for the Stewartstown Road side as extra time got underway as Leon Ferris produced a moment of magic to side step a couple of defenders before firing to the net.
Before the cheers had died down young Ferris struck again with a point and further points from Aaran Anderson and Ben McCaul left Sarsfield’s with one hand on the trophy when they led 1-3 to 0-0 at the end of the opening period.
In a game of twists and turns it was St. James who set about reducing the deficit and with the wind behind them the impressive Eoin Morris raised the Orange flag to set that comeback in motion.
With the wind very much now in their sails St. James struck again with a goal from Mid-fielder, Darragh Johnston to cut the gap to the minimum and another Morris conversion and two from play from Cillian Baker had them two ahead as the clock ticked towards conclusion.
The final chapter of what had become a compelling drama was not yet written however as Sarsfield’s staged another attack and when Cian Bell’s shot from distance slipped under Brendan Maguire the Minor B Cup looked on its way to the Bear Pit.
However this drama had another sting in the tail and there was time for Aldergrove to mount one last attack and they won a free about 40 meters from goal with the ball then moved forward to the edge of the circle following a Sarsfield’s player’s refusal to retreat.
It was down to their star man, Eoin Morris to take the pressure kick and he kept his cool to direct his shot between the uprights.
In one final moment of drama Sarsfield’s were awarded a free about 40 meters from goal and keeper, Cayden Smith, who had converted from distance earlier in the game, came forward but this time his effort tailed just wide of the target.
Elation for St. James Aldergrove as the final whistle sounded and bitter disappointment for a Sarsfield’s side who played their part in making this such an entertaining game of football.
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Joe Edwards described Monday night’s final as the ‘game of the season’ as he presented the cup to Aldergrove captain, Lonan Magee and it was hard to argue with his assessment with young Magee receiving a freak cut in the excitement that followed but able to take part in the celebration team photo.
St. James Aldergrove: 1Brendan Maguire, 2 Darach Bannon, 3 Luke Daye, 4 Ollie McGuckin, 5 Cillian Baker, 6 Conor McArt, 7 Pearse Brown, 8 Darragh Johnston, 9 Jude Keenan, 10 Cole Jones, 11 Cormac Morris, 12 Ethan Martin, 13 Eoin McGrady, 14 Jack Kelly, 15 Eoin Morris, 17 Lonan Magee, 21 Cian Bell, 22 Rhys Condie, 20 Caelan Mallon
Sarsfield’s: 1 Cayden Smith, 2 Stiofan McCarry, 3 Jamie McEllone, 4 Niall Rice, 5 Kevin Barry McArdle, 6 Jack McLaughlin, 7 Ben McCaul, 8 Paul Dorothy, 9 Fiontan McCallum, 10 Oisin Hughes, 11 Dylan Rogers, 12 Oliver Campbell, 13 Caoimhin McCann, 14 Caolan Doherty, 15, 17 Leon Ferris, 19 Matthew McCabe, 21 Darren Delander, 22 Aaran Anderson, 24 Daire Jemfrey, 25 Bairre Drumm
Referee: Dermot Scullion
TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/HQL3rPi8pWtiSn/?invite=35e3dae7-91fc-4874-8f58-75ee524084d5