Easkey
0-5 v 3-17 Beaufort
Easkey took to the sacred turf of Croke Park in the All
Ireland JFC final with the good wishes of all Sligo and Connacht Gaels, however
their dream was over by the halftime whistle. Nerves were a definite issue but
once Beaufort got a fortunate goal from Ronan Ferris, when an attempted fisted point from Hallissey coming back off the post ending up in the grateful arms of Ferris whose shot was deflected into the
bottom corner of the net. There was to be no recovery from those early jitters.
Liam Carey and Ciarán Kennedy were causing havoc with
Joe McHugh the only forward for Easkey winning his ball. The problem
initially was that the support arriving for McHugh was too late.
Eugene Mullen scored from play to leave the scores 1-3 v 0-1 after 12
minutes. Four minutes later and after 2 quick wides from Beaufort and one
from Kevin Duffy, Beaufort scored a second goal from Ciarán Kennedy.
Beaufort were in control in most positions and the Easkey heads began to drop.
A short kickout and a mishandle saw Noel McGuire receive a harsh yellow and another Hallissey point. A minute later in first half injury time the game was effectively
finished. Ronan Murphy drove from midfield towards the Hill 16 end. On reaching
the corner of the 13m line he let fly, Shane Kilgannon saved excellently but
player of the match Liam Carey ran onto the rebound and volleyed it into
the roof of the net to leave the half time score 3-8 v 0-1. Easkey
only recording 4 wides in the first half
There were no changes as the half time break and there was
no let up from the Kerry and Munster champions who went onto score 2-11 without
reply. Easkey first score came in the 49th minute after the ever
hard working Mikie Gordon was fouled 20metres out and Easkeys best player on
the day Joe McHugh pointed the free. In fairness to the Easkey team they kept
going till the end which is nothing new to any of us and further points
followed from Jonathan Conway, Kevin Duffy and an excellent outside of the boot
effort from Jack Scott left it 3-15 v 0-5. Two late score from Hallissey and
O’Connor embellished the scoreline for the Kerry lads who Liam Carey scored 1-5
from play.
It was a tough day for Easkey but stalwarts like Noel
McGuire, Eugene Mullen and Brendan McGrath worked hard throughout. Mikie Gordon
grew into the game with John Feeney doing well in play further up the field.
Joe McHugh did all that was asked of him and brother Rory was good going
forward. Hard luck to all involved.
Team Shane
Kilgannon, Ian Barrett, Noel McGuire, John Feeney, Éanna Moylan, Rory McHugh,
James Lindsay, Eugene Mullen(c), Mikie Gordon, Dylan Sloyan, Joe McHugh, Emmet
Healy, Andrew Kilcullen, Ryan McKenna, Kevin Duffy
Subs used: Bernard Feeney for James Lindsay, Brendan McGrath
for Andrew Kilcullen, Jack Scott for Éanna Moylan, Jonathan Conway for Ryan
McKenna, Hayden Gilroy for Dylan Sloyan, Joseph Dunphy for Emmet Healy