Maryland/Tang edge out Kilbeggan in ill-tempered decider

Westmeath Under-19 Division 3 Football Championship final

Maryland/Tang 1-8 Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-5

A strong start set Maryland/Tang up for a deserved victory over Kilbeggan Shamrocks in a tempestuous U19 Division 3 Football Championship final under lights at a dry but bitterly cold Castledaly last Saturday evening.

The winners were never headed after scoring an unanswered 1-2 in the opening quarter, with Cian Rainey’s scrambled goal in the seventh minute sending them on their way. But a number of missed chances allowed Kilbeggan to stay in the game and the combination side were left hanging on after Cillian Rochford’s 47th-minute goal set up a grandstand finish.

Sadly, this final was overshadowed by some unsavoury scenes during and after the game. Referee Cathal Boland had his hands full as tempers boiled over in the second half. A Kilbeggan mentor was sent off after entering the field of play in the 35th minute, while another red card was brandished to a Kilbeggan player immediately after the final whistle as a mass brawl broke out.

When order was eventually restored, Maryland/Tang joint-captains Shane Keenan and Cian Rainey were presented with the Division 3 Shield by Aidan Walsh of the Westmeath County Board.

Played on a pitch that was barely playable, the game was slow to come to life as Maryland/Tang set about atoning for their defeat to Kilbeggan in the group stages. They made all the early running and were rewarded with a goal from Rainey after the Shamrocks defence had failed to clear Adam Smyth’s high ball.

The lively Cillian Rochford almost conjured up an instant reply, only to hit the left post at the other end. Shane Hanley kicked a super individual point before Kilbeggan corner-forward Ryan Dinnegan had a shot cleared off the line at the expense of a ’45 which nothing of.

The excellent Shane Keenan extended the winners’ advantage to five points before Adam Smyth’s shot was scrambled off the line. Maryland/Tang were well on top at this stage, but were undermined by some poor finishing. Kilbeggan finally opened their account in the 22nd minute through Davin Egan who sold his opponent a lovely dummy in the build-up. Padraig Carton (free) and Egan followed up with further points to leave just two in it after 25 minutes.

Maryland/Tang responded with three-in-a-row from Adam Smyth (free) and Shane Keenan (two, one free) before a Padraig Carton free – which he converted after being cynically taken down – made it 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

The men from Tang and Drumraney restored their five-point advantage in the 33rd minute when Hanley was gifted a point after Kilbeggan had attempted to play ‘keep ball’ close to their own goal. A melee then broke out in the Maryland/Tang half of the field which resulted in a Kilbeggan mentor receiving a red card. It was followed by another flashpoint before play resumed with a Keenan free after a Kilbeggan defender had over-carried.

Now trailing by six points, Mattie McCormack’s charges halved the deficit when Cillian Rochford finished a brilliant goal to the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Cheered on by a big following which has swelled during their successful JFC campaign, Kilbeggan then missed two frees before Jack Mullins picked up a black card in the 53rd minute. But despite their numerical disadvantage, they continued to pile on the pressure and Rochford was on target again to reduce the gap to just two.

Adam Smyth lifted the siege for Maryland/Tang with a great score in the 57th minute before Ben Martin missed the chance to make it a four-point game on the counter attack. Kilbeggan rained high balls in on top of the Maryland/Tang full back line in the closing stages and almost scored an equalising goal through Aaron Nannery who was denied by a last-gasp block.

Just as Mullins rejoined the fray in the third minute of injury-time, Nannery was also black-carded before all hell broke loose after the final whistle. For the record, Maryland/Tang registered eight wides compared to Kilbeggan’s four.

Man of the match: Shane Keenan (Maryland/Tang). While Padraig Carton and Cillian Rochford had fine games for Kilbeggan, and Adam Smyth and Shane Hanley were prominent for Maryland/Tang, Keenan was a step above everyone else in the winners’ engine room.

Key moment: The last-ditch block on Aaron Nannery that denied Kilbeggan a late equalising goal.

Talking point: This final was marred by disgraceful scenes which have no place in the GAA. Referee Cathal Boland could easily have sent off four or five players as a red mist descended on St Kieran’s Park in the second half.

Scorers – Maryland/Tang: Shane Keenan 0-4 (2fs), Cian Rainey 1-0, Shane Hanley and Adam Smyth (1f) 0-2 each. Kilbeggan Shamrocks: Cillian Rochford 1-1, Davin Egan and Padraig Carton (1f) 0-2 each.

Maryland/Tang: David Marlow; Cathal Reilly, Colm Seery, Senan McKiernan; Keelan Blom, Daniel Taplin, Bobby Foxe; Kris Jonass Vargovcik, Shane Keenan; Cian Rainey, Adam Smyth, Ben Martin; Kyle Moran, Shane Hanley, Alex Johnson. Sub used: Oisin McDermott for Moran.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks: Conor Mullins: Kyle McMahon, Arthur O’Rourke, Brian McMahon; Jaoi Victor, Jamie Fuller, Brendan Fox; Padraig Carton, Jacob Browne; Cillian Rochford, Aaron Nannery, Joey Nannery; Jack Mullins, Davin Egan, Ryan Dinnegan. Subs used: Cormac Egan for Fuller (40 mins), Kieran Egan for Dinnegan (44).

Referee: Cathal Boland.