1 week Ago By Colm Kinsella
AHANE secured a last gasp 1-12 to 1-11 victory over resilient Camogue Rovers, thanks to a dramatic injury time point from substitute Gavin Rowsome, in their Woodlands House Hotel County Junior A Football Championship final at Doon GAA Club on Thursday night. The decider had looked set to head into extra-time prior to Rowsome's well-worked winning score as Camogue Rovers battled back from a six point deficit, 0-7 to 1-10, mid-way through the second half to draw level. Ahane's county championship winning squad included three former Ireland rugby internationals, Ian Keatley and Sean Cronin who lined out in their half-back line and Tommy O'Donnell who was among their substitutes.
The winners' starting line-up also included a vastly experienced midfield combination of Limerick senior hurling star Dan Morrissey and former Clare football powerhouse Gary Brennan, who was hugely influential in the Ahane success. In ideal mild, calm playing conditions, Ahane enjoyed a useful five-point half-time advantage, 1-6 to 0-4. The Ahane goal arrived in the 21st minute when Jamie Lydon found Padraig Harnett who finished to the net.
Man of the Match David Laing, Micheal Kearney and midfielder Dan Morrissey contributed a point each, while topscorer Brennan landed three, including a smashing long range effort from play. Christopher Crotty scored a hat-trick of points for Camogue Rovers in the opening half, including one from a free, while Ross O'Brien Maye was also on target. Both sides will have been disappointed by their first half tally of scores as excellent build-up play was regularly followed by wayward shooting.
Trailing by six points mid-way through the second half, Camogue looked to be facing an uphill battle. However, they battled back impressively. Another Crotty point from play hinted at a revival.
Their crucial goal arrived in the 50th minute when, after Anthony Neylon's initial shot for goal was well-saved by shotstopper Tristan O'Sullivan, James Meany blasted the loose ball to the net. There was now just two points between the sides. A further Laing point from play stretched Ahane's lead to three points, 1-11 to 1-8 with eight minutes remaining.
However, a run of three unanswered points from O'Brien Maye, Anthony Punch and a Neylon free tied the scores in injury time. However, there was one further dramatic twist remaining as Peter O'Grady surged forward before the ball was transferred to Rowsome who split the uprights much to the delight of the Ahane supporters. SCORERS: Ahane: Gary Brennan 0-4 (0-3 frees), Padraig Harnett 1-0, David Laing 0-3, Micheál Kearney 0-2, Dan Morrissey, Mark Donnellan, Gavin Rowsome 0-1 each.
Camogue Rovers: Christopher Crorry 0-6 (0-3 frees), James Meany 1-0, Ross O'Brien Maye, Anthony Punch 0-2 each, Anthony Neylon 0-1 (free). AHANE: Tristan O'Sullivan; Brian Murphy, Nike O'Neill (Capt), Peter O'Grady; Ian Keatley, Sean Cronin, Craig O'Connell; Dary Brennan, Dan Morrissey; Padraig Harnett, Micheál Kearney, Ciaran Barry; Jamie Lydon, David Laing, Mark Donnellan. SUBS: Liam Óg Glynn for Harnett (42 mins), Gavin Rowsome for Keatley (injured, 50 mins), Ger Frawley for O'Connell (56 mins), Kevin Morrissey for Laing (60 +3 mins).
CAMOGUE ROVERS: Mark Cronin; Peader McCarthy, Brendan O'Donnell, Paudie Mulcahy; Daniel Clifford, Michael O'Donnell, Thomas O'Donnell, Finn Clancy, James Meany; Anthony Neylon, Ryan Glynn, Ross O'Brien Maye; Patsy Punch, Anthony Punch, Christopher Crotty. SUBS: Shane Lyons for Glynn (injured, 14 mins), Adam Lyons for Clifford (40 mins), Gearoid O'Leary for Crotty (51 mins). REFEREE: Alan Kehoe (AK Desmonds).
