Shandonagh land Geraghty Cup after Scully’s late strike

Last Sunday’s Westmeath IFC final replay never lived up to the drama or entertainment value of the first instalment, but there was no disputing that Shandonagh were fully deserving winners over Tubberclair at TEG Cusack Park.

Shandonagh now return to the senior grade of Westmeath football, bouncing back up at the first attempt after being relegated last year.

A 57th-minute goal from Maitiú Scully sealed Shandonagh’s victory as it put them six points clear, after Fred Kelleher’s goal from a penalty had given Tubberclair a sliver of hope.

Kelleher’s score left two points between the teams (1-7 to 1-5) and, moments later, Shandonagh’s Conor McCrossan was sent off on a straight red card. However, the next point went to Shandonagh and Scully then struck to remove all doubt about the destination of the Peter Geraghty Cup.

Shandonagh dominated the vast majority of what was a niggly contest and they led 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time, with a goal from the influential Brendan Killian separating the teams.

Despite the disappointment of this defeat, Tubberclair can reflect with pride on the progress they have made this year, having reached the intermediate final from Section B and going so close to winning the championship in the drawn game.

In difficult weather conditions, the Tubberclair attack never got into the sort of flow that was evident in the second half of the drawn clash and in their semi-final win over St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge. Tubberclair’s passing let them down when they did get into promising positions and a tally of just two points from open play tells its own story. In mitigation, key forward Matthew Whittaker was impeded by an injury.

The experience Shandonagh gained from playing senior football for three years, having won the 2018 intermediate title, was probably a telling factor in last Sunday’s replay. And significantly, Tubberclair never got their noses in front at any stage in either of the two finals.

The weather was far less pleasant than in the drawn game eight days previously and conditions became miserable by the end. Tubberclair had whatever advantage was accruing from the wind in the first half.

Shandonagh full-forward Brian Kavanagh opened the scoring from a mark, before his colleague Tom Molloy picked up a needless yellow card for barging into Rory Delaney after Shandonagh had been awarded a free.

In general, Shandonagh had the advantage in the physical stakes, though a number of their players played right on the edge. By the end of proceedings, they picked up five yellow cards and a red.

Eoghan McCabe brought Tubberclair level with a pointed free from the right. But with Adam Treanor highly effective at sweeping up breaking ball, Shandonagh were dominating the exchanges. Kevin Hickey’s men went 0-3 to 0-1 ahead with points from Kavanagh (another mark) and McCrossan.

An off-the-ball foul on Robbie Curley gave McCabe the chance to edge Tubberclair closer. McCabe was then on the receiving end of a high challenge from Kevin Boyle, who became the second player to be yellow-carded.

On 20 minutes, Paul Garvey set up Fred Kelleher for Tubberclair’s first point from play, bringing Martin McCabe’s charges level (0-3 each). As play became scrappy, there were no more scores in the first half until added time, though Molloy was unlucky to see his point attempt hit the post.

There was a slice of fortune attached to the first Shandonagh goal (32nd minute). Firstly, the often-derided advanced mark rule caused confusion. A Shandonagh player claimed a mark but the referee adjudged that the ball hadn’t travelled the required 20 metres (and it appeared he was correct). But a ’hop ball’ was then awarded when play should have been allowed to continue.

After Shandonagh won possession from the hop ball, Brian Kavanagh’s point attempt came off the post and fell into the arms of Brendan Killian. The latter’s initial shot was well blocked by Tubberclair goalie Kevin Fagan but the ball came back to Killian, who fired to the far corner of the net.

Before the second half began, Tubberclair’s Matthew Whittaker and Shandonagh’s Daniel Scahill were shown yellow cards, as a result of an incident after the half-time whistle had been blown. The early moments of the second period hinted that Tubberclair might produce another big turnaround. Firstly, they quickly earned a free-in which McCabe pointed. Then great work by Garvey created a goal chance for Whittaker, but his shot off the ground went across the goal and wide.

Shandonagh were making less errors and they gradually moved into a commanding position. Two points each from Kavanagh (both classy scores) and midfielder Aaron Craig (well taken by a player not known as a scorer) put Shandonagh 1-7 to 0-4 ahead by the 43rd minute.

A fine point from McCabe (having been set up by Fred Kelleher) suggested that Tubberclair were not going to go down without a battle. Wholehearted defender Stephen McGonagle shot wide after a sniping run forward but a lifeline soon arrived in the form of a penalty. Substitute Oisín O’Meara played the ball inside, McCabe kept the move alive and Garvey was fouled as he threatened a goal. Kelleher netted from the penalty (52nd minute).

McCrossan was then sent off for a challenge on Jason McHugh, meaning Shandonagh were now down a player with just two points between the teams. Crucially, however, the next score went to the men in sky blue, Brendan Killian the scorer after being found in space by Gareth Carr.

Tubberclair never threw in the towel and they tried to engineer a second goal. But with Tubberclair throwing bodies forward in a desperate bid to save the game, glaring gaps appeared in their defence which allowed Maitiú Scully to fire home the clinching goal.

Still, Tubberclair kept plugging away, adding to their tally with points from McCabe (free) and O’Meara (a sideline ball). The goal they needed just wouldn’t come with Cathal Tighe and Garvey having shots blocked as the tenacious Shandonagh defence held firm.

Afterwards, Shandonagh captain Gareth Carr (who played very well in both games) was presented with the Peter Geraghty Cup by Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall.

Scorers – Shandonagh: B Killian 1-1; B Kavanagh 0-4 (2m); M Scully 1-0; A Craig 0-2; C McCrossan 0-1. Tubberclair: E McCabe 0-5 (4f); F Kelleher 1-1 (1-0 pen); O O’Meara 0-1 (sideline).

Shandonagh: Conor Craig; Ben Treanor, Daire Conway, Jenson Nagle; Gareth Carr (captain), Daniel Scahill, Adam Treanor; Brendan Killian, Aaron Craig; Alan Hickey, Tom Molloy, Conor McCrossan; Mickey Boyle, Brian Kavanagh, Kevin Boyle. Subs used: Maitiú Scully for Conway (inj., h-t); Ryan Norris for M Boyle (h-t); Cormac Coyne for K Boyle (54); Ryan Donnelly for Hickey (inj., 58); Cormac Gordon for Kavanagh (59).

Tubberclair: Kevin Fagan; Stephen McGonagle, Jason McHugh (captain), Aaron Brady; James Madden, Cathal Tighe, Oisin Donohue; Eoghan McCabe, Sean Claffey; Fred Kelleher, Matthew Whittaker, Tom Kelleher; Robbie Curley, Paul Garvey, Rory Delaney. Subs used: Charlie Kennedy for Delaney (h-t); Oisín O’Meara for T Kelleher (41); Sean McGrane for Brady (inj,. 44); Graham Whittaker for Curley (44); Neil Kenny for Donohue (60).

Ref: Shane Maher (Ballynacargy).