Tubberclair find Sallins a bridge too far in Leinster final
AIB Leinster Club IFC final: Sallins 2-11 Tubberclair 2-4
Tubberclair’s hopes of capping off an incredibly memorable year with the Leinster intermediate title were ended by a formidable Sallins outfit in Newbridge last Sunday.
There could be no disputing that Sallins were deserving winners of this Leinster decider, though the final scoreline doesn’t do justice to Tubberclair’s contribution.
With about ten minutes of normal time remaining, the sides were level (2-3 to 0-9). Paul Keegan’s point for Tubberclair levelled matters after Matthew Whittaker’s splendid goal brought renewed hope to the green and gold faithful.
The next score proved crucial to the outcome - a goal from the excellent Cian Grimes as Sallins outscored their opponents by 2-2 to 0-1 in the time remaining. James Dalton’s late goal embellished the Kildare side’s winning margin.
Backed by a large band of vocal supporters, a youthful Tubberclair side gave it everything but composure and decision making deserted them at vital stages.
It’s worth bearing in mind that five of the Tubberclair starting team - Liam Staunton, Taylor Slevin, Paul Keegan, Tom Bourke and Kealan Connell - were on last year’s minor (U18) championship winning team. Sallins have been a coming force, reaching the semi-finals of this year’s Kildare Division 1 League, and they had an edge in experience.
Having won all of their Kildare IFC games by at least ten points, Sallins went into this game as overwhelming favourites. They underlined their credentials by scoring 5-21, 3-18 and 2-18 in their three Leinster championship games en route to the final. Their nine-point win over Offaly senior ‘B’ champions Clara was the closest game they encountered. Tubberclair asked plenty of questions of Sallins but the side managed by Jonathan Daniels came up with the answers when required and are worthy Leinster champions.
The Westmeath intermediate champions were left to rue the fact that they only managed to score one point in the first half, albeit when playing against the very strong wind. Tubberclair competed very well in the kickout battle during the opening half, but they just couldn’t turn some promising situations into scores. With Tubberclair registering six first-half wides, Sallins led 0-7 to 0-1 at the interval.
Playing against the forceful breeze at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Tubberclair looked to hold on to the ball as much as possible. They enjoyed a lengthy bout of possession in the opening two minutes but were unable to get a score, with Matthew Whittaker off target after some typically elusive play. Instead, it was Cian Grimes who sent over the opening score, a two-pointer to boot. Another orange flag followed in the seventh minute, Emmet Ralph the scorer off his left peg.
The threatening Grimes, who was finding plenty of space on the left wing, sent a couple of two-pointer attempts wide. He was also off target from a dubious ‘45’ as Tubberclair seemed entitled to a free out. In terms of the kickout battle, Tubberclair were doing well in the breaking ball stakes and a pinpoint delivery by goalkeeper Kevin Fagan, which found Taylor Slevin in a pocket of space, was another example of positive work in this regard.
The Glasson outfit got off the mark in the 13th minute, Whittaker finding the range after some fine approach play by Tom Bourke. Yet it was the only time that the large Tubberclair following had a chance to hail a score in the opening half. A second two-pointer from Grimes, this one from a 15th-minute free, gave Sallins a 0-6 to 0-1 lead.
When characteristically tenacious defender Stephen McGonagle and industrious wing-forward Paul Keegan combined to win the ball back, the fervent Tubberclair crowd greeted this moment as if it was a score. In truth though, scores into the teeth of the wind proved elusive commodities. Eoghan McCabe (a free from the right) and Fred Kelleher (after a fine fetch from Tom Bourke’s well struck delivery) were narrowly off target with point attempts.
Approaching the end of the first half, Tubberclair had a goal chance when Daire O’Connor evaded the Sallins defence but his effort went across the goal and wide. It was an important moment and, with the benefit of hindsight, even a point would have been valuable at that stage. As the first half moved into added time, Grimes pointed a free he had earned himself to leave six between the sides.
Sallins suffered a blow when key forward Colm Dalton had to be replaced before half-time. Kildare county player Dalton, who was doubtful due to a hamstring injury and was heavily strapped, came back on in the second half but he was obviously hampered by the injury.
About 90 seconds after the restart, Tubberclair got the fillip they needed with a slice of luck attached. Sallins keeper Matthew Farrelly was unable to hold Paul Keegan’s lobbed effort from the right and O’Connor gleefully finished the loose ball to the net.
