Treacys banish recent final woes to eventually claim Junior A county title win over the Swan
FBD Insurance Junior A Football Championship Final
Sean Treacys 0-7
Carrick Swan 0-5
By John O’Shea
Sean Treacys are FBD Insurance County Junior A Football for the first time following their two-point winning margin over Carrick Swan at a bleak Dr Morris Park, Thurles, last Friday night.
Similar to the County Junior A Hurling final the previous week, this was the case of third time lucky for the beaten West finalists, having come up short on two previous occasions, in 2014 and 2022. On this occasion, they grounded out a victory, in dreadful conditions, before an estimated crowd of around 250 and were led only once, around the twentieth minute of the opening period.
Heavy rain for most of the day gave way to a steady drizzle for the duration of the contest, but the underfoot conditions were excellent, a credit to the Dr Morris ground staff. The only negative to this venue is the absence of a covered area for the patrons. Having said that, it is a brilliant facility to have within the county.
Sean Treacys were quickly out of the traps and registered the opening score inside the first minute. Three minutes later Swans had a goal chance that was saved and cleared to safety before Brian Carey got the first of his two points.
The South side settled and had gone one up following a Stephen Hahessy free on twenty minutes. Between the tenth and twentieth minutes was the period where Swan were at their best but found a stubborn Treacys defence hard to breach.
For most of this encounter, both defences were to the fore with scores hard to come by in the prevailing conditions. The Treacys' defence was built around Seanie Ryan (Rodgers) with Sean Hickey and the Nolans in fine form. Brian Carey attacked from the back and hit two opening half points.
Dean Kiely was in fine form for the Swans with Senan Campbell and Scott Hogan containing the Treacys attack. This led to a low-scoring opening half with the sides locked at 0-3 each at half-time.
Treacys were more composed for the second half and used the ball well. By the 50th minute, they had opened up a three-point advantage but failed to score for the final ten minutes plus added time.
Swans threw everything at the West men during those tense closing stages but were unable to break through for the required goal to get them back in the game. Aaron O’Halloran got in for a point with seven minutes remaining but this was to be the last score of the game as the Treacys' defence held out.
Carrick Swan, having won the toss, played with the aid of the elements for the opening period, but it was Sean Treacys who attacked from the off, with Seanie Ryan (Rodgers) splitting opening the Swan defence with a piercing run before putting over the first point of the game.
Three minutes later Swans created a goal-scoring chance but Cathal Kennedy was equal to Jamie Holloway’s goal-bound shot to keep the South men at bay. Brian Carey attacked from the back and got on the end of a fine move to double Treacys’ advantage with five minutes on the clock. Both defences got on top, with turnovers at both ends. Stephen Hahessy got the Swans on the scoreboard after nine minutes and Corey Ryan, after good work, equalised with 12 of the half remaining.
The Swans were coming more into the game, putting good moves together while building from the back, but were finding it hard to break down the solid defence of the West men. Hahessy converted a placed ball with ten minutes remaining to the break, but Brian Carey fisted over to tie the game at 0-3 a piece at the end of an energy-sapping half.
Both sides were cagey after the break, with neither side wanting to take chances in the conditions. Pat Dawson converted a free after six minutes, but again Stephen Hahessy brought the sides level three minutes later with a well-struck point.
Pat Dawson won a mark and his attempted shot for a point came back off the upright. James Deegan was first to react and his effort put his side back in front.
On the three-quarter mark, Paddy Deegan put over having been put through by Pat Dawson following a good forward move. Treacys were going through their best period and Padraig O’Leary kicked what was the best score of the game with ten minutes remaining, to go three to the good.
The final ten minutes saw both defences at their best, especially Treacys as the Swan attack went in search of a goal that would get them back in the game. Cathal Kennedy handled well at the back to deny the South men. Aaron O’Halloran kicked a point to leave two between the sides with seven minutes remaining.
In a tense last few minutes, the Swans tried everything but were unable to breach the solid defence, with Kennedy in the Treacys' goals saving well in injury time, as they held out for a memorable victory.
After the final whistle, the John Bourke Cup was presented to the victorious captain, Sean Hickey, by the chairperson of the County Football Committee Conor O’Dwyer. Sean Treacys now go on to play Cork side Kilmurray in the Quarter Final of the Munster Club Junior championship at a Tipperary venue in November.
Sean Treacys: Cathal Kennedy; Brian Nolan, Sean Hickey, Damien Dunne; Paul Nolan, Seanie Ryan (Rogers, 0-1), Brian Carey (0-2); Mikey Feehan, Declan Hickey; Darragh Kennedy, Pardaig O’Leary (0-1), Paddy Deegan (0-1); Pat Dawson (0-1f), Mattie Feehan, James Deegan (0-1).
Subs used: Andy O’Brien for Damien Dunne (35); Tom Hickey for Declan Hickey (37); Thomas O’Dwyer for Mattie Feehan (56).
Carrick Swans: Sean Boland; Dean Kiely, Billy Murphy, Senan Campbell; Ben Mulcaire, Scott Hogan, Sean Power; Gavin O’Halloran, Aaron O’Halloran (0-1); Jamie Holloway, Danny O’Hanlon, Corey Ryan (0-1); Alan Walsh, Stephen Hahessy (0-3, 0-1f), Ryan Waters.
Subs used: Aaron Dunne for Alan Walsh (36); Kieran O’Donnell for Ryan Waters (47); Callum Walsh for Danny O’Hanlon (47); Shane Torpey for Stephen Hahessy (59).
Referee: Pat O’Mahoney (Kiladangan)