So near and yet so far
December 08, 2006
It could have been a ground breaking and historic achievement for Monaghan to reach an All Ireland U21 B hurling championship final but a cruel twist of fate and a questionable amount of injury time in the semi-final against Mayo at Longford denied them that privilege. By John P Graham.
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It would have been a well earned accolade irrespective of the result as Monaghan had been the form team in Ulster and had dominated the game against Mayo for long periods only to see victory cruelly snatched from their grasp.
As reigning Ulster champions Monaghan started the series with a facile win over Cavan in a very one sided Ulster semi-final that was played as the curtain raiser to the Armagh v Monaghan senior football championship replay in Clones.
Monaghan were in rampant mood and took control from the very start with a forward line that was able to pick off scores almost at will while James Connolly at full and Eoin Greenan at centre marshalled the defence that denied Cavan any chance of making a game of it. Monaghan led at half time by 2-13 to 0-4 and the one way traffic continued in the second half leaving manager Paul Ward satisfied but acknowledging that a sterner test lay ahead against Donegal in the final.
In the end it took a second meeting to decided the final although Monaghan could easily have lost on day one but attitude and commitment saw them earn a draw. "It was a tremendous performance by the lads and they are a great credit not only to themselves and their clubs but to county Monaghan as well and I think if all Monaghan teams went out with the same passion and enthusiasm that those lads had that we would have more silverware," said Ward. "We got off to a slow enough start which was a bit worrying but we were coming on the back of our game against Cavan where we were the dominant force from the very early stages and we were able to pick off great scores but in a more competitive game the same thing didn't work.
"Donegal looked to be edging close to victory approaching the end of normal time but the boys showed great character to fight back and I have to say they have a great desire to win and great self belief. They were an easy group of players to manage because they wanted to play well and they wanted to win and this group has been like that from U14 right up through to minor.
In extra time it looked as if we could have won it and it was a good position to be in leading by four points but looking back when we had the extra man we didn't defend well enough and once Donegal adjusted to being a man down they came back very strong. We knew we would have to tighten things up considerably in the replay but we learned quite a few things about them in the drawn game and we knew the style of game we had to play against them. The main danger came from Kevin Campbell and Danny Cullen so we had to stifle them as best we could. Declan Crowe was delegated the task of limiting the influence of Danny Cullen and he did a superb job. It was a very impressive performance by everyone and it is seldom that a team that is not from a recognised hurling county can play like we did that day.
"We knew a bit more about Donegal for the replay but we didn't make any major changes. We did reorganise a bit in midfield and in attack. Declan Crowe and Eoin Greenan were superb in the defence and the amount of work that Bernard O'Brien did in sweeping up along the halfback line was unreal. Tactics though didn't win the game by themselves it was the boys who went out and performed and really Donegal had no answer, we simply blew them away. We were 15 points ahead at half-time and Donegal had only scored a single point so the biggest task for the second-half was for us to keep our concentration. We knew they were going to come out fighting and we had lost Gavin Dooley in midfield so we had to try and keep our grip there. Donegal as we knew didn't throw in the towel and they came out and fought to the end but the boys responded magnificently and each and every one of them deserved the credit for a great win".
After some uncertainty Mayo emerged as the opposition for the All-Ireland semi final which was fixed for Pearse Park Longford but it was to end in bitter disappointment for Monaghan as they saw a place in the All Ireland final cruelly snatched from them by a number of twists of fate in what was a hugely enjoyable and exciting contest. Approaching the end of normal time Monaghan looked to have done enough when they enjoyed a two points lead but Mayo struck back for a goal and a point deep into stoppage time to send the issue into extra time.
The introduction of dual star Keith Higgins in the early stages of the second half gave a new impetus to Mayo but even with his contribution Monaghan looked destined for a place in the final until Higgins struck for two late scores as injury time mounted to the disbelief of most people in the ground. A full three and a half minutes were added by Wexford official James Owens despite the fact that there was only one short stoppage in play in the entire second half and it was in that extra time that Monaghan were the victims of a late smash and grab act.
On enquiry afterwards the referee stated that he felt he only played a minute and a half which would have been nearer the mark. The faces of the Monaghan players as they left at Pearse Park, Longford said it all, they looked utterly devastated at how a seemingly certain victory had been turned into a shattering defeat.
"I was equally devastated and disappointment and not just with the result itself but the manner in which we were defeated. We had it won but that's the nature of hurling because as the fastest field game in the world it can change in a split-second and that's exactly what happened," said manager Ward. "I have to say though that the extra time was a bit more than I thought it would be but we couldn't do anything about that. That was the referee's decision and we had to accept it no matter how difficult it was.
"I suppose though when I look at it we got a little rub of the green against Donegal in the Ulster final and I suppose what goes around comes around but no words of mine could praise these players enough or pay adequate tribute to them.
"As I have said before, they were a great bunch of players and they were great lads to work with. They showed a fierce dedication and a great desire to win and they always seemed to be up for whatever match they are playing in. These lads have come up through from under 14 and under 16 level together and they have developed a great team spirit which we should be able to build on. The defeat against Mayo was certainly disappointing for them and a bit of a setback but I know they will respond I have no doubt about that.
"This group of players has come through to this stage with provincial titles at under 16, minor and under 21 as well as national titles at under 16 and minor so I would be hoping that the majority of them will move up to senior level. They have proved right throughout from underage that they are capable of winning and I believe that using this panel as the nucleus we can build a good senior team over the next two or three years.
"There might be the odd prophet of doom regarding hurling at senior level in the county but we are going through a transition there and this group of players would give me great hope. We have got Gerry Murphy in as senior manager and he has a good strong coaching background. The talent and passion for the game is there, it is on the technical side of the coaching where we need the help. At senior level also I think that until we win a league or do well at least in the league and then move into the championship it is going to be difficult because that has not happened in recent years. You need to have the hunger and the desire to win and this group of boys has that but the big question is will a sufficient number of them give the commitment? I hope they do because the talent and the potential are there and the future can be very bright."
THE RESULTS:
Ulster Championship.
Monaghan 4-19, Cavan 0-7
Monaghan 3-15, Donegal 2-18 (aet)
Monaghan 2-16, Donegal 1-10
All Ireland semi Final.
Monaghan 2-16, Mayo 2-18.
Team and Scorers v Mayo: Deaglan Connolly, Gerard Ruddy, PJ Boyle, James Connolly, Seamus McLoughlin, Bernard O'Brien 0-1, Eoin Greenan, Declan Crowe, Alan Lambe, Brendan Naughton, Ronan Meegan 0-5, Gerard Gilsenan, Stephen Lambe 0-3, Brian McGuigan 1-1, Michael Lennon 0-2, N Morgan 1-3. Subs: Gavin Dooley for S McLoughlin, Sean Brennan for B O'Brien, Patrick Collins 0-1 for G Dooley. Others on the panel were: Shane Treanor, Patrick Conlon, TJ Byrne, Thomas McKenna, Niall Cadden, Niall Coyle, Barry Cuddy, Barry McArdle, Alan Lee.
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