Dolan double paves the way for Caulry to seal junior final spot

Caulry's sharpest shooter, Johnny Dolan put Coralstown/Kinnegad's junior string to the sword at Cusack Park on Sunday evening last, as the south Westmeath side qualified for the junior football championship final. Dolan struck the net twice, and in a game which always lacked that special something, his second goal crowned a ten minute purple patch for Caulry, deciding the outcome of the game. Caulry manager, Padraig Moran must now prepare his charges for what should be hotly contested final against St. Paul's, as the Mount Temple men hunt their seventh JFC title. Despite the loss, Coralstown/Kinnegad coach, Larry Giles will be surely be happy with his side's performance. Led admirably by full forward, Jamie Wilson, the Reds - sporting Raharney's blue jerseys due to a colour clash - eventually ran out of steam after pushing Caulry until midway through the second half. Caulry, who enjoyed a 1-2 to 1-1 advantage at the break, finished the game strongly, with Dolan's second goal coming after crucial points from Declan Donohoe and Alan Rigney. Dour It was Wilson who got Coralstown/Kinnegad off on the right foot in the second minute, kicking his first point of the game in what would turn out to be a dour opening quarter. Caulry tried their best to find a quick equaliser, but their efforts were frustrated by some astute Coralstown/Kinnegad defending. Finally, they made a breach in the 15th minute, when Peter Smith grasped a flighted ball from centre-half, Alan Rigney. Challenged, he managed to feed a pass to the waiting Johnny Dolan, who shot to the net from close range. Moments later, Smith shot over a free from the ground to extend Caulry's lead to three points, as their opponents made some changes, with Brendan Kenny and Clive Kiernan entering the fray in place of Darragh Fleming and Mark Giles. As an unimpressive first half dragged on, Caulry failed to build on their advantage, and they were punished on 28 minutes when David Flynn, receiving a pass from Jamie Wilson, buried a shot from close range to level matters. But the team in blue trailed at half time, when corner-back Christopher McCann gave away a free, which was duly converted by Caulry's Peter Smith. Lead extended A new look Caulry - welcoming subs Robert Kenny and Mickey Killane - extended their lead two minutes after the restart, when Gary Flanagan found his range impressively. Coralstown/Kinnegad responded well, with Jamie Wilson once again finding David Flynn, who slotted over a point to keep Larry Giles' troops in toe. But Caulry looked to Flanagan again on 37 minutes, and catching a disappointing kickout from Joe Cronley, he darted through an open channel and took his point; with a few more paces, a goal might have been at his mercy. Moments later, Caulry sub Robert Kenny could have killed off the game when he drew a wonderful save from Cronley. A point from Jamie Wilson followed this as Coralstown/Kinnegad increased the pressure on their opponents. After 41 minutes, Declan Donohoe joined Caulry team-mate Alan Rigney in the referee's book, giving Wilson a chance to kick an equalising free seconds later. But unfortunately for Coralstown/Kinnegad, their challenged quite literally "petered" out, when Peter Smith converted a free for Caulry. This restored a lead which the Southerners would hold until the end of the game. Declan Donohoe extended this advantage to two points, before Alan Rigney teamed up with Cormac Fox on 52 minutes to put three between the sides. Bookings for Andrew Cannon (Coralstown/Kinnegad) and Johnny Dolan (Caulry) followed, before Dolan wrapped up the game with a triumphal goal on 57 minutes. Set up by Robert Kenny, Dolan teased 'Kinnegad shot-stopper Joe Cronley off his line, before tucking home his second goal. This major rubber-stamped Caulry's progression to the final, and victory was sweet, albeit marred by a late, off-the-ball clash between two players, seconds before the final whistle. The nasty scuffle, which involved Andrew Cannon (Coralstown/Kinnegad) and Robert Kenny (Caulry), happened behind referee Brendan Keena's back just before he called a halt to proceedings. Thankfully, as tempers flared, players from both sides intervened in a positive way before matters got out of control. SCORERS - Caulry: J Dolan 2-0, P. Smith 0-3 (frees), G. Flanagan 0-2, D. Donohoe and A. Rigney 0-1. Coralstown/Kinnegad: D. Flynn 1-1, J. Wilson 0-3 (2 frees). Caulry: Joe McMahon; Damien Dolan, Johnny Buckley, Pat Buckley; Ben Moran, Alan Rigney, Kevin Maguire; Gary Flanagan, Declan Donohoe; Alan Fitzpatrick, Conor Allen, Cormac Fox; Alan Carroll, Peter Smith, Johnny Dolan. Subs used: Mickey Killane for Allen (h/time), Robert Kenny for Carroll (h/time). Coralstown/Kinnegad: Joe Cronley; Christopher McCann, Martin Fox, Andrew Cannon; David Holmes, Hubert Maguire, Emmett McDonnell; Nigel Boardman, John Cooney; Adam Boardman, Darragh Fleming, Killian Foley; Mark Giles, Jamie Wilson, David Flynn. Subs used: Brendan Kenny for Fleming (15), Clive Kiernan for Giles (22), Daniel Coyne for A. Boardman (40), Derek Kilmartin for McCann (52), Gary Kilmartin for Holmes (60). Referee: Brendan Keena (Ballynacargy).