Delighted Clonbullogue end losing streak in finals to make top flight through the front door

CLONBULLOGUE finally got over the line in a Senior “B” Football Championship final, proving too strong for Cappincur in an intriguing shootout in O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship final

Clonbullogue 2-10

Cappincur 0-11

Ahead by 2-4 to 0-6 after playing with the wind in the first half, Clonbullogue opened daylight with the first four points of the second half and this 2-8 to 0-6 gap was always likely to be a winning one.

It left Cappincur needing a goal to have any chance and their bids to manufacture one smacked more of hit and hope than anything else as they looked for a long ball to break favourably for them. It almost happened a couple of times but Clonbullogue defended with great tenacity and had ample quality up field to hold on for a richly deserved win.

After losing the last two finals, in a replay to Ballycommon last year and a bad defeat by parish neighbours Bracknagh the previous year, this was a tension filled afternoon for Clonbullogue and they held their heads very impressively. Most of their key men performed and with every player doing what he was asked to, Clonbullogue were definitely the better team on the day, playing some very composed, clever football and retaining possession well..

With senior football almost certain to go to ten teams next year, both finalists will go up but there is no way Clonbullogue wanted to do it on the back of three consecutive final losses.

Cappincur gave it their all but it didn't quite happen for them on the day. They weren't that far away and a second half goal would have turned the game on its head but they have no complaints at losing. While the Clonbullogue goals in the first half were quality finishes, they were very soft from a Cappincur perspective and these were the difference on the day.

There were other things that went against Cappincur. Long time county man Eoin Carroll had to do intensive work to get back from a hamstring injury and while he really tried to rally the forces in the closing quarter, he may have been short of 100% fitness. His brother Bill had been their outstanding player on the way to the final and threatened to be again for a while in the first half here but the second half bypassed him to an extent – Cappincur did the right thing by leaving him in the full forward line but they found it hard to get decent ball in and when he did get his hands on it, Ian Curry was breathing down his neck.

Brian Norris had returned to Australia while an early injury to his brother Peter, resulting in him going off before half time, was another nail in their coffin. They hadn't the depth in strength to cope with all this, bringing in two subs, David Carroll and Kevin Minnock who had played very little football this campaign – both scored a point and got on the ball but Cappincur were fighting an uphill battle almost the whole day. Norris's absence resulted in them starting Jason Gethings and while the long serving stalwart performed solidly, using his physicality well on the day, Cappincur would have preferred to be using him as an impact sub in the second half.

It was Clonbullogue's day, however. To win, they needed their best players, Jack McEvoy, Keith O'Neill, Jamie Guing and Ruari O'Neill to perform and they all did this. McEvoy may have got very sloppy and careless late on but had moved with intent before that, Jamie Guing's finishing and ability to do the right thing commanded respect; Ruari O'Neill, an under-rated player who is so important to Clonbullogue, did so many good things and Keith O'Neill delivered a man of the match display – more about that below.

Clonbullogue had first use of the strong wind and it took them a while to settle. They were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after 15 minutes when poor defence by Cappincur allowed the ball in to Jamie Guing and his finish to the net was clinical. Peter Norris and Keith O'Neill exchanged points before Clonbullogue got their second goal in the 22nd minute. Again, a Cappincur mistake played a pivotal role in it but Keith O'Neill's soccer style pass in to brother Ruari as he raced onto the break just took the breath away and Ruari did very well to tap the ball to the net.

With a 2-4 to 0-2 deficit, Cappincur were in serious bother but showed serious character to stem the tide. They dug deep all over the field, fought for everything and got four points in a row from the 23rd to 30th minute to bring the gap back to 2-4 to 0-6 at the break. One of their most experienced players Enda Daly was immense in this period – he was replaced early in the second half, presumably gone into the red – and Cappincur's work rate all over the field stopped Clonbullogue's momentum in its tracks.

A four point deficit was very retrievable with the wind to come but when that gap became eight within nine minutes of the restart, it proved a bridge too far for Cappincur. Clonbullogue were excellent in this period. The only one of the four points from play was a Jamie Guing beauty but they opened up Cappincur when they attacked at pace, forcing them to concede frees.

Cappincur got back on top after this but it was in an unconvincing way. It was down partly to Clonbullogue adopting a what we have we hold policy but the losers also found it hard to generate genuine momentum. They had plenty of possession as they pushed up on Clonbullogue kickouts and closed down players, making space very tight, but creatively, Cappincur didn't do a whole lot.

They did get four points on the trot to make it 0-10 to 2-8 with 49 minutes gone and almost got a goal when Aaron Allen made a great save from Bill Carroll, who had the option of slipping the ball to Jason Gethings. A goal would have asked the most serious of questions of Clonbullogue and Cappincur would also have tested them if they got the gap back to a score. Instead Ruari O'Neill settled Clonbullogue with a crucial 52nd minute point and Clonbullogue never really looked like losing from here.

