JFC final: Second quarter showing central to Meath Hill win
October 09, 2017
Meath Hill's Tomas Smith with Kevin Foley Moylagh during the Meath JFC Final at Pairc Tailteann
Meath Hill claimed the JFC title for the third time on Sunday when proving too good for Moylagh at Pairc Tailteann.
Meath Hill 1-12 Moylagh 0-9
Meath Hill put a significant deposit on the Peter McDermott Cup with a strong second quarter showing. Then Davy Cahill's men had the wherewithal to sustain Moylagh's rally.
Some great scores decorated Meath Hill's second-half showing, especially Jason Yorke's 41st minute effort that made it 1-9 to 0-5.
Meath Hill were claiming the title for the first time since 1980 and were worthy winners on day when the slippy conditions hindered both sides.
Moylagh - unbeaten thus far in the campaign - wasted some good point-taking opportunities after the break. They also had a big penalty shout in the 51st minute. They were six points off the pace at the time.
The men in green got the gap down to five points (Eanna Brody free) with the hour almost up. Meath Hill outscored Moylagh by 0-2 to 0-1 in just over five minutes of stoppage time.
Jason Yorke's third point was the pick of the scores while sub Mark Tully completed a memorable afternoon for the north county side.
Eight points down at the break, Moylagh set about trying to reel in Meath Hill. They pulled two points back within 10 minutes of the restart.
Jason Yorke's second point steadied Meath Hill. When James Mooney posted midway through the half, they were eight clear again.
Moylagh nearly doubled their tally in the final quarter outscoring Meath Hill by 0-4 to 0-2 in the latter stages. Two of the last three scores went to the winners.
Buoyed up by vocal support, Moylagh's bid for a first JFC title was augmented by an early two-point salvo from team captain Joe Melia (one free). Playing into the hospital end the men from the north west managed just one more score before the interval.
Niall McLarney's 15th minute effort made it 0-3-each, the second time the sides were tied. Then Meath Hill set about laying the foundations for the title.
From the 17th mintue to the break, Meath HIll posted 1-4 without reply with Thomas Rooney's goal getting the sequence going.
A 1-8 to 0-3 interval advantage sustained the team in royal blue against Moylagh's second-half rally.
Meath Hill - Dominic Yorke; Barry Kieran, Ryan Owens, Conor Marry; Thomas McGrath (0-1), Kieran Slavin, Chris Yorke (0-1 45); Jason Yorke (0-3), Keith Ginnity (0-1); James Mooney (0-2), Pearse McGrath (0-3), Michael McCabe; Ian Malone, Tomas Smith, Thomas Rooney (1-0). Subs - Mark Tully (0-1) for McCabe (44), Simon Martin for C Yorke (61), Ryan Carry for Malone (65), Martin Tully for McGrath (66).
Moylagh - Aengus Fanning; Kevin Foley, Darren Gibney (0-1), Padaic Traynor; Shane Gibney, Peter Fox, Jimmy Boyle; Joe Melia (C) (0-2 1f), Colm Fanning; Tommy Melia, Tom O'Reilly (0-2 fs), Niall McLarney (0-2); Brian Geraghty, Eanna Brody (0-1 f), Sean Reilly (0-1). Subs - Shane Brody for Brian Geraghy (ht), Aaron Hand for T Melia (44), Emmet Grall for Foley (60).
Referee - Hugo Whoriskey (St Patrick's).
