Dunning and Malynn guide Caulry to deserved victory

Caulry 0-9, St Mary's, Rochfortbridge 0-7

This was not a day for the purists. A more composed and assured Caulry side had two points to spare over a gritty St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge, in the Westmeath Junior 2 Football Championship final at Kevin Molloy Park, The Downs, on Saturday.

In a game that arguably should never have been played due to inclement weather and a waterlogged playing surface, Caulry made the most of their possession and created the better scoring chances. Aaron Murphy and Thomas Dunning came agonisingly close to scoring second-half goals, but, as it happened, a return of 0-9 was enough to give the Mount Temple men victory in appalling conditions.

St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge, who were obdurate opponents, will reflect on a final in which they had oodles of possession but ultimately failed to make it count. Too often, they over-indulged in handpassing and a lateral approach that broke down. They managed just four scores from play, and that was always likely to fall short, even allowing for the conditions.

Caulry, who led by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time, got their 0-9 from play, and five points (including a couple of two-pointers) came from their two inside forwards, Liam Malynn and Thomas Dunning. That proved crucial on the day.

Philip Rainey’s charges, who beat Garrycastle, 2-13 to 0-13, in the semi-final, had the aid of the swirling breeze in the first half, and they hit the front when midfielder Alan Lynam shot over. It came after he played a one-two with wing-back Alan Daly.

St Mary’s missed a chance through Ian Keelan, but when Finian Carroll dropped a free into the danger area in the ninth minute, Padraig Carroll got his fist to the ball and directed it over the crossbar for the equaliser. Caulry, who were only briefly behind on one occasion, quickly took the lead again when Willie Buckley set up Roan Sweeney for a point.

Already, it was obvious conditions would be a major factor, and the pitch surface was worsening as the rain came down. Rory Hatton almost placed Dunning in on goal, but the latter lost his footing in the poor underfoot conditions.

The Rochfortbridge men, under the guidance of Michael Clarke, Seán Robinson, Mark Ennis, Damien Gavin and Fran Heavey, got back on level terms in the 17th minute. Midfielder Adam Kavanagh found Finian Carroll, who shot over. A scoreless period then ensued, and the game had ticked into the 28th minute before St Mary’s got their noses in front for the only time: Padraig Carroll won a free, and Ian Keelan held his composure to slot the ball over the crossbar.

But Caulry’s Thomas Dunning produced a wonderful high catch from the kick-out, and soon after, Liam Malynn kicked an impressive two-pointer to put his side ahead once more.

They proceeded to add to their tally when Aaron Murphy set up wing-back Alan Daly for a point in injury time, and Caulry held that slender two-point lead at the break.

St Mary’s, who qualified for the final when they overcame Rosemount after extra-time and a penalty shootout, needed a good start to the second half if they were to turn things around. As it transpired, Caulry added to their lead when Thomas Dunning kicked a terrific two-pointer in the third minute. It was excellent execution into the teeth of the breeze.

A four-point lead (0-7 to 0-3) was massive in this final, considering the worsening conditions. St Mary’s found a response when Carroll set up Keelan for a point in the eighth minute, but Caulry looked the more threatening. Wing-back Daniel Lynam found Aaron Murphy, and he powered through the heart of the opposing defence before his shot was partially blocked by Daibhin Colgan at the expense of an unconverted ’45’.

On 43 minutes, Lynam was again the architect as Thomas Dunning took on the St Mary’s defence, but his left-footed finish was narrowly wide of goal. It was finely balanced again when substitute Niall Cully supplied the ball inside and Cathal Jessop set up Carroll for another point.

Caulry were leading by 0-7 to 0-5 entering the final quarter. They pressed on, and Liam Malynn (from a free) found Dunning, who set up sub Dean Burns for a point in the 52nd minute.

St Mary’s responded again as Jake Byrne won a free that was converted by Carroll. But they couldn’t get any closer. Caulry’s Liam Malynn played a nice ball inside for Dunning to point in the 58th minute, making it 0-9 to 0-6.

Caulry’s Darren Hynes was overpowered in midfield, and St Mary’s applied further pressure, which led to a foul on Colgan. The resulting free was pointed by Keelan in the second minute of added time, leaving just two between the teams again.

In the dying moments, Keelan’s free into the danger area was heroically won by corner-back Ciaran Gaynor, and seconds later, the final whistle sounded.

Afterwards, Caulry captain Willie Buckley was presented with the Junior 2 cup by Paddy Wallace, Westmeath GAA chairman.

Scorers – Caulry: T Dunning 0-3 (1 tp), L Malynn 0-2 (tp), A Lynam, R Sweeney, A Daly and D Burns 0-1 each.

St Mary’s: F Carroll (1f) and I Keelan (2f) 0-3 each, P Carroll 0-1.

Caulry: Cillian Nagle; Rory Hatton, Eoin Shortall, Ciaran Gaynor; Alan Daly, Darren Hynes, Daniel Lynam; David Gaynor, Alan Lynam; Aaron Murphy, Willie Buckley, Roan Sweeney; Liam Malynn, Johnny Buckley, Thomas Dunning. Subs: Dean Burns for W Buckley (43), Luke Hamilton for J Buckley (56), Cody Parker for Sweeney (60).

St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge: Ryan Judge; Brendan Brady, Daibhin Colgan, Cathal Coyle; Darragh Weblin, Ken Raqueno, Padraig Carroll; Adam Kavanagh, Pierce Fox; Dara Fagan, Aidan Fallon, Jake Byrne; James Neill, Finian Carroll, Ian Keelan. Subs: Niall Cully for Fagan (inj., 21), Cathal Jessop for Neill (half-time), Niall Whelehan for Weblin (half-time), Seán Corrigan for Fallon (48), Regan Boyne for Carroll (58).

Referee: Michael Galvin (Tang).