JFC final here we come!

Rochfortbridge was no place for the faint-hearted last Sunday where we came through a titanic tussle with Ballycomoyle to qualify for the Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 Football Championship final.

In keeping with most of our Championship games this year, this semi-final went right to the wire before we eventually prevailed by 1-17 to 2-12 after extra-time. It speaks volumes for our character and never-say-die attitude that we always manage to avoid defeat in such tight scraps which will hopefully stand us in stead for the final against St Loman’s at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday week.

The Mullingar side’s dramatic sudden death penalty shootout victory over St Joseph’s in the second part of last Sunday’s semi-final double-header means that we will represent Westmeath in the Leinster club JFC no matter what happens in the final due to the rule which bars second teams from taking part. But no-one is looking that far ahead at this stage!

Before a huge attendance, Conor Carroll cancelled out an early David Williams free before Ballycomoyle took control with four unanswered scores from Brendan Doyle (free and ’45), Williams (free) and Derek McNicholas to lead by 0-5 to 0-1 after 18 minutes. But we scored the last three points of the first half per Conor Delaney (two, one free) and the lively Danny Scully to trail by the minimum at half-time after Williams, McNicholas and Noel Breslin were denied goals by last-gasp blocks.

The momentum remained with us after the restart when a fisted effort from Delaney and another point from Shaun Pidgeon gave us the lead for the first time, 0-6 to 0-5, after 34 minutes. Ballycomoyle regained the lead with points from Micheál Daly and Williams (free) before we rattled off four in-a-row from Scully (two) and substitutes David Fennell and towering Darragh Coffey to lead by 0-10 to 0-7 with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Following a further exchange of points between Eoin English and Conor Carroll, and Williams (free) and David Fennell, Sean Hanlon made a last-ditch block to deny Williams before the Ballycomoyle corner forward made amends with an equalising goal after collecting Brendan Doyle’s long ball.

David Fennell nudged us back in front before hitting the crossbar from close range. Unbelievably, Darragh Coffey also rattled the crossbar after the Fennell twins, David and Paul, had carved open the Ballycomoyle defence and with no goalkeeper at home. Inevitably, we were made to pay for those glaring misses when Dan Higgins coolly slotted over the equaliser with the last kick of normal time, 0-13 to 1-10.

When the sides met in the group stages, it also finished level, but this time our slightly stronger bench helped us to break the deadlock in extra-time. David Fennell and Nigel Scally both split the posts before James Finnegan’s attempt for a point deceived Ballycomoyle goalkeeper Garry Lynch and ended up in the roof of the net. That came in the 69th minute, but there was still time for the north Westmeath outfit to get themselves back into it before the turnaround with a goal from Aaron Kennedy after fellow substitute Odhran Hannan’s initial shot was blocked.

Amid unbearable tension, Ballycomoyle twice reduced the deficit to the minimum in the second period thanks to a brace of David Williams frees, but we replied each time with points from Coffey and Scally (free) to see it out.

Scorers: David Fennell 0-4, Danny Scully and Conor Delaney (1f) 0-3 each, James Finnegan 1-0, Conor Carroll, Darragh Coffey and Nigel Scally (1f) 0-2 each and Shaun Pidgeon 0-1.

Team: Joey O’Neill; Sean Hanlon, James Fox, Martin Ward; Conor Carroll, Aidan Stone, Micheál Coffey; Niall Carey, Brendan McMahon; Paul Fennell, Shaun Pidgeon, Danny Scully, Conor Delaney, Nigel Scally. Subs: Colin Draper for M Coffey (half-time), David Fennell for Kiernan (half-time), Darragh Coffey for Carey (41 min), James Finnegan for Scully (52 min), M Coffey for Carroll, Dean Fitzgerald for Delaney, Alan Fennell for Hanlon, Carroll for Draper (all extra-time).

Mothers&Others play in National Blitz

Our Gaelic4Mothers&Others team had a brilliant time at the National Blitz Day which took place in Dublin last Saturday.

It was amazing to see our ladies in action and performing so soon after coming together for the first time. Well done to the team and their mentors Tony Reilly, Bernie Barrett and Ann Dixon.

Halloween Fancy Dress Party

We are holding a Halloween Fancy Dress Party in McNamara’s Bar on Saturday, October 28 at 9pm.

Music will be provided by Mike Sheerin, while there will be prizes for the Best Dressed Male, Female and Group. All proceeds go to club development.

Quid Game

Brendan Nannery is representing us in the Westmeath GAA Quid Game fundraiser which will be held in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Sunday, October 29.

All support would be appreciated. We have a goal of €3,000 to raise for this event. To donate, click on https://www.clubspotevents.com/team-1/brendan-nannery

Lotto

Last week’s lucky numbers were 1, 9, 11 and 24. Amy Carroll was the only Match 3 winner.

Thanks to everyone for their support. The jackpot is capped at €15,000. You can purchase your tickets in local shops or online.

Sympathy

Deepest sympathy is extended to the Clavin family on the passing of Pat, Harbour Road last weekend. Pat has grandchildren playing for our underage teams.

We were also saddened to learn of the passing of Frank Doyle in Dublin last week. Frank won an U16 Championship medal with the club in 1960. May he rest in peace.

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