Carnaross 1-09 St. Vincent’s 0-09

Carnaross ended the year on a high claiming the Tailteann Cup against a resilient St. Vincent’s side in Dunganny on Friday night. Only a goal separated the teams in the dying stages but the Ardcath men failed to breach the impenetrable rear-guard of the North Meath men.

Both teams endured tentative starts as neither side wanted to repeat their Jekyll and Hyde performances from the JFC semi-final in October. The scores were tied at 2 points apiece after 10 minutes. Decky Reilly continued his fine end-of-season form, when he latched on to a breaking ball to curl over expertly. Reilly’s accuracy was key from dead balls also, as he accounted for 3 frees throughout the hour. Paddy McDermott was a constant thorn in the opponent’s defence and his point from a near impossible angle, close to the sideline, was the highlight of the first half. St. Vincent’s remained in constant touch by counter attacking from deep scoring 3 frees and converted 2 well worked points. Captain Frank O’Reilly led by example, tackling from the front ensuring St. Vincent’s never had a moment’s peace. Thomas Nugent used all of his valuable experience to draw vital frees from the crowded Ardcath rear-guard in his uncharacteristic role of full forward. Cillian Comaskey bossed the midfield aerial duel collecting McNiffe’s kickouts on numerous occasions throughout the half.

At half time, Carnaross led by the minimum, 0-6 to 0-5.

Vincent’s started the better of the two by scoring two unanswered points to take the lead. This seemed to spur the maroon and saffron men into action as Frank O’Reilly fielded expertly along the end line and floated an inviting handpass across the goalmouth that Decky Reilly punched to the net after outjumping 2 St. Vincent’s defenders. The Dulane dangerman couldn’t have asked for better service after a spicy assist from Frank. The atmosphere intensified shortly after and remained at boiling point for the remainder of the half. St. Vincent’s refused to lie down and brought it back to the minimum with 7 minutes remaining. The Ross introduced their finishers, in the form of the deadly McGee brothers and Ollie Murphy, who with a combined age of 113, brought untold guile and experience to the fold. Up stepped Mc Dermott with another trade mark worldly to double their advantage. Dermot McGee then expertly picked out Frank from 50 yards who turned instantly and extended the advantage to 3 points.  As the game bubbled and boiled, tempers flared and both teams were reduced to 14 men. St. Vincent’s searched desperately for the elusive goal as the game ticked into injury time. They launched ball after ball into the square but the Hoops hung on heroically. Peter Carpenter drew a kick on a loose ball and the referee brought a halt to proceedings ensuring the Ross were bringing a first team cup back to the Inn for the first time in over 20 years. 

8 players started in our victorious B League final over Ballinabrackey only 5 days previous. This marks a fantastic few days in the club, in a year where the club won 31 out of 36 competitive adult fixtures, reached semi-finals of both championships and were promoted in both leagues. 

Carnaross: Shane McNiffe, Jack Roche, Peter S Farrelly, Ian Donoghue, Peter Carpenter, Tómás Plunkett, Cormac O’Reilly, Cian O’Reilly, Cillian Comaskey, Niall McDonnell, Frank O’Reilly(0-3, 0-2fs), Killian Porter, Decky Reilly(1-4, 0-3fs), Thomas Nugent, Paddy McDermott(0-2). Subs: Stephen Flattery for Niall McDonnell, Sam Reynolds for Jack Roche, Dermot McGee for Decky Reilly, John L McGee for Killian Porter and Ollie Murphy for Stephen Flattery. 

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