Year 8 Gaelic Football League Final
8O END 8P’s FAIRYTALE RUN!
Year 8 Gaelic Football League Final.
8O 3-12
8P 4-6
It all went wrong in three agonizing minutes of added time for 8P who had looked set to pull off yet another unlikely win to claim what would have been a famous win today, but 8O gathered themselves and got the momentum at the right time to draw level, then move clear at the end of a well fought game. This tie was similar to a lot of the games throughout the competition – really well contested – and congratulations to 8O on their win. They looked like theirs would be a Kerry versus Mayo situation, but they just got things sorted at the end! To 8P, commiserations, hard luck on a great effort all through. The whole league has seen great turnouts, high interest, and a few memorable games, and great craic! We always want the league to be a positive, inclusive part of settling in at St Michaels, and it has worked out very well this year. Thanks to all of the staff who make it happen.
The Action.
Despite 8P topping the group stages, the pundits reckoned their luck would run out against a more balanced 8O outfit, but that was not the story of the first period of play as 8P continually soaked up pressure for Dom Gallagher and Pearse McLaughlin to lead the 8P counter attacks with two great points. They went 1-2 to no score up before Senan McBrien got 8O on the scoreboard. 8O had plenty of the play, but also plenty of misses or shorts to Abel John in the 8P goals. Jake McGillen plundered his second goal and a few points for 8P, as 8O grabbed replies from Oisin McCaffrey and ball carrier Donnacha McElrone, but their key score came from a Senan McBrien goal just before the break. 8P 2-5 8O 1-4.
The middle period saw a lot of 8P attacks and breakouts getting bogged down a bit. Killian Hegarty and Tristan McGovern were brilliantly found by Aidan Gunn to lift the siege, but hard running Tom Martin with 1-1, plus an Oisin McCaffrey point saw 8O into the lead. Seth McCaffrey chased and harried everything, while Odhran McDonald just grafted and scrapped to lay the foundations for 8O. Surely they would kick on now? 8P 2-5 8O 2-6
Yes, it looked likely as Cathair McManus and Fintan Leonard pushed the lead out further, but Louis Hamblin drove a long clearance upfield, Dom’s shot was brilliantly saved by James McDonnell, rebound to James Dolan, who lashed it in, GOAL!! This was followed by a Dom burst up the middle to go one up and the crowd could not believe it! But the drama was only getting going! The pendulum swung back the other way as Michael Daire McCarron and James Love took 8O one clear, they missed another few, then Jake McGillen grabbed his third from a ball over the top to put 8P two clear – Scenes! Blow it up Ref!!
ADDED TIME DRAMA!
After a number of injury stoppages, we entered the three minutes of additional time. Could 8P hold out? 8P coach Mr Oguz was dreaming of a glorious management debut, his assistant Mr Love was a nervous wreck, but Mr Maguire and Mr Sweeney lifted the 8O boys to go again. Big Jimmy McCormick drove the ball out long, and play seemed to stay down the far end, as 8P tightened up on the home straight and couldn’t get out. A point from the very economical Fintan Leonard, a well worked equalizer from saw it 2-12 to 4-6. “Is this going to extra time? We have buses to get!” But almost as soon as the leveller was over the bar came the winner as the 8O lads smelled blood and put the squeeze on. A quick kickout was turned, the screen wasn’t up, the block didn’t go on, lofted ball in from Senan McBrien again, GOAL!! Time up! You have got to be kidding me! Ah man! 8O go wild, Mr Sweeney and Mr Maguire with their arms in the air, Mr Oguz on his knees, Mr Love fuming.
SUMMARY
Look lads, 8O deserved it. They had probably 60% of the play. McCrystal and Jerome McDermott go hard for every ball and they just drove the thing out time and again, and when it looked like it mightn’t work out, Odhran McDonald and the non-stop Seth McCaffrey just got possession back for them with mighty determination, Seth and Donnacha had a few great diving blocks on the dugout side in the final spell of play. Senan McBrien composed the thing a bit when they were kicking wides and mad shots.
But 8P were close to one of the best against the odds stories in ages. Aidan Gunn anchored the defence so calmly, Dom Gallagher just did everything to get it upfield, Cillian Hegarty and Tristan McGovern were so stubborn and committed, Jake McGillen grabbed 3-2! But Oh Nein boys, the 8O machine wore you down in the end, and well done to them.
A great game. Thanks to all of the staff who have given up so many evenings since the second week in September to make this happen. The lads had a great time.
8O
Jimmy McCormick, Luke Kelly, Seth McCaffrey, James Love, Ronan Lilleker, Odhran McDonald, Fintan Leonard, Senan Kelly, Daire Kelly, Oisin McCaffrey (An Tiompiú Deiseal), Donnacha McElrone, Tom Martin, Jerome McDermott, Oisin McCrystal, Michael Daire McCarron, Senan McBrien, Oscar Leonard, Finbar Kelly, Rory King, Connla Keown, Jamie Lee, James McDonnell, Ethan McAloon, Cathair McManus, Lorcan Lindsay.
8P
Dominic Gallagher, Oisin McCaffrey (Gaeil Inis Ceithleann), Conor Quinn, Luke Coulter, Daithi Keown, James Foy, Ethan Coyle, Louis Hamblin, James Dolan, Matthew McManus, Jamie Keaney, Jake McGillen, Pearse McLaughlin, Tristan McGovern, Abel, Daniel Heugh Gallagher, Ayman Valley, Cillian Hegarty, Aidan Gunn.
Comments