More final heartbreak for Pearses as Heneghan steers Castlerea to victory

Castlerea St. Kevin"s regained the Fahey Cup, a title they last held in 2003, when holding out for a one-point victory over Padraig Pearses in this replayed Roscommon S.F.C. final, played before an estimated 4,000 spectators at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon last. It was further agony for a luckless South County side who also lost the previous week"s S.H.C. final by a similar margin, and another decider where they failed to reproduce the sparking form which was characteristic of their performances en route. This applies especially to their forward division who, on this occasion, managed only one point from play - but it is also to the credit of a Castlerea rearguard whose fortress-like resistance did not concede the merest modicum of wriggle-room for the greater part of this dreadfully dour struggle. The stop-start nature of proceedings, paucity of slick inter-passing forward moves, and the almost total dominance exercised by the respective defences, were contributing factors to the disappointing end product. In slippy conditions, it was the ability of Denis Kearney"s West-County men, albeit on limited occasions, to overcome these constraints, with special reference to the excellent Ger Heneghan, which would ultimately pay rich dividends in determining the destination of the 2008 blue riband of Roscommon football. Effective these 'bodies behind the ball' tactics may be (at one stage of the second half I counted 14 Castlerea players in their own half of the park), but is this latter-day forward-smothering and inhibiting of traditional attacking play doing anything for Gaelic football? I don"t think so. A strong wind, which blew directly from the town end of Headquarters, would have a telling effect on this replay. Castlerea, who introduced Neil Collins at corner-back instead of the injured Eddie Creaton, would never go into arrears in this replay. Pearses" Gerry Kelly forced a fruitless '45' after only 10 seconds, but it was the wind-assisted St. Kevin"s who went ahead in the second minute when Ger Heneghan laid off to his brother Seamus for the latter to open the scoring in this goal-less replay. In the sixth minute, Pearses had a glorious opportunity of a goal when a Michael Duignan ball found Alan Duffy, but the No. 13 miss-hit his parting shot, giving goalie Geoffrey Claffey the chance of scrambling the ball to safety. The Reds were soon on terms when Alan Duffy"s pointed free punished over-carrying in the Castlerea defence, but this was as close as they were to get on a dry but bitterly cold afternoon at a well-presented Dr. Hyde Park which staged an attractive double-bill. Niall Finneran - selected at full-forward but starting at midfield in a move which saw Niall Carty sited at wing-forward, with Michael Duignan at the fringe of the square - tested the reflexes of Castlerea custodian Geoffrey Claffey, but events were now about to take a most definite swing in favour of the 2003 champions. After Enda Kenny and Ronan Curran struck a brace of bad wides, team captain Nigel Dineen"s effort also appeared to have swung away to the right, but the latter"s shot, according to the umpire, merited a disputed '45' (12th minute), unerringly converted by Ger Heneghan. Almost immediately, Pearses were caught napping when wing-back Noel Curran slipped upfield to drive over a lovely score, and a third unanswered point ensued (18th minute) when attacking centre-back Martin Raftery, drew the foul, typically punished by Ger Heneghan. Gerry Kelly could have made better use of a 19th minute chance which finished wide, but the importance of fast ball into their inside forwards was becoming apparent in somewhat laboured build-up play. A 21st minute Sean Fahy pointed free left but two points between the protagonists, with a stop-start pattern leaving little room for any open play, but the closing minutes (including injury time) of the opening moiety saw Castlerea making a very definite statement of their ultimate intent. The hard-grafting Nigel Dineen made the road for an Enda Kenny point, with Ger Heneghan producing arguably the score of the match with a massive point from midfield (29th minute). And when Ronan Curran was fouled out near the corner flag on the ground"s road side, it was Heneghan again who made light of the angle to loft over a splendid free and, with it, an 0-7 to 0-2 interval lead over opponents who hadn"t raised a flag from play in that opening half. But would it be enough when facing the