Walterstown regain that winning feeling
November 27, 2010
After winning just one game in the group stages of the Meath SFC in the previous three years, Walterstown, with the club's most successful manager, Mick O'Brien, back at the helm, showed considerable improvement to reach the last eight where they lost narrowly to Dunboyne. By Noel Coogan.
O'Brien, who guided the Blacks to five Keegan Cup triumphs as well as two Leinster victories in the glorious era between 1978 and '84, was called back to steady the ship towards the end of 2009 and before the start of this year's championship, he said the main aim was to be competitive in every game and to avoid being involved in relegation play-offs.
"There is hardly any such thing as any easy draw in the championship these days because on any given day, any team can beat any other side. The line between qualifying for the knockout rounds and being involved in relegation play-offs can be very thin," Mick said.
At the outset he thought that four points would see them safe from demotion worries but the team did much better than expected, finishing in second place in Group A with four wins from five starts and a score difference of plus 15 points which was not bettered by any of the other 16 teams involved.
That margin was helped by an eight points margin over defending champions Seneschalstown in the concluding round, by which stage both had qualified for the knockout phase, and before that in round three Walterstown enjoyed their second biggest winning margin at the expense of Blackhall Gaels.
"The response from the players was fantastic from the word go and the results in the games mirrored the effort put in on the training pitch. Among the first priorities were to get the players fit and to get some organisation into the side," said O'Brien who had John McCarthy, Martin Wall and Pat Callaghan also on the backroom team.
The Blacks left it very late before claiming the minimum margin victory (2-11 to 2-10) in the opening round clash against Dunshaughlin at Pairc Tailteann with Alban Crosbie putting over the winning score six minutes into added time at the end.
Tom Walsh was named as Walterstown's key man in the pre-championship previews in one of the local papers and the accurate full-forward put over seven points, five from frees, as his side got off to a generally unexpected winning start.
He scored Walterstown's first four points as a strong start was made with a 1-4 to 0-1 lead being built up in the opening 24 minutes. A long ball from Walsh found Richie Barry who fired in the goal. It was 1-5 to 0-5 and the lead was increased to double scores when Richie Barry and Charles McCarthy got on target early in the second half.
Although Dunshaughlin rallied to lead by 2-9 to 1-9, the Blacks showed their mettle by battling back to get on level terms, Christopher Reynolds punching a Paddy Murray delivery to the net before a Walsh point from a 45 metre free regained the lead.
Although reduced to 14 men with the dismissal of Conor Staunton on 58 minutes, Dunshaughlin levelled with a Niall Murphy free. A draw looked the very likely outcome when Walsh hit a long-range free off an upright and wide. But referee Brendan Darby allowed more time and with Walterstown's top scorer prominent in the build-up with a strong run and pass, Crosbie clinched the two points.
Walterstown's second round opponents were Rathkenny, who had defeated them in a relegation play-off the previous autumn which had a long drawn-out sequel, and the side in red and black finished on top on a scoreline of 0-10 to 0-8.
A low-scoring first period ended level on 0-4 each and Walterstown suffered a blow in the 37th minute when the experienced Charles McCarthy was forced to retire injured. A draw looked the likely outcome before points from John Donegan and Brian Meade.
Walterstown bounced back from that setback to defeat Blackhall Gaels by 1-9 to 0-6 in Ashbourne with Alban Crosbie scoring 1-4. The Blacks built up a 1-6 to 0-0 lead in the opening 21 minutes and were always comfortable after that.
The goal was netted from a penalty kick and three of Crosbie's points came from frees. It was 1-6 to 0-2 at the break.
Walterstown made it three wins from four outings with a narrow 2-8 to 1-9 success over struggling St Ultan's at Simonstown to ensure a place in the last eight. The Blacks recovered from a slow start which left them trailing by six points after 10 minutes with goals in the second half from Alban Crosbie and Tom Walsh helping them to secure the victory.
In that game Mick O'Brien came up against one of his players from the club's glory years with Martin Barry in charge of St Ultan's. Barry looked to be on the way to getting one over his old boss when the board read 1-3 to 0-0.
Walterstown did not erase the blank until Tom Walsh pointed near the end of the first quarter. But the difference became seven points before two white flags from Crosbie left four (0-5 to 1-6) in it at the break.
Having earlier thwarted Walsh and Richie Barry, Ultan's netminder Neil Burke failed to keep out goal efforts by the same players. Crosbie fired in the first of them in the 40th minute and Walsh gave the Blacks the lead for the first time when netting five minutes later.
Although Walterstown outpointed Seneschalstown by 0-15 to 0-7, the fourth win was achieved at a cost as veteran midfielder Joey Farrelly picked up an arm injury near the end which forced him to miss their quarter-final.
The game lacked the customary intensity of a championship contest and a draw looked a very possible result when the sides were level at 0-6 each at the break. Nine players scored for the winners and they were 0-11 to 0-7 to the good when Seneschalstown had Joe Cowley dismissed in the 50th minute.
Mick O'Brien suggested that Walterstown were in bonus territory when facing Dunboyne in the last eight tie at Ratoath. Despite missing the strength and experience of Farrelly at centrefield, they gave good account of themselves with the sides level five times before Dunboyne edged into a decisive lead to win by 0-13 to 0-11.
Walterstown got away to a bright beginning to go into a three-point lead with Tom Walsh ('45 and play) and David Maguire getting on target in the early exchanges. Still Dunboyne recovered to put over the next three scores and hold a narrow
0-6 to 0-5 lead at the interval.
