A real beacon of light
December 10, 2002
Brewster Park, Enniskillen looked resplendent in all its autumnal glory. And to the delight of those belonging to Monaghan hurling, it provided an appropriate conduit for an historic All-Ireland Under 16 'C' hurling championship triumph for the county.
In times of hardship for GAA fraternities, the garnering of silverware is all the sustenance required. For gaels in Monaghan, hunger has been a sauce which has been part of the menu, it seems, at every sitting at every code for longer than is healthy.
However, last August delivered a timely, tasty dish in the shape of success in the All-Ireland Under 16 'C' hurling championship; thus leaving one hell of a sweet taste in the mouths of all who worked hard to cook up such fare.
Like every All-Ireland title ever won, Monaghan's achievement in climbing to the top of the hill wasn't merely engineered on the back of a fleeting moment of genius. Instead, it was carved out of hard graft, perseverance and a naked ambition which failed to be smothered by any latent self-doubt.
Pitted in a qualifying section which included Antrim, Cavan, Fermanagh, Louth and Donegal, the would-be All-Ireland champions had the bit between their teeth from the very outset and their sweeping successes over Fermanagh and fancied Antrim in the opening two rounds posted notice of Monaghan's prospects.
Victory thereafter over Louth and a particularly gutsy win away to Donegal in the next game, complemented by a walkover against neighbours Cavan left the white and blues cruising through as Ulster section winners with maximum points.
Would-be All-Ireland final opponents Sligo were no less impressive in careering through undefeated to the All-Ireland decider.
Sligo may have been the competition's surprise packets but the levels of their ambition and confidence couldn't be overstated. And in beating Longford in a cracking play-off final in the western section, the showed that they had both resolve and determination in bucket loads.
Needless to say, the Yeats County youngsters were in no way underrated by Monaghan's think-tank team led by team-manager Gerry Murphy.
Significantly, as things transpired, the Murphy/Hannon axis managed to forge a great relationship with the Monaghan panel. It was a relationship that would be seen to develop and prosper as the season was extended by one victory after another. It was a relationship which, ultimately, worked the oracle too.
Impressively garnered from nine different clubs in the county, the panel included a number of the Latton players (including team-captain Bernard O'Brien) who achieved success in the Feile na nGael tournament two years ago. Upon such confidence-building achievements are inter-county successes notched.
Overall though, the Monaghan Under 16 hurling set-up in 2002 proved to be a greenhouse of some really promising individual talents, an abundance of spirited team players and, above all, a vaulting ambition which was all but tangible.
And so to the decider in Enniskillen on Saturday, August 31st. The breaking of new ground seldom made such a cacophony of noise so pleasant to the ears of hurling followers the wider GAA family in Monaghan.
Monaghan went for glory right from the throw-in. Gaining the initiative early on, the Ulster lads were most definitely up for it. And in the 4th minute, they duly opened the scoring when Captain Fantastic O'Brien rifled over a brilliant long-range point from a dead-ball situation.
In a frenetic opening spell, both sides conspired to play the game at whirlwind pace. Predictably, Sligo countered O'Brien's strike with interest added-on when, in a swift counter-attack in the 6th minute, Alan Cawley's opportunist goal left Monaghan trailing by two points.
Majestical Monaghan weren't renowned for being sluggish off the blocks and, true to form, they rebounded from the concession of Cawley's major by putting the Sligo defence under a period of consistent pressure. Just ill-luck and some tidy defensive work by the Connacht team prevented Monaghan from matching Sligo's goal in double-quick time.
As it was, Monaghan failed to allow themselves be distracted by the ill-luck which saw Gary Boyd's well-drilled shot rebound to safety off the butt of the Sligo post.
Monaghan retained their focus though. Hunting in packs, passing with great accuracy and eager-beavers at close-quarters, the winners-elect cut into Sligo's lead when the aforementioned O'Brien was unerring in his accuracy from a '65.
Monaghan continued to hold the upper hand from open play but they received a let-off in the 12th minute when referee Jim McGrath from Westmeath ruled out a Sligo goal which came from a long-distance free for a square-ball infringement.
