Southern Gaels end year on a high with U20 success

U20 Division 1 Championship final

Southern Gaels 1-14

Cuchulainns 0-13

Paul Fitzpatrick at Dolan Park

Fourteen-man Southern Gaels hit 11 points in the second half to claim the U20 Division 1 title in this hard-fought and at times bad-tempered final in Virginia.

The Gowna-Lacken combination played some super football in the second half as they came back from three points down to win by four. This was hard-hitting, bitterly-contested championship fare with some outstanding scores and no shortage of incident.

The game was fractious at times, with ref Mickey Lee calling 50 infringements over the hour, divided exactly evenly between the sides, as well as dishing out a red card to Cormac Brady towards the end of the first half and six yellows – and there was also an unseemly melee after the final whistle.

By that stage, though, there was no doubt as to who the better team were on the day. Cuchulainns had won when the sides met in the early rounds and looked likely to repeat the feat, having dominated much of the first half and with the numerical advantage in the second but they will rue making too many mistakes and Southern Gaels got on top in most areas, with Ryan Donohoe upping the ante considerably around the middle and Tiarnan and Daire Madden outstanding in attack.

Cuchulainns grabbed the first two scores of the game, a free from Turlough Farrelly and a mark from Cillian McCabe, whose ball-winning ability caught the eye.

But Southern Gaels hit back with a great goal. Ryan Brady forced a turnover in front of his own full-back line, Conor Casey carried the ball to the danger area at pace and Tiarnan Madden found the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to 0-2 on eight minutes.

Cuchulainns reacted well to the goal, stringing together three points in succession through Oisin Donoghue and two well-struck frees from Farrelly.

Tiarnan Madden won and converted a free at the other end but after Farrelly was fouled, Sean Kenny knocked over a free at the other end to leave it 0-6 to 1-1 with five minutes remaining in the half.

A good run from Ryan Brady created an opening for Conor Casey to swing in with the left foot. Sean Kenny then scored from play after build-up play from the hard-working Niall Carolan but a lovely Daire Madden point from a tight angle made it a one-point game.

An excellent long-range free from Farrelly concluded the first-half scoring as Cuchulainns went in two points up, 0-8 to 1-3, but, crucially, Southern Gaels would play the second half with 14 men after Brady’s second yellow card just before the break.

On the restart, the Cross-Mullagh lads had a great goal opportunity but Ryan Galligan’s effort was narrowly wide. They extended their lead to three when Philip Smyth, who put in a good shift around the middle, kicked a brilliant point while falling away but Southern Gaels had upped their game and soon made it count on the scoreboard.

Tiarnan Madden won a free which brother Daire converted; Fionán Brady then found Conor Casey who fielded well and was fouled for another which the younger Madden slotted over.

The Gaels won the resulting kick-out and Conor Casey curled in a super point from the right wing to tie the game. With momentum on their side, Southern Gaels soon hit the front with a Tiernan Madden free and they could have been further ahead only for a good Cormac O’Reilly save from Daire Madden.

Daire, though, made amends with two excellent frees either side of the water break to make it 1-9 to 0-9 and when full-back Eoghan Hartin came forward to send over an inspirational point, the amalgamation were four to the good.

Cuchulainns needed something special and they got it in the form of a monster 50-metre Farrelly free and, from the kick-out, a point from play by Sean Kenny after McCabe won the ball well, but Southern Gaels’ response was exemplary as Ryan Donohoe won the next kick-out and drove forward before pointing.

Tiarnan Madden galloped through and kicked a tremendous score moments later to restore the four-point advantage and from here, it was hard to see Southern Gaels being beaten as time ticked away.

A 45 from Ryan Donohoe was cancelled out by another huge free by Farrelly but as Cuchulainns pressed up chasing the game, they were leaving gaps at the back and Southern Gaels were now exploiting them.

Donohoe pointed off the left after Daire Madden’s spectacular effort rebounded off the crossbar and Cuchulainns’ only response was a Kenny free as Southern Gaels held on for a deserved victory.

Southern Gaels had strong performers in the likes of the Maddens, Donohoe, Hartin and Fionán Brady. For Cuchulainns, Carolan, Smyth, Farrelly and Sean Kenny stood out.

Southern Gaels: Oisin McConnon, Finn Riley, Eoghan Hartin (0-1), Torin Brady, Donal McSorley, Cormac Brady, Cian Hartin, Ryan Brady, Frank Casey, Tiarnan Madden (1-3, 2f), Fionán Brady, Conor Casey (0-2), Diarmuid Boylan, Ryan Donohoe (0-3, one 45), Daire Madden (0-5, 4f)

Sub: Oisin Fleming

Cuchulainns: Cormac O’Reilly, Luke Doyle, Cian Donoghue, Rioghan Smith, Micheál Lenny, Niall Carolan, Cian Doughty, Turlough Farrelly (0-6f), Philip Smyth (0-1), Oisin Donoghue (0-1), Ryan Galligan, Caolach Monaghan, Cillian McCabe (0-1m), Sean Kenny (0-4, 2f), Glen McCann

Ref: Mickey Lee

Main pic: Southern Gaels joint-captains Fionán Brady and Cormac Boylan with the new Adrian Donohoe memorial cup. See this week's print edition for full photos and reaction from the match.