Oldcastle were crowned LMFM Minor Football Championship Division 2 champions with this dramatic win over Jenkinstown Gaels at Pairc Tailteann. This was the clubs first ever minor championship title and the Liam Tolan Cup will sit nicely with the league title won earlier in the year.
Oldcastle 3-11 Jenkinstown Gaels 3-10
Before the throw in there was a minutes silence for the late Frank ‘Chips’ Lynch, a former Oldcastle player who died last week in Brighton. Oldcastle were on the scoreboard first with a point from captain Conor Delaney.
Jenkinstown dominated the following 10 minutes and their efforts were rewarded with 2-2. Corner forward Sean Healy raised the green flag twice and points from Brian O’Reilly and Hugh O’Sullivan gave the amalgamation side a 7 point advantage.
The north Meath club got themselves back in the game with a well worked Jason Scully goal along with a CJ Healy point. Healy was on hand again on the 20th minute to fire home a penalty after Delaney was fouled in the square and the minimum separated the teams. Jenkinstown Gaels 2-3 Oldcastle 2-2.
The Blackhall Moynalvey combination dominated the remaining ten minutes and outscored Oldcastle 1-4 to 0-2. Healy completed his hat trick by converting a penalty after a foul on O’Reilly and they went in at the break with a 3-7 to 2-4 lead.
Oldcastle were dealt another blow in the early stages of the second half when their influential captain Conor Delaney was black carded by referee Dessie Smyth. Jenkinstown extended their lead with the first score of the half courtesy of Healy.
But as in all of their games this year Oldcastle came good in the second half. Healy and Scully began to dominate possession and the scores followed. Between the 7th and 20th minute the boys in Blue sent over 6 unanswered points from Dylan Garrigan, Scully (2), Healy, Robert Smith and Shane Quinn.
Jenkinstown steadied the ship with a brace from Healy and O’Reilly to leave a goal between the teams as the game entered the last five minutes.
Oldcastle needed a goal and Ronan Taggart obliged fisting home a Healy shot on goal with 2 minutes left on the timer.
Extra time looked on the cards. Jason Scully had others ideas. The midfielder picked up possession and as he soloed through the Jenkinstown defence was fouled by Sean Duggan. Duggan recieved a red card while Scully pointed the resulting free to give Oldcastle a dramatic win.
After the game John Kavanagh Minor Board Chairman along with Alfie and Theresa Tolan and Brendan Cummins (LMFM sponsor) presented the Liam Tolan Cup to Oldcastle captain Conor Delaney
Oldcastle: Karl Gibney, Mossy Flood, Matthew Taggart, Dylan Garrigan 0-1, Cian McKenna, Keith Coinnell, Stephen Lawless, Oran O’Reilly, Jason Scully 1-5, Robert Smith 0-1, Conor Delaney 0-1, Ronan Taggart 1-0, Kyle Kavanagh, CJ Healy 1-2, Shane Quinn 0-1. Subs: Lee Healy, Stephen Milmoe.
Jenkinstown Gaels: Mark Nicholson, Charlie Staunton, Conor Harnan, Matt Brennan, Scott Tuite, Riann Kealy, Colm O’Connor, Robert Lawless, Hugh Smith, Sean Duggan 0-2, James Kelly 0-1, Adam Murphy, Sean Healy 3-3, Hugh O’Sullivan 0-1, Brian O’Reilly 0-3. Subs: Andrew Jackson, John Morris.
Report taken from Hoganstand.com
