2-2 in injury time helps Drumlane to minor title

U17 Division 4 League final

Drumlane 6-11

Cornafean 4-11

Last Thursday week in Packie Devlin Park, Killeshandra, Drumlane and Cornafean squared off for the title of Division 4 league champions. When the sides met in round four of the league, Cornafean came away with a five-point home win but that turned out to be the only defeat the Sons of O’Connell would suffer on their way to being crowned champions.

As always, 11-a-side full-field football leaves loads of room for forwards and the attackers on both sides thrived in the May evening sunshine. But it was Drumlane full-back Oisin Kennedy who broke forward after two minutes of play to get the scoring underway with a point. Drumlane dominated the opening five minutes but only led by a point after registering four early wides.

The Reds, on the seventh minute, broke through for their first shot on goal when Sean McFaul gathered the ball inside the Drumlane 45. As he broke the 20-metre line, his solo got away from him but by reacting on instinct, he volleyed the ball to the back of the net to give Cornafean the lead.

Drumlane came battling back with points from Sean Cassidy and Jack O’Shannon to level the match with 14 minutes played. Living on scraps, but comfortable doing so, Cornafean were awarded a penalty as the second quarter began and Sean McFaul made it two goals from two shots.

While Drumlane held the lion’s share of possession in the opening quarter, they trailed by three points and once Cornafean hit a purple patch, they made it count. A 25-metre free off the ground and a well-hit point from play by McFaul saw the Reds lead by five points with six minutes remaining until the break.

The Milltown men moved up a gear in the closing stages of the half and took control of the scoring. A super solo run by Caolan McAnnena set up O’Shannon for a point followed by a punted point off the boot of Fiachra Kiernan to leave the minimum between the sides.

With less than a minute remaining in the first half an O’Shannon run drew in the Cornafean defence and a well-timed slip hand pass put through Darragh Freehill on goal and he smashed the ball to the net. When referee Padraig Sheridan sounded the short whistle, Drumlane held a two-point lead on a score line of 2-4 to 2-2.

Ben Stafford and Shane Brady were introduced to the Cornafean side at the break and Stafford had an immediate effect. With his first shot on goal he swung the ball over the bar with an eye-catching strike on his left foot from 40 metres.

Two minutes after Drumlane had hit their ninth wide of the evening, the would be winners punished a Cornafean kick-out they won with a Sean Cassidy goal. The Reds came back for more and added a point in response thanks to their star forward Sean McFaul. Another converted free by McFaul on the sixth minute of the half left just two points between the sides.

A super Freddie Clarke kick-out for Drumlane went over the heads of eight Cornafean players and set O’Shannon off on the attack. The chasing Cornafean defenders caught up with O’Shannon’s long strides and fouled him before he got through on goal and Fiachra Kiernan made light work of the resulting free.

Within a minute the sides were level as the Cornafean subs continued to have an impact on the game. Shane Brady, cutting in from the dugout side, beat two Drumlane defenders before switching the ball to his left foot and tucking it into the far bottom corner of the net.

McFaul edged Cornafean into the lead for the first time in the half but Drumlane replied straight away with a Fiachra Kiernan free. Standing toe-to-toe trading blows, both sides pushed for the win with all-out attacking football.

Ben Stafford’s second point gave the Reds a one-point lead but a 40-metre solo run and point from Caolan McAnnena levelled matter again. Cornafean almost hit the net for a fourth time with 15 minutes remaining when McFaul squared a kick pass to Shane Brady who laid off to Stephen Brady but his shot rose over the bar from close range.

Continuing in a blow-for-blow style, Drumlane drew level and took a one-point lead thanks to two Fiachra Brady frees as the final ten minutes began. McFaul again turned provider as he passed to Conor Kilkenny cutting in at a tight angle, who, with precision accuracy, hit the back of the Drumlane net.

With barely time to catch breath, Cornafean pushed their advantage to three points with a Lorcan Sheridan point. It was now time for Drumlane’s bench to make an impact as Cormac Murray and Fiachra Kiernan combined to set up James Cassidy for a rocket of a goal to level the match for the fifth time.

Drumlane very nearly took the lead as Fiachra Kiernan found himself one-on-one with Ryan Sheridan but the Cornafean stopper got enough of a hand on the ball to send it wide of the goal. Cornafean regained the lead with four minutes to go thank to McFaul after good work by Stafford and Kilkenny.

As the game entered injury-time Cornafean still held the narrowest of leads but Drumlane were pushing hard. Another save by Sheridan denied Luke Halton a goal but the rebound was turned in by Jack O’Shannon to give the Drumlane a two-point lead.

Points from Stephen Brady and a second from McAnnena extended the Sons of O’Connell’s lead to four but after some lengthy stoppages their was still time for another twist. A McFaul point left just three between the sides. Cornafean, pushing up in search of a goal ,were caught open at the back and Drumlane punished them with a second goal from sub James Cassidy before the final whistle sounded.

Drumlane: Freddie Clarke, Oisin Kennedy(0-1), Alex Kennedy, Charlie Flynn, Stephen Brday(0-1), Sean Cassidy(1-1), Caolan McAnnena(0-2), Darragh Freehill(1-0), Jack O’Shannon(2-1), Oisin Flynn, Fiachra Kiernan(0-5,4f)

Subs: James Cassidy(2-0), Cormac Murray, Eoin Cassidy, Jay Broxton. Panel: Leo Cassidy, Adam Kennedy

Cornafean: Ryan Sheridan, George Cullivan, Cian Halton, Darragh Wilson, Finbar Rodgers, Lorcan Sheridan(0-2), James Clarke, Darragh Gould, Conor Kilkenny(1-0), Sean McFaul(2-7,1p,2f), Diarmuid Martin

Subs: Ben Stafford(0-2), Shane Brady(1-0), Aironas Andrauska. Panel: James Flood, Jamie Leathem, Odhrán Brady, Luke Halton, Conor Morrow.