White flags from Walsh and Crosbie kept the Blacks in touch in the second half but their opponents forged ahead with three successive scores before Mark McCormack closed the losers' account as they bowed out after winning back a lot of respect.
"I think the team played its best football in the first half of the game against Blackhall Gaels. After losing to Rathkenny, we had to win that one to have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
"We probably went into the match against Rathkenny as favourites but we knew it would be a hard game to win and so it proved. Rathkenny deserved their win that day and it was hardly a big surprise because they have six or seven above average players and they are well organised," remarked the veteran boss.
O'Brien was full of praise for the manner in which Walterstown battled back from a deficit of seven points to eventually get the better of St Ultan's. "They had 1-3 on the board before we got our first score and later in the first half the margin was seven points. They showed a good bit of character to recover from such a position and go on and win that game, "he said.
"Then when we played Seneschalstown the needle usually associated with such clashes was missing because both teams had already qualified. However, we went out seeking the win which we got.
"As regards the quarter-final, we reckoned we were in with a chance of winning, irrespective of who we met. We lost by two points to Dunboyne and when you lose by such a small margin, you always look back and think you could have won.
"I don't like making excuses after defeats but the physical strength of Joey Farrelly was badly missed. But we had to play with who was available on the night and we just fell short.
"But winning four games surpassed my expectations and another pleasing aspect was that all members of the team had played underage football with the club," said O'Brien who feels that the progress made this year can be taken one or two steps further in 2011.
"Walterstown have a panel of 24 or 25 players, who if applying their minds positively again next year, they can do well again. But there are a number of teams who will have similar hopes.
"I don't know if I will be with them but I'd be hopeful that they can take at least one more step back towards the top. Incidentally next year will be the 50th anniversary of the club's junior championship success in 1961 when I was the trainer as well as a member of the winning team!" concluded Mick.
U16 Div 3 final: Blacks edge out Dunderry
Walterstown overcame Dunderry is this thrilling Division 3 final played in Cortown on a 1-14 to 1-13 scoreline.
Dunderry had the better of the early exchanges and led 0-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes
In the twelfth minute Robbie McDonnell scored an excellent goal for Walterstown when he turned quickly and dribbled the ball along the ground before burying it in corner of the net.
A huge Christopher Farrelly point increased the lead but Dunderry soon levelled and a brilliant Paddy Kennelly goal for Dunderry put his side back in lead by three. Scores were traded with Christopher Farrelly scoring three more great points and a point from McDonnell from out near the sideline could not prevent Walterstown from trailing by three at the break on a scoreline of Dunderry 1-9 Walterstown 1-6.
Walterstown upped the tempo in the second half and with Paul Donnellan now at midfield and Eoghan Mc Guinness at full back they forced themselves into the match. Pointed frees from McDonnell and Lee Kelly had Walterstown trailing by two, but a great long range point from Dunderry put them 1-13 to 1-9 up midway through the half.
Dunderry would have been further ahead but for an outstanding Steve Kennedy save in the 20th minute.
Two lovely Paul Donnellan points in the 22nd and 23rd minute gave the Blacks belief as they reduced the deficit to two. The excitement grew further when McDonnell and Farrelly combined for Farrelly to slot his sixth point of the evening reducing the margin to one.
The equalizer came from Lee Kelly when he latched on to a McDonnell flick to calmly put the ball over the bar from 25 yards for his third point of the evening with two minutes left on the clock.
Walterstown won the kick out and great pass from Farrelly found McDonnell in the corner. He carried the ball before being fouled on the twenty yard line and held his nerve as he pointed the free to give the Blacks the victory.
This was an outstanding game of football and Dunderry lost none of their pride in defeat. They played with great intensity and skill and some of the point taking of Paddy Kennelly and Stephen Coogan was outstanding.
For Walterstown it took a great team performance to get over the line.
Stephen Kennedy was excellent in goals and his save in the second half was crucial.
Darren Mc Mahon made several interceptions at corner back and formed a very strong full back line with Eoghan McGuinness and Andrew Woods.
The Half back of line Liam Irwin, Mark O'Meara and Paul Foy were particularly good in the second half.
Matthew Clarke worked very hard at midfield and finished the game very strongly.
The switching of Paul Donnellan to midfield was crucial and his speed and phenomenal work rate set up attack after attack.
In the half forward line Christopher Farrely on the "40" had an outstanding match finishing with six points and got good support from Aron Dunphy and Dare Aloba who both worked hard and were clever with their passing.
At full forward Robbie Mc Donnell caused havoc when he was in possession scoring 1-3 and was involved in most of the Black's scores being fouled for six converted frees.
Lee Kelly scored 0-3 and was dangerous throughout the match and his equalising point was vital to the outcome.
Alan Crowley who played most of the game in corner forward after an early switch with Paul Foy worked hard and made a good block in the second half.
Minor board chairman Brendan Dempsey presented the cup to Walterstown captain Eoghan Mc Guinness.
Scorers. Robbie Mc Donnell 1-3,Christopher Farrelly 0-6,Lee Kelly 0-3,Paul Donnellan 0-2.
Walterstown - Steven Kennedy, Alan Crowley, Mark O'Meara, Andrew Woods, Liam Irwin, Paul Donnellan, Darren Mc Mahon, Eoghan Mc Guinness, Matthew Clarke, Aron Dunphy, Christopher Farrelly, Dare Aloba, Paul Foy, Robbie McDonnell, Lee Kelly.
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