County finals roundup
October 05, 2008
By Cóilín Duffy
On a busy day of county finals around the country we roundup all the action with football finals in Cork, Derry, Fermanagh, Donegal, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Offaly and Wicklow, as well as hurling deciders in Carlow and Westmeath.
2008 beaten All-Ireland Senior Club Football finalists Nemo Rangers captured their 17th Cork title, and a first four-in-a-row success following a comfortable 0-13 to 0-5 win over Douglas at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Industrious work by James Masters, Sean O'Brien, David Niblock and Paul Kerrigan in the opening half gave Rangers the foundations to ensure a convincing victory.
Despite the efforts of the likes of Tom Sheehan, Mark Harrington and Cormac Dineen for Douglas throughout this game, nothing could stop the Rangers in their quest for four-in-a-row success, with Douglas unable to cut the deficit to less than five points in the second half.
Nemo Rangers always looked comfortable and they finished this game strongly; with the final two points of the contest to ensure an eight-point win with Maurice McCarthy accepting the cup after the game.
In Ulster it was a busy day across the province, with Senior Football final action in Derry, Donegal and Fermanagh.
Eight players were on the score-sheet for Ballinderry Shamrocks as they captured their tenth Derry SFC title thanks to a slender 0-10 to 0-8 win over Slaughtneil at Celtic Park.
Despite a strong second half display by Ballinderry, it was Slaughtneil who made the better start and led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval, thanks to four points from the boot of top-scorer Paul Bradley; with scores from Kevin McGuckin and Conleth Gilligan keeping Ballinderry in touch.
Ballinderry dug deep in the second half with scores from Gilligan and Colin Devlin propelling them in front on the restart.
Slaughtneil equalised midway through the second half, but Ballinderry finished strongly with scores from defender Michael Bell and a second Devlin free ensuring a two-point victory.
St. Patrick's, Donagh captured an inaugural Fermanagh SFC success, following a slender one-point victory over Derrygonnelly by 0-11 to 0-10 in a keenly contested final at Brewster Park in Enniskillen.
Despite a first-half penalty miss by Pat Cadden, St. Patrick's led by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval with Gary Maguire kicking three first half points.
Although the eventual winners opened up a six-point lead on the restart, Derrygonnelly staged a strong second half display with Kevin Cassidy on target with four points, as the gap was reduced to the minimum.
Paul McCaffrey propelled St. Patrick's into a two-point led late on and although a second point from substitute Paul Ward cut the gap to the minimum - a Michael McGrade point ensured Patrick's restored their two-point cushion.
But Derrygonnelly pushed St. Patrick's all the way and although Ryan Jones cut the gap to the minimum, and Derrygonnelly had a number of late missed chances, St. Patrick's stood firm to take their first success.
In Donegal Brendan Devanney claimed his fourth Donegal SFC medal, following St. Eunan's 2-13 to 1-8 victory over Termon at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.
Devanney and Rory Kavanagh played instrumental roles in ensuring back-to-back titles as the reigning champions held a 2-7 to 0-5 interval lead.
Although Termon got a second half goal from a penalty, it was mere consolation as St. Eunan's finished out the game strongly to capture their 11th Championship success.
Cortoon Shamrocks hopes of capturing a first ever Galway Senior Football Championship title ended in disappointment at Pearse Stadium, after Corofin captured their 14th success following a 0-8 to 0-5 victory.
On a day which saw the Corofin minor footballers also capture championship success, it was Cortoon who started strongly in the Senior decider thanks to scores from former All-Star Derek Savage and Michael Martin (2) to ensure a 0-3 to 0-1 lead in first half injury-time.
However a quick brace of points for the eventual winners, from Alan O'Donovan and Gary Sice ensured the sides were level at the interval at 0-3 apiece.
Corofin staged a stronger performance on the restart and thanks to the strong efforts of players like Joe Canney and Michael Comer; it paved the way for a Corofin victory and Kieran Fitzgerald to lift the Frank Fox Memorial Cup after the game.
Elsewhere in Connacht, Eastern Harps made up for the disappointment of losing last years' decider, when they captured their sixth Sligo SFC title thanks to a 1-16 to 1-8 victory over Tubbercurry.
In Leitrim Glencar/Manorhamilton captured their first SFC title since 1999, following a 2-9 to 0-7 win over Bornacolla at Páirc Sean Mhic Diarmuda in Carrick-On-Shannon.
In Leinster there were Senior football finals in Offaly and Wicklow, with An Taoiseach Brian Cowen in attendance at O'Connor Park, Tullamore as Rhode dethroned reigning champions Tullamore, thanks to a 1-20 to 2-4 win.
Backboned by players such as Offaly Senior footballer Niall McNamee and former Leinster SFC winner Roy Malone, Rhode captured their 23rd Offaly Senior Football Championship, and their fourth title in five years, thanks to a comfortable 13-point victory.
In Wicklow St. Patrick's and Kiltegan will have to meet again following a thrilling 2-8 to 1-11 draw at Aughrim.
In hurling action Naomh Brid were crowned Carlow SHC champions, following a slender 3-9 to 2-11 win over Mount Leinster Rangers at Dr. Cullen Park.
A late Alan Brennan goal was the decisive score as Mount Leinster Rangers were denied three-in-a-row success.
Meanwhile across the province at Cusack Park in Mullingar Raharney captured their first Westmeath SHC title since 2006 thanks to victory over Clonkill.
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