Both sides added only one more point in the remaining 12 minutes plus that was played but Clonbullogue's gap was always big enough to mean that their supporters didn't have to experience true anxiety late on.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Keith O'Neill (Clonbullogue): You can make a case for Jamie Guing and Ian Curry had an excellent game in the Clonbullogue defence but their star man Keith O'Neill is the choice. He kicked a sensational point from play in the first half and the vision and awareness he demonstrated to pick out Ruari O'Neill for their second goal showed how special a player he is. That point and pass were two of the magical moments in an occasionally dour game but he is getting the vote for the way he ran the show in the second half.

O'Neill played deep but was on so much ball. His pace and awareness meant he was generally able to find space while he hardly wasted a ball. He may have had better games, in a scoring sense at least, but his influence on this final was considerable.

THE SCORERS

Clonbullogue: Jamie Guing 1-3 (2f), Ruari O'Neill 1-1, Keith O'Neill 0-3 (2f), David Dempsey, Jack McEvoy (f) and Peter Bennett 0-1 each.

Cappincur: Bill Carroll 0-4 (3f), Sean Courtney (2f) and Ger Treacy 0-2 each, Peter Norris, David Carroll and Kevin Minnock 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

CLONBULLOGUE: Aaron Allen; David Dempsey, Jamie Quinn, Diarmaid O'Neill; Ryan Dempsey, Ian Curry, Harry Judge; Jack McEvoy, Peter Byrne; Cian O'Neill, Lee Dempsey, Peter Bennett; Jamie Guing, Keith O'Neill, Ruari O'Neill. Subs – Shane O'Brien for Lee Dempsey (HT), Eoghan Kinsella for David Dempsey (46m), Daryl Quinn for Cian O'Neill (49m), Joe Foran for Ruari O'Neill (58m),

CAPPINCUR: Lauraun Ryan; John Colgan, Brion Carroll, Diarmuid Carroll; Ciaran Farrell, Sean Graham, Hubert Healion; Bill Carroll, Adam Galvin; Enda Daly, Ger Treacy, Sean Courtney; Peter Norris, Eoin Carroll, Jason Gethings. Subs – David Carroll for Norris, inj.) (29m), Kevin Minnock for Daly (35m), Ollie Hayes for Graham (35m),

Referee – Ger Keyes (Shamrocks).

REFEREE WATCH

Ger Keyes had his customary good game. He hopped one ball in the first half when Enda Daly got bottled up in the square but it should have been a free out and was never a throw ball – a Cappincur point came after that but he got the overwhelming amount of calls right. A Sean Courtney second half goal was ruled out in a goalmouth scramble but he had the whistle blown early.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ruari O'Neill showed his value to Clonbullogue with their 52nd minute point and it was almost a goal as Lauraun Ryan did very well to deflect his punch over. O'Neill read Jack McEvoy's miss-hit free to perfection to get a powerful fist to the ball and while it took Ryan to keep it out of the net, a point was enough for Clonbullogue at that stage. Cappincur had got back into it with four points in a row to bring the gap down to four and were chasing everything with real intent. Another Cappincur point could have been very problematic for Clonbullogue but it was they who got it and a five point deficit was next to impossible to haul in with spilling rain now making it a lottery.

VENUE WATCH

It is a very busy weekend for O'Connor Park but the weather was very favourable for the first double bill. It was windy but this was ideal for the pitch and there was no damage ahead of Sunday's intermediate and senior finals.

Cappincur made a late change to their team, drafting in Hubert Healion for Ollie Hayes – they informed County Board officials that Jason Gethings was starting instead of Brian Norris, who has returned to Australia, but didn't tell them of the other one. That is completely unacceptable and there is no excuse for it. It has happened at other games in O'Connor Park this year but looks particularly bad in a final.

It is very disrespectful to the stewards trying to look after the scoreboard and announce the teams. They then spend a couple of minutes trying to find out who is gone and it takes their eye off the game. It is the same for media personnel covering it and this game was on TV through Clubber. Even if you don't appreciate the media, the promotion of games is still very important to the County Board and generating interest in them.

There can be extenuating circumstances in this happening but it is only manners to tell someone if a late change does have to happen and the game was on a few minutes before announcer Eamon Cusack sorted it all out. The County Board need to send out very strong messages to clubs about this, there is an avenue for imposing fines and they may start using this.

WHAT'S NEXT

Clonbullogue go into the Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship.

STATISTICS

Wides: Cappincur - (8 in first half); Clonbullogue – (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Cappincur – 0; Clonbullogue – 2 (Ryan Dempsey and Ian Curry).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0.