Monaghan had to be careful in defence as Sligo seemed to get their second wind midway through the first half. Indeed, the westerners increased their lead to two points in the 17th minute when goalscorer Cawley raised a white flag despite having to aim for goal under considerable Monaghan pressure.
Cue Monaghan's unyielding spirit. In a really dramatic and crucial twist to the game, Monaghan leaped into the lead for the first time since the opening minutes with an excellently crafted and executed goal in the 18th minute by Castleblayney starlet Gary Boyd after Noel Morgan and Deaglan Connolly had done the spadework.
Boyd's major was mentioned in a lot of the post-match discussions as arguably the turning point in the game. Certainly, it helped stem Sligo's growing confidence, robbed their lead and gave Monaghan an advantage which they never subsequently relinquished.
Still, although Monaghan were not to be headed again, they still had to weather some rough periods of pressure from their worthy co-finalists. A fine save in particular from 'keeper Eoin McTiernan in the 24th minute was symptomatic of the leaders' skill under pressure.
As things transpired, Monaghan were to finish the first half just as they had begun it - with a flourish. Even though Monaghan had reason to curse their luck when Michael Lennon was unlucky with a shot for goal, a fine point by Noel Morgan helped morale greatly as the team went into the dressing-rooms at the interval sitting rather pretty on foot of a 1-4 to 1-1 lead.
Leaving little scope for Sligo to build up any momentum on the restart, the Ulster ambassadors attacked their opponent's goal from the opening minutes of the second half with great gusto and no little reward. It seemed as if Monaghan eyeing up the winning post with renewed determination and optimism as the second half got underway.
A goal and a point inside three minutes of the restart signalled a concerted burst forward towards the winner's enclosure by the match-leaders.
Again it was the triumvirate of Boyd, Connolly and Morgan who combined sweetly to afford the last-named a run in on goal which he finished off by blasting a great shot into the Sligo net from close range.
Monaghan were now very much in the driving seat as they sought to consolidate their well-merited six point lead. And when Brendan Naughton added a further point just minutes later, Sligo looked in serious danger of being completely overrun.
The Yeats County youngsters responded admirably though to Monaghan's passion play and two points in quick succession gave them significant hope. However by the end of the third quarter, Monaghan had regained their six points lead when Noel Morgan pointed after good work by team-mate Stephen Lambe.
However the Clontibret youngster's fine point was to prove to be Monaghan's final score of the game. Thereafter, Monaghan were forced to fight desperately in a game of containment rather than consolidation. A hugely exciting and dramatic 12 minutes ensued.
Some excellent defensive work by captain O'Brien, Ross Connolly and Gerard Ruddy proceeded to thwart good approach work by Sligo as the time ticked by. But the westerners still managed to get through for a brace of points to close the deficit to four by the 57th minute. At this juncture, it really was anyone's game. The tension was palpable and the small but vociferous support for both teams were in full voice.
Into stoppage time and Sligo pointed again to leave just three points separating the combatants. Could Monaghan hold out? The answer was in the affirmative.
Monaghan won the subsequent crucial puck-out by 'keeper McTiernan. It was now a matter of keeping possession. Sligo desperately needed the sliotar but to their dismay and Monaghan's delight, referee McGrath called time. The Monaghan cheers echoed around Brewster Park with the verocity of a D.J. Carey shot on goal. It was Monaghan's day. It was a great day for the game of hurling. Roll on the minor championship!
For the record, the following is the Monaghan team, scorers and subs, which featured in the All-Ireland Under 16 'C' hurling championship final last August was as follows;
Eoin McTiernan; Ross Connolly, Gerard Ruddy, Niall Cadden; Alan Lambe, Bernard O'Brien (0-1), Shane Smyth; Karl Conlon, Michael Lennon; Noel Morgan (1-2), Gary Boyd (1-1), Brendan Naughton (0-1); Eoin Greenan, Deaglan Connolly, Steven Lambe. Subs used; Patrick Conlon for Cadden; Paraic Duffy for D. Connolly; Paddy Lonergan for Greenan; Gerard Gilsenan for Lambe.
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