Lola Montez Junior A
Football Championship Semi-Final.
Owenmore Gaels Qualify for
Co.Final. Report by Padraic Duffy.
Owenmore Gaels 2-12 Eastern Harps 1-8.
Owenmore
Gaels secured their ticket to the Lola Montez Junior A football championship final
with a comfortable victory over Eastern Harp’s second team in Bunninadden
Community Park on Saturday evening. They will take on Easkey in the final on
the weekend of Oct.6th/7th.
The winners
led from the early stages through the persistence of Colin Smith who pointed
from play and proved his accuracy throughout with some fine free taking. Ml.Lennon
equalised from play as both sides strove for supremacy.
Colin Smith
restored the winners advantage but again Ml. Lennon equalised; this time from a
13m. free after David Sheppard was fouled.
Brian Mahon
was gifted a turnover and pointed while his Gaels colleague, Art Nicholson
picked up a rebound to point from play.
Harps
reduced the deficit to the minimum when Fiachra Gorman pointed a 45 and Shane
Gallagher converted a 13m. free. A low scoring first half concluded with
Owenmore Gaels ahead by 0-5 to 0-4.
On the
resumption, Jack Foley pointed from play to give his side a two points
advantage. This was quickly cancelled out by points from Ronan Mulligan and David
Sheppard. Harps jumped into the lead when Shane Gallagher picked up a break
from Fiachra Gorman and finished to the net. Harps now led by three points and
Owenmore Gaels realised they were in a
contest. They almost got on level terms immediately, but Harp’s veteran
goalkeeper Kenny Phillips produced an outstanding save. Brian Mahon pointed
from play and followed with a well taken goal after taking a pass from Colin
Smith. The winners increased their advantage with points from Jack Foley and
Ryan Phillips.
Ml. Lennon
reduced the Owenmore Gaels lead with a point from a 13m.free, but this was
quickly cancelled by a similar effort from Colin Smith after the free was moved
forward for dissent.
Fiachra
Gorman pointed a 40m. free to complete the Harps tally. The winners finished
strongly. The elusive Peter Wynne, who was influential throughout, finished to
the Harps net and substitute Adrian Egan pointed a 20m.free to leave seven
points between the sides.
Owenmore
Gaels will be pleased to have come through the semi-final but will be aware
that a stern test awaits them in the final v Easkey. They showed commendable
spirit and the ability to raise their game and push on when Harps took the lead in the second half. Harps, too,
played with great commitment and many of their young players can look forward
to a bright future.
Scorers : O. Gaels: C.Smith 0-5 (0-4f.),B.Mahon
1-2,P.Wynne 1-0,J.Foley 0-2,A.Nicholson,R.Phillips & A.Egan 0-1 each.
E.Harps
:S.Gallagher 1-1(0-1f.), M.Lennon 0-3 (0-2f.),F.Gorman 0-2 (0-1 45,0-1f.),R.Mulligan&
D.Sheppard 0-1 each.
Lineout: O.Gaels: J.Farrell;G.Lavin,P.Murphy,P.Wynne;B.Mahon,C.Whiteside,J.Foley;T.Trill,J.Duffy;R.Anderson,C.Smith,C.Davey;R.Phillips,A.Nicholson,R.Sweeney.
Subs used:G.Anderson,K.Taheny,K.Healy,A.Egan,N.Hodgins.
E.Harps: K.Phillips; C.Coyle,K.Judge,C.Mc
Govern;J.Soden,J.Mc
Loughlin,J.East;M.Meehan,B.Convey;K.Meehan,T.Murray,R.Mulligan;M.Lennon,S.Gallagher,F.Gorman.
Subs used:P.Pilkington,J.Lynch,C.Hannon,G.Garvey,E.Meehan.
Referee:
P.Normanly(Tourlestrane).