NH MAIRTIN 0-18

DREADNOTS 1-10

NH Mairtin bounced back from the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser at the end of normal time to claim the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup with an impressive extra-time performance at The Grove on Saturday afternoon.

In doing so the Monasterboice club secured a senior trophy for the first time in their history when they defeated defending champions, Dreadnots, in a contest that burst into life in the closing stages.

The Mairtins shouldn't have needed extra-time as they were in control of this contest for much of the game. They looked to be cruising to victory when they led by six points entering the final quarter, but just couldn't finish off their opponents.

The Dreadnots hadn't been at their best but inspired by a Paraic Smith goal from a penalty they got back into the game and it was the Louth player who completed the comeback with two injury-time points.

The Clogherhead side looked to be in the ascendancy when Anthony Lynch put them ahead for the first time in the game but the Mairtins responded in fine style by dominating the remainder of the game to rut out worthy winners.

The Jocks looked the more hungry side from the outset and points from JP Rooney, Brian Berrill and Conor Healy had them three in front inside ten minutes. Padraic Smith replied with two points before Kenneth Shevlin pulled off a fine save to prevent Padraig McDonagh hitting the net for the Mairtins.

Shevlin was called into action soon after when he dived to his left to save a Sam Mulroy penalty on 17 minutes and keep his side in contention.

The Mairtins continued to dominate possession and with the help of scores from JP Rooney and Stephen Campbell they led by 0-6 to 0-3 at the break and but for some poor finishing they would have been further in control.

It appeared that those lapses would count for little when they went 0-10 to 0-4 in front after 52 minutes but instead of pressing home their advantage they retreated into their shell and allowed Dreadnots some hope.

The champions made their most of their chance when Smith's hit the net from a penalty on 51 minutes and when he followed up almost immediately with a point, the gap was down to 0-10 to 1-6.

In a dramatic finale JP Rooney looked to have settled the issue when he pointed an injury-time free but there was still time for Smith to snatch a draw with two late points.

When Anthony Lynch fired over five minutes into injury time it appeared that the Mairtins spirit might have been broken. However, they showed great courage to come back and lead at the interval with points from Rooney and Mulroy.

In the second period there was only one team in it as the Mairtins dominated and this time made their chances count on the scoreboard, while their prospects were boosted by the dismissal of Clogher's Barry Faulkner.

Captain Mick Fanning sparked joyous celebrations when he accepted the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup and not surprisingly dedicated the victory to the memory of two former colleagues, Benny Reilly and Shane Whelan.

NH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Paul Berrill, Michael Fanning, Thomas Sullivan; Padraig McDonagh 0-1, Conor Healy 0-3, Eoghan Callaghan; Wayne Campbell 0-1, Gavan Mooney; Stephen Campbell (0-2), JP Rooney 0-6, Sam Mulroy 0-1; Conor Whelan 0-1, Bryan McQuillan 0-1, Brian Berrill (0-2). Subs: Fra McCullough for S Mulroy, Mark McCullough for F McCullough, Sam Mulroy for B McQuillan, Luke Harrington for S Campbell BC, Patrick Sullivan for C Whelan BC, Val Leddy for L Harrington.

DREADNOTS: Kenneth Shevlin; Brian Gargan, Padraig Rath, Derek Shevlin; Aaron Scullion, Anthony Williams 0-1, Dermot Campbell; James Califf, Fergal McGuigan; Liam Shevlin, David O'Brien, Pat Lynch 0-1; Peter Kirwan, Páraic Smith 1-7, Richard Kirwan. Subs: Anthony Lynch 0-1 for D O'Brien, Barry Faulkner for A Scullion, Cian McEvoy for Fergal McGuigan, Carl Monaghan for R Kirwan, David O'Brien for J Califf BC

REFEREE: Paul Kneel.

Tweet

Most Read Stories