Larries defeat The Sash late on to claim 'F' final win
Osprey Hotel & Spa Reserve F final
St Laurence's 0-16
Sarsfields 1-12
A 63 minute Ben Corcoran free was enough to see St Laurences lift the Osprey Hotel and Spa Reserve F Football championship after an entertaining game that saw the Old Grange outfit overcome a seven point first have deficit to secure the victory.
One a good evening for football both team sheets showed up some familiar names of years gone by but the skill levels were still evident and the sizeable crowd were treated to good game.
Sarsfields were out of the blocks quickly and by the 20 minute they had built up a seven point advantage before the Larries could register a score.
Eoin O'Sullivan from a free, Ross Connor and Niall Morrissey had the Sash three up inside seven. John Geraghty pointed a free before leaving the field injured but Dean Domnican Ross Connor and Eoin O'Sullivan with their second points completed the seven point lead.
A serious arm injury to Shane Molloy held up the game for nearly 15 minutes and Laurence's used the time to regroup and make some necessary changes.
It worked as they hit five unanswered point on the restart. Bart Blanchfield with three substitute Barry Mackey and Chris Dunne reduced the gap to two. Brian Smith hit two for Sarsfields either side of a Blanchfield free to leave it 0-9 to 0-6 after 30 minutes.
Ray Coleman, from a free,extended the lead to four but Laurences hit two quick points inside a minute from Ben Corcoran and Barry Mackey that left two between them again.
Following the kickout from Mackey's score Niall Morrissey found an on- rushing Danny Watson who shot low to the Larries net. Brian Smith from a free extended it to to six and after 40 minutes it looked like a Sarsfields title.
They could only add a late Robbie Confrey point on 57 to their tally and it was to be their undoing.
St Laurence's hit eight over those closing 20 minutes. Bart Blanchfield with his fifth,Ben Corcoran and Callum McElhinney added points in a four minute spell. They had their tails up and every break and free seemed to go their way.
Ciaran Bowes was impressive on his introduction and added a point on 46. A Blanchfield free reduced it to the minimum. When Confrey added that Sarsfields point on 58 you again thought it might be enough to see them home. Barry Mackey showed great foot work as he created a goal chance but it flew over the bar.Bart Blanchfield added his seventh on 31 and it now looked like maybe extra time was on the horizon.
Somehow the Larries summoned up the energy for one last attack. When Barry Mackey was fouled, needlessly, 25 metres out Ben Corcoran sent the Laurences into a winning lead. There wasnt time for a late Sash response and Eamon Kelly brought it to a close at 0-16 to 1-12.
ST LAURENCE'S: Padraic Doolan; Shane Molloy, Brendan Gorman, David Byrne; Paddy O'Connor, Brendan Keatley, Michael Breen; PJ Cullen, Edward O'Dwyer; Chris Dunne 0-1, Eoin Clifford, Stephen Murphy; Shaun Gallagher, Bart Blanchfield 0-7 (3 frees), Callum McElhinney 0-1. Subs: Aidan McMahon for Shane Molloy 16; Barry Mackey 0-3 for Stephen Murphy 20; Stephen Cooke for Shaun Gallagher 20; Ben Corcoran 0-3 (3 frees) for Stephen Cooke 33; Ciaran Bowes 0-1 for Chris Dunne 43.
SARSFIELDS: Gavin Slicker; Michael McGinley,Peter Flanagan,David Breslin; Nicky Redmond, Conor Duffy, Dave Dineen; Dean Domnican 0-1, Brian Smith 0-3 (2 frees); Danny Watson 1-0,Eoin O Sullivan 0-2 (1 free), Niall Morrissey 0-1; Robbie Confrey 0-1, Ross Connor 0-2, John Geraghty 0-1 (1 free). Subs: Ray Coleman 0-1 (1 free) for John Geraghty 17; Michael Browne for Eoin O Sullivan h/t; Philip McDermott for Nicky Redmond 40; Paddy Crinnigan for Brian Smith 46; Niall Cross for Niall Morrissey 52.
Referee Eamon Kelly.