Answering their vocation ...
December 30, 2009Thanks to the county Vocational Schools team, Monaghan GAA got off to an incredible start to 2009. Having been edged out by Cork in the '08 All-Ireland final, a determined Monaghan VS outfit put together an irresistible run to claim the national 'A' title for the second time in history, following on from the breakthrough success of 2001. Without doubt, this is a win that augurs well for the future of Monaghan gaelic football, as schools success can often lay the foundation for bigger and better things.
It must also be remembered that - technically - this counts as a senior intercounty All-Ireland. Those are rare in Monaghan and the wonderful triumph recorded over the first ten weeks of the calendar year is worthy of space in any chronicle of 2009. These lads now have All-Ireland medals in their back pockets and NOBODY will ever be able to take that away from them. Fair play!!!
The final was played in treacherous conditions and Monaghan were vastly superior to a misfiring Galway side as they romped to a 0-10 to 0-3 victory. This was a creditable achievement for the Monaghan combination given that they have a small number of schools to pick from (and two of the qualifying schools in the county didn't have any representatives on the team). The final was never a free-flowing game due to the adverse conditions and the high stakes, but Monaghan were always in control and it was really a question only of what the winning margin would be.
Team captain Colin Walsh closed the year with one of many Man of the Match displays from centre back and the ever-dependable Jack McCarron floated over 60% of the winners' points. The Latton midfield partnership of Kieran Duffy and Stephen McElroy secured a vital foothold in the engine-room and Philip O'Callaghan was always a menace on the 40. Galway's changes weren't helped by a red card in the 21st minute but, in truth, the westerners were never at the races as Monaghan took the spoils with plenty to spare.
Galway had the game's opening score from a free after four minutes but that was the only time they led in a match that Monaghan bossed from the off. The swirling wind and driving rain wreaked havoc, but McCarron seemed immune to the inclement elements as he floated over five fantastic frees and a sublime point from play. Galway tried the direct route - big high Kerry-like balls into a tall full forward (who had destroyed Meath at the semi-final stage) - but all the best passages of play came from Monaghan, who were superior in every sector.
By the end of the first quarter, Monaghan had opened a two-point gap thanks to the accuracy of Christopher McGuinness (the first of two telling strikes from the corner forward), Philip O'Callaghan and McCarron. Galway reduced the margin to the minimum in the 18th minute but Monaghan found two more scores to lead by 0-5 to 0-2 at the break. After McCarron clipped over three more frees within seven minutes of the resumption, the final was over as a contest, with Monaghan six points to the good. The losers managed just one more score around the midway point of the second half and Monaghan looked assured, confident and utterly dominant from there to the final whistle - a shrill shriek which sparked justifiable celebrations at the midlands venue as All-Ireland glory was savoured by a tremendous group of players.
Monaghan, 2009 All-Ireland Vocational Schools 'A' football champions: Dean McDermott; Declan Burns, Cathal Crowe, Eoghan Coyle; Ryan Courtney, Colin Walsh, Paddy McGuigan; Kieran Duffy (0-1), Stephen McElroy; James Kerr, Philip O'Callaghan (0-1), Shane Coyle; Jack McCarron (0-6), Pete Dooney, Christopher McGuinness (0-2). Subs: Brett Wylie for C Crowe, Cathal Crowe for B Wylie, James Garraghan for S McElroy, Thomas Connolly for J Kerr, Donal Tierney for S Coyle, Mark Treanor for P O'Callaghan.
Speaking at a reception held on March 9 to mark the fantastic achievement, Mr Martin G O'Brien, CEO, Co Monaghan VEC said: "Saturday was a terrible day, weather wise - but a glorious day for Monaghan football. These young lads and their teachers have represented their county at the highest level and were victorious. My abiding memory of meeting the team as they arrived in Pearse Park was how calm, composed and focused they were. I don't think they even noticed the pouring rain - such was their sense of focus and determination. Full credit to your manager and backroom team.
"I want to compliment the team and their mentors on the level of skill, work rate, dedication and - above all else - on the discipline you instilled in the lads. both on and off the pitch. You were a very good example to all the young people in attendance, an example of how the game should be played and you have brought huge pride and honour to your parents, parish, school and county. We are all very proud of your achievement, we encourage you to continue to play and we are confident that you have the ability to bring further honours to your county."
To qualify for the final, Monaghan edged out Cork in a thriller - 1-11 to 0-11 at Cashel on Sunday March 1. A razor-sharp Monaghan full forward line accounted for all but one point of their final tally. As this game was a repeat of the 2008 All-Ireland final, victory represented revenge AND a real step in the right direction for the Ulster champions. Unbelievably, it was also Monaghan's first-ever win over Cork opposition in an official competition.
The back-to-back Ulster champions won the midfield battle thanks to typically strong showings from Duffy and McElroy, while full forward Pete Dooney ran the Leeside rearguard ragged.
The reigning champions started best with three points inside the opening five minutes but a flurry from Monaghan had them on terms at 0-4 each with four minutes remaining before the break. Christopher McGuinness, Jack McCarron and Dooney were all on target as the winners fought back and McGuinness' fortuitous injury-time goal ensured the champions-elect of a slender 1-4 to 0-6 interval advantage.
Upon the resumption, three points from Dooney and another from McGuinness saw the border county tear five points clear. From there, the Rebels tried to rally and enjoyed some good spells but they were never quite able to get back into contention on the scoreboard as Monaghan deservedly booked a place in the All-Ireland showcase for a second successive year.
Monaghan, semi-final winners over Cork: Dean McDermott; Declan Burns, Cathal Crowe, Eoghan Coyle; Ryan Courtney, Colin Walsh, Paddy McGuigan; Kieran Duffy, Stephen McElroy; James Kerr (0-1), Philip O'Callaghan, Shane Coyle; Jack McCarron (0-3), Pete Dooney (0-5), Christopher McGuinness (1-2). Subs: Thomas Connolly for J Kerr, James Garraghan for S Coyle.
Monaghan went into the semi-final high on confidence as they had won a very competitive Ulster championship, taking the scalps of Vocational Schools specialists Tyrone and Donegal along the way. In the meantime, Cork had only had one outing - against Kerry - as they claimed their fifth successive Munster championship. Monaghan were also in the privileged position of being able to call on a number of players who had featured in the competition in '08 and that experience surely served the team well and helped them cope with the big occasions that intercounty football dishes out.
For the second year in a row, Monaghan faced Donegal in the Ulster final. The '09 provincial decider was deferred due to arctic conditions, with a brace of opportunist, first-half goals from Pete Dooney eventually propelling the Oriel boys to a slender 2-9 to 1-10 victory at Drumquin. Monaghan led by seven points at one stage early in the second half and had their mettle severely tested thereafter as they held out in the face of a determined Donegal onslaught.
Monaghan took on Tyrone in their semi-final at Armagh's Athletic Grounds in late January and produced a stunning performance over the hour to humble the O'Neill County for a second successive year, 3-11 to 1-6. At the final whistle, the losers could have few complaints as they were well beaten by a fine side that had stars in Colin Walsh, Ryan Courtney and Paddy McGuigan in defence; Kieran Duffy and Stephen McElroy at midfield; and Philip O'Callaghan, Jack McCarron and Pete Dooney up front.
Monaghan led by 1-2 to no score after ten minutes, with Dooney firing the goal. Shane Coyle got the second major, which established a 2-4 to 0-3 half-time lead, and Monaghan never looked back once Dooley found the net again at the end of the first attack of the second half. Indeed, the team as a whole never looked back from there until March 7, when All-Ireland glory was achieved in considerable style. Tweet