But with midfielder Daragh Mangan hugely influential in the second half, Sallins proved far more adept at creating openings against the wind than Tubberclair had been. The eventual winners forced two frees which were pointed by Stephen Kelly and Grimes, either side of Whittaker’s second point at the other end.
Whittaker soon underlined his class when he took on the Sallins defence and, having linked up with Kealan Connell, he fired the ball to the net in composed fashion. It was now game on big time.
With momentum now firmly on their side, Tubberclair were guilty of taking some wrong options and of wayward shooting. But when a free from McCabe dropped short, Paul Keegan wisely handpassed the ball over the bar to level matters (49th minute).
Moments later, however, the ball was in the net at the other end. Sallins carved out an opening on the left and the move culminated with Grimes flicking the ball to the net for a vital goal (50th minute). On a day when both sides had plenty of support, ensuring a lively atmosphere, now it was turn of the Sallins supporters to cheer.
From the resulting kickout, Tubberclair’s Eoghan McCabe was possibly fouled as he contested possession but play continued and Sallins wing-back Glen McEvoy sent over a point. Grimes then brought his tally to 1-7 when punishing a ‘three up’ breach by Tubberclair.
As Tubberclair tried to respond with the game slipping away, McCabe hit over a point after more superb play by the terrific Whittaker.
In the 60th minute, James Dalton took advantage as gaps appeared in the Tubberclair defence to score his side’s second goal. Dalton played a one-two with teammate Kelly and then palmed to the net from close range.
Tubberclair were unable to conjure a consolation goal in the closing moments, and the final whistle paved the way for Sallins captain Daragh Mangan to be presented with the Sean Eiffe Cup. Mangan graciously acknowledged Tubberclair’s contribution to the final and the Kildare side’s thoughts now turn to facing the Munster champions, An Ghaeltacht of Kerry, in their All-Ireland semi-final in January.
Man of the match: Cian Grimes (Sallins). The dynamic wing-forward finished with a tally of 1-7 and his goal turned the game decisively in the Kildare side’s favour. Sallins captain Daragh Mangan was hugely influential at midfield in the second half. Matthew Whittaker was Tubberclair’s best player on the day with his ability to break tackles creating several openings, in addition to scoring 1-2. Cathal Tighe and Stephen McGonagle were defiant in defence but some Tubberclair players didn’t hit the heights they are capable of on the day.
Talking point: Westmeath’s wait for a winner in the Leinster intermediate football grade continues. This was Tubberclair’s second time to reach the final, having been edged out by Maynooth in 2009. Rosemount (2016) and Athlone (2015) have also reached Leinster intermediate finals. In contrast, Kildare now have eight different winners, with Sallins’ victory making it a four-in-a-row for the county.
Scorers – Sallins: C Grimes 1-7 (1tp, 1tpf, 3f); J Dalton 1-0; E Ralph 0-2 (tp); G McEvoy and S Kelly (f) 0-1 each. Tubberclair: M Whittaker 1-2; D O’Connor 1-0; P Keegan and E McCabe 0-1 each.
Sallins - Matthew Farrelly; Ruairi Ó Domhnaill, Mark Moynihan, Sean Ó Domhnaill; Luke Kelly, Eoin McConnon, Glen McEvoy; Daragh Mangan (captain), Paul Farrelly; Luke Killian, Colm Dalton, Cian Grimes; Stephen Kelly, Emmet Ralph, James Dalton. Subs: Alan Marshall for C Dalton (25 mins); Sean Conway for Farrelly (38); Colm Dalton for Ralph (40); Darren Keane for McConnon (44); Aaron Carney for Moynihan (60).
Tubberclair - Kevin Fagan; Stephen McGonagle, Cathal Tighe, Liam Staunton; Taylor Slevin, Tom Kelleher, Matthew Whittaker; Sean Claffey, Gavin Delaney; Paul Keegan, Fred Kelleher (captain), Eoghan McCabe; Kealan Connell, Daire O’Connor, Tom Bourke. Subs: Kyle Fagan for Staunton (53 mins); Oisín O’Meara for Slevin (55), Finn Duffy for Bourke (55); Paul Garvey for Tighe (inj., 59).
Referee - Stephen Fagan (Wicklow).