Mines explode to victory
November 27, 2010Tara Mines had opted out of the competition for the last four years, having won it in 2004, but a decision was made earlier this year to re-enter and it certainly proved dividends.
At the helm were experienced and well known Meath men Jack Gordon, Mattie McCabe, Gerry Heaney and Richie Cahill. For this year's edition of the Royal County Yearbook, we take a look at how the success was achieved and speak to Jack about the reasons for returning to inter-firms action.
A recruitment drive earlier in the saw Tara Mines employ a number of people and some of these turned out to be a few of the top footballers in the county.
Players of the calibre of Navan O'Mahonys duo Cormac McGuinness and Gary O'Brien augmented by Wolfe Tones midfielder Stephen Corrigan were just some of the lads added to the payroll.
Add to that assemble the influence of Damien Sheridan at midfield and it represented a potent mix of senior talent with plenty of experience from a sprinkling of junior and intermediate clubs, such as Kilmainham's Trevor Lynch, Daithi Reilly (St Michael's) James Connolly (Drumbaragh) and Syddan's Ian Curran to name just a few.
"There was an influx of new players at the start of the year and when asked would they be interested in playing, they all said 'yes'," admitted Jack. "So the decision was taken to enter a team once again and the company were delighted that we were doing so as it lends a social aspect and they supported us from the start."
In the first match, Tara Mines were drawn against an ESB side that included Offaly footballer Ciaran McManus and Galway star Paul Clancy. This was to prove to be their toughest game of the campaign.
"We didn't really know what to expect against the ESB, but we know from the players that had joined the company that we would be strong enough," said Jack of their first encounter in the Leinster junior inter-firms championship.
In a hard fought battle, the new look Mines side came away with a three-point win to book their place in the semi final where they would face Midlands Prison for a place in the decider.
"We mentioned to the lads at one stage about training and it wasn't too well received," joked Jack. "In fairness they have been training all year with their clubs, while some of them were with the county and I think if we took the competition too serious, lads wouldn't have bothered playing.
"However, in every game they gave it their all and they all wanted to win at the end of the day. A good few of them would have senior championship medals and you could see the winning mentality in them while they were playing."
The semi final was a decidedly one-sided affair as Tara Mines cruised to victory over the Midlands prison and this set up a meeting with Hewlett Packard in the Leinster final.
The final was fixed for Pairc Tailteann and this meant that the 'home side' had a large support cheering them on, despite it being a bitterly cold night.
Tara Mines struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard in the opening half as they laboured to a 0-5 to 0-3 lead at half time.
Part of the reason for the low scoring was a tally of seven wides; some of them were quite memorable.
Tara made the early running with pointed frees from Ryan McCormack and Ian Curran inside eight minutes, but a hard-working Hewlett Packard side were ahead by the end of the opening quarter.
James Walsh (two frees) and Brian McLafferty from play gave the Kildare side a merited advantage.
Tara Mines were on terms in the 20th minute when Drumbaragh's James Connolly claimed the first of his two first-half points from play while full-forward McCormack converted another free for the hosts before the break.
McCormack pointed another free a minute into the second-half and Barry Smith's determination was rewarded with a score from play soon after.
Hewlett Packard's task was made more difficult in the 10th minute when they lost goalkeeper Kenna who received a straight red card,
That effectively finished the game as a contest and Tara knocked over further points from Smith and O'Brien (two each), Daithi Reilly and Curran. The Kildare men managed another Walsh point near the end.
"It was great to win, the lads gave it their all and it was down to them. It took them a while to get going, but once they did, they always looked in control."
For the record, the Tara Mines team that defeated Hewlett Packard in the Leinster inter-firms junior football final was: Tara Mines - Michael McCarthy (non-club); Daithi Reilly (St Michael's 0-1), Ciaran McLoughlin (Wolfe Tones), Brendan Dixon (Moynalvey); Kieran Kenny (Simonstown Gaels), Cormac McGuinness (Navan O'Mahonys), Gary O'Brien (Navan O'Mahonys 0-1); Stephen Corrigan (Wolfe Tones), Damien Sheridan (Seneschalstown); Ian Curran (Syddan 0-3), Barry Smith (Gaeil Colmcille 0-3 one free), Alan Carolan (Kilmainhamwood); James Connolly (Drumbaragh 0-2), Ryan McCormack (Kingscourt 0-3 frees), Ruairi Russell (Bective). Subs - Keith Brady (Simonstown Gaels) for Dixon 50 mins; Michael McCann (Cavan) for Russell 51m; Jim Gallagher (Moynalty) for Curran 53m; Conor Martin (St Ultan's) for Sheridan 55m; Damien Maguire (Simonstown Gaels) for Carolan 56m. Tweet
