BRU NA BOINNE… 2-14
AN TUAISCEART… 1-14
How do you go about winning the Meath Regional Football Championship? Have John McCarthy managing your team!
Now, of course it’s not as simple as that to garner the Richie Barry Cup – sponsored by Brady’s Skoda and Ideal Bathrooms – but, the former county Minor and U-20 boss has now been in the winning ‘stable’ for two of the three stagings of the event. Current Meath U-20 manager Cathal O’Bric having been in charge of Boyne Valley for the inaugural staging.
More McCarthy magic looked decidedly unlikely early on as Diarmuid Moriarity, representing recently relegated Curraha, led the St Mary’s/St Patrick’s, St Vincent’s/Duleek-Bellewstown/Eastern Gaels combination’s defence a merry dance.
The gifted full forward posting five first half points. But, to quote the great Hannibal Smith from the A-Team, I love it when a plan comes together. In this case, reference is being made to the potential which has always oozed from Sean Emmanuel continuing to come to fruition.
Those of us of certain vintage will recall Liam Hayes scoring a cracking goal against Dublin in the league final replay of 1988. One wonders did somebody show the young St Patrick’s clubman a clip of same because he produced a replica thereof to catapult his comrades back into contention after Moriarity had threatened to turn the occasion into a solo gig.
Leaving North Meath men trailing in his wake before blasting past Nobber’s Dary Hutchinson. That left those from the river banks trailing by only a point, 1-02 against 0-06. More than that, though, it was the catalyst for a triumvirate from the Stamullen club – Emmanuel, John Curtis and the very impressive Donal Landy – to take a firm grip on proceedings.
The upshot of which was McCarthy’s men taking a 1-07 to 0-08 lead to the dressing rooms. Conor Harford, John Mannion and Alan Bowden all being instrumental in giving the stars of the east the edge. When the last named tagged on two more scores (one free), St Vincent’s Aidan Tuite also got in on the act and Ardcath’s Harford created a goal for Landy, it left them and their kinfolk four up with five to play.
Job done? Hold that thought. North Meath folk are nothing if not obdurate. Ironically. however, it was their ‘adopted’ star Moriarity who set about saving their bacon with a rocket of a goal before Bowden and Matthew Durnin of Drumconrath traded scores. All of which meant a ‘major’ would secure the silverware for Davy Nelson’s charges. But instead, it was the other Bowden, Tom, who fisted over the insurance score and continued his manager’s remarkable record in the Regional Championship.
Bru na Boinne – Ryan Lynch; Adam Byrne, Davy Tallon, Colm Regan; Ryan Hand, Tom Bowden (0-1), Conor Harford; John Curtis, Sean Emmanuel (1-0); John Mannion, Alan Bowden (0-10, six frees), Sam O’Leary; Nigel Hand, Adam Tuite (0-2), Donal Landy (1-1). Subs – Gary Tuite for R Hand 10m, Liam Brennan for Byrne 17m, Killian O’Connor for Regan 41m, Sean Hackett for N Hand 49m, Senan McKeon for Emmanuel 54m.
An Tuascairt – Dary Hutchison; Conor O’Farrell, Killian Russell, Seamus Hogan; Killian Smyth, Brian Cassidy, Killian Markey; Brain Joyce, Rian McConnell (0-3); Daniel Byrne, Darragh Kelly, Adam Matthews; Matthew Durnin (0-2), Diarmuid Moriarty (1-9, seven frees) Ronan Flynn. Subs – Evan Hoey for Hogan, Killian Price for Byrne both halftime, Seamus Doherty for Matthews 48m, Oisin Reilly for Kelly 57m, Eoin Reid for Cassidy 58m, Jamie O’Neill for Farrell 60m.
Referee – Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin)
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