elements? Pearses now needed to show all-round improvement, especially up front, as they resumed with wind advantage. Castlerea replaced corner-back Neil Collins, who had been playing well, at half-time with Dermot Lyons, but Eamon Mahon"s men raced back into contention with a brace of Alan Duffy pointed frees (34th and 35th minutes). Good approach work by Niall Carty and Michael Duignan produced the first free, while Seán Fahy was fouled for the second. Pat Connell was now playing a captain"s part at midfield for the Reds, but, significantly, 15 minutes would now elapse before Pearses would score again. A brilliant block-down by midfielder Michael Killilea from Gerry Kelly (set up from a Seán Fahy pass) signified Castlerea"s intentions of holding out in this replay, but Pearses full-back John Whyte"s heroics at the fringe of the square issued a loud rallying call to his colleagues. Pearses, however, tended to give away hard-won possession, and it was from such a move that a scorable chance for them was lost when an unnecessary foul on Ronan Curran gifted Ger Heneghan a pointed free (48th minute). Ja Egan replaced Paul Duke (goalscorer in the drawn game) for Pearses a minute later, and it was Seán Fahy (50th minute) who had his team"s first score from play in this re-match when lofting over a good point. The dynamic duo of Nigel Dineen and Ger Heneghan combined a minute later for Ger to score his 6th point of the evening, this one from play, which would produce Castlerea"s last score, leaving their total at 0-9. Still 4 points in arrears as the game entered the 51st minute of normal time (5 more minutes were subsequently added-on), Pearses launched sustained attacks as they tried to pull off a late victory and their first S.F.C. title. A brace of Seán Fahy pointed frees (both fouls on Michael Duignan), reduced arrears to two points, but another free, this time taken by Alan Duffy for another foul on Duignan, was blocked on the goal-line by goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey. Although restraining John Whyte by pulling his jersey, Castlerea"s Ger Heneghan was awarded a free (not the only debatable decision made by the match referee over the hour), but was surprisingly wide from a favourable position. As the game edged into injury time, desperate Castlerea defending saw them still two points to the good. Pearses threw everyone forward in order to save the game, but the final whistle followed their last score, a pointed free from Pat Connell for a foul on sub Ja Egan, still leaving them that agonising one point short of forcing extra-time, and confirming Castlerea as the new champions. Final score - Castlerea 0-9, Pearses 0-8. It was, for the most part, a disappointing, defence-dominated game, with the scoring exploits of Castlerea"s Ger Heneghan decisive in the final analysis. The winners" entire defensive combination, along with midfielder Michael Killilea, and forwards Nigel Dineen, Seamus Heneghan and Enda Kenny all worked hard. Pearses" quest for that elusive first title goes on, but they have a young panel and will learn hard lessons from this final and replay. Their best players were once again in defence, with John and Denis Whyte, Enda Barrett and Declan Duffy all performing valiantly, while midfielder Pat Connell and Niall Carty impressed on occasions, but the attack was disappointing on the day. Curtain Raiser In the opening Intermediate Football Championship final replay, Kilbride, having led by 2-4 to 0-6 at half-time, made a quick return to Senior ranks by beating Boyle, 2-10 to 0-10. SCORERS - Castlerea St. Kevin"s: G Heneghan (0-6, 3f, 0-1 '45'), S Heneghan (0-1), N Curran (0-1), E Kenny (0-1). Padraig Pearses: S Fahy (0-4, 3f), A Duffy (0-3, 3f), P Connell (0-1f). Castlerea St. Kevin"s: Geoffrey Claffey, Neil Collins, Padraic Duignan, Garry Tiernan, Noel Curran, Martin Raftery, David Flahive, Michael Killilea, Cathal Dineen, John Duggan, Gerard Heneghan, Seamus Heneghan, Ronan Curran, Enda Kenny, Nigel Dineen (capt). Subs: Bernard Carty for C Dineen (21), Dermot Lyons for Collins (h/t), Seán Ryan for Duggan (39), Derek Duggan for R Curran (62). Padraig Pearses: Tomás Dolan, Denis Whyte, John Whyte, Pádraig Kelly, Enda Barrett, Paul Kelly, Declan Duffy, Pat Connell (capt), Niall Finneran, Paul Duke, Gerry Kelly, Niall Carty, Alan Duffy, Michael Duignan, Seán Fahy. Subs: Eanna Ryan for Finneran (41), Jarlath Egan for Duke (49), David Donnellan for Pádraig Kelly (56). Referee: Declan Hunt (St. Joseph"s), who issued 5 yellow cards (3 to Castlerea) over the hour.