Masterful McCormack leads Maryland to U21 county title

On a bitterly cold evening, thoroughly entertaining contest between two committed sides helped to warm the cockles of a good sized attendance in Lakepoint Park, Mullingar, on Saturday last. The occasion was the replay of the U21 13-a-side football championship final and, at the end of sixty odd minutes, it was the young men from Maryland who squeezed over the line. But it was oh so tight. At one point Tyrrellspass held a commanding nine point lead but Maryland's ability to slip in for vital goals kept them in the mix. The Tidy Town side's defensive laxity was to prove their undoing. The losers were two points up, courtesy of Ger Egan and Ger O'Toole before Callum McCormack crashed home a terrific goal for the Drumraney based side. That was on eleven minutes and it would be another nine minutes before they troubled the scoreboard, with their second from midfielder Darren Malynn. In the interim Tyrrellspass had chalked up an impressive 2-4 and the title looked 'sky blue' bound. Ciaran Daly, with a brace, attack minded corner-back Jamie Gonoud and a mighty strike from midfielder Dean McNicholas knocked over the minors. The goals followed, Gonoud sallying forth in the 18th minute to sweep a Ger Egan pass to the net. A minute later, a splendid diagonal pass from David Gaye found Aaron O'Brien in space and he applied a clinical finish for goal number two. Shell shocked but unbowed Maryland bounced straight back and a sweeping move led to Malynn's net-buster. Tyrrellspass might had a third major on 22 minutes after Lee Moran dropped a speculative O'Brien effort but Ciaran Daly could not direct the loose ball on target. It was a costly miss. Within a minute the Tyrrellspass net was bulging for a third time. Peter Connaughton raced onto a Kieran Martin pass and the Tidy Town were undone. With the half in its dying embers, Maryland raised their first white flag of the game, Callum McCormack slotting over a point from a free. It left the score at the interval: Tyrrellspass 2-6, Maryland 3-1. As the second half commenced the introduction of Jack Glennon for David Gaye was flagged. Enda Kincaid with a wonderful point narrowed the deficit to one, but Tyrrellspass were aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty by referee, Niall Ward. A splendid, flowing move, initiated by midfielders Dean McNicholas and Ger O'Toole found an advanced Jamie Gonoud bearing down on goal. He appeared to be impeded but play was waved on. Conor Slevin replaced the injured Francis Nally on the sky blue's side, while Ryan Allen joined the Maryland ranks in place of Emmet Moran. Points from Ciaran Daly and Dean McNicholas appeared to re-ignite Tyrrellspass and but for a splendid one handed save from Lee Moran, the Tidy Town would have marched into a decisive six point lead. It was the livewire Gonoud who set up Ger O'Toole but the Maryland custodian managed to push the ball up and over. Entering the final quarter, McCormack cut the deficit with a pointed free before he created the opening for the all important fourth goal. Surrounded by a phalanx of Tyrrellspass defenders he released the ball to Joe Reilly and he crashed it home on 20 minutes. McCormack added a point and Maryland tails were certainly up. Six minutes from the end Ger Egan fined over the 'Pass's tenth point but it was to prove their final fling. In the remaining time, Enda Kincaid and Kieran Martin sealed Maryland's success with the insurance points. In the drawn final the previous weekend, Maryland forced extra-time with a spirited comeback and, on this occasion, another valiant renaissance saw the Drumraney side eventually retain the U21 'B' FC crown. Scorers Maryland: C McCormack 1-3, D Malynn, P Connaughton and J Reilly 1-0 each, E Kincaid 0-2, K Martin 0-1. Tyrrellspass: J Gonoud 1-1, A O'Brien 1-0, G Egan and C Daly 0-3 each, D McNicholas 0-2, G O'Toole 0-1. Maryland: Lee Moran; Trevor Farrell, James Ganly; Christopher Hermbusche, Kenny Kincaid, Ronan Farrell; Darren Malynn, Kieran Martin; Joe Reilly, Callum McCormack, Peter Connaughton; Enda Kincaid, Emmet Moran. Subs: Ryan Allen for E Moran. Tyrrellspass: Paul Daly; Stephen Quinn, Jamie Gonoud; Ben Gavin, Sean Deegan, David Jessop; Ger Egan, Dean McNicholas; Francis Nally, David Gaye, Aaron O'Brien; Ciaran Daly, Ger O'Toole. Subs: Jack Glennon for D Gaye, Conor Slevin for F Nally. Referee: Niall Ward, Garrycastle.