Moate book semi final spot at Tubberclair’s expense

Moate All Whites 3-17 Tubberclair 4-11

By Eamon A. Donoghue

In a topsy-turvy, high-scoring contest, Moate All Whites did just enough to get the better of a depleted Tubberclair side in this U20 Division 1 football championship encounter at Caulry GAA last Saturday week.

The prize was clear beforehand - the winner of this game would advance to the Westmeath U20 Division 1 championship semi-finals, while the loser would be out.

Before a ball was thrown in for this year's championship, Tubberclair were probably favourites to retain the title. Champions last year and with a minor title at this age group already in the cabinet, they came into 2026 as the team to beat. But championship football has a habit of humbling favourites, and on the day their absentees told the story.

Without three marquee players in Kealan O'Connell, Daire O'Connor and Tom Bourke, the depth of their panel was stretched beyond breaking point. Those losses proved too much to absorb, and for the defending champions it is an early and disappointing exit.

To their credit, Moate came with a plan and stuck to it. They started on the front foot and took an early lead when Darragh Delaney opened the scoring with a neat point off his left foot, quickly followed by a fine effort from Anthony King-Carroll, who was lively throughout at wing-back. For a few moments, it looked like Moate might run away with it.

But this Tubberclair group was never likely to throw in the towel. A long ball caused hesitation in the Moate full-back line and Seán O'Neill showed great composure to palm to the net, suddenly putting the holders in front against the run of play. It was a brief spell on top, but a reminder of their threat.

What didn't help their cause was the loss of Tiernan Mitchell to a black card shortly afterwards. Immediately down at the other end, the ball was in the Tubberclair net. Moate's response was immediate and emphatic, the ball worked to Delaney on the edge of the square and he made no mistake, drilling low to the net to put the All Whites back in front. From there, Moate always had the slight edge.

What followed was a real arm wrestle and goals proved key. Moate pulled away for a spell, with Seán Mackey and Delaney both finding the target with good scores.

But Tubberclair's midfield pairing then began to get on top. Paul Keegan's attempt for a point came back off the post and Ruairí Dolan was there to finish the rebound to the net.

Taylor Slevin then showed the range with a superb free from distance and Dolan added a long-range free to keep it highly competitive. Both sides traded scores, but Moate's use of the ball was just that bit more efficient heading to the break. At half-time, Moate led 1-11 to 2-4.

After the resumption, Tubberclair came out fired up, determined not to surrender their title without a fight. They matched Moate in every department around the middle third, won more breaking balls and forced turnovers.

The problem was their shooting. The wides began to mount and, crucially, they left two clear goal opportunities behind them when a composed finish would have changed the complexion of the game. In knockout football, such misses can be fatal.

Moate, by contrast, were ruthless when chances came. Mackey, excellent throughout in terms of linking play, and Delaney led the way. Mackey's vision and work-rate gave Moate a platform, while Delaney's accuracy kept the scoreboard ticking.

Their third goal was the pick of the bunch - patient approach work by both Mackey and Delaney to draw the Tubberclair cover, before Robbie Costello arrived late to put the ball in the net from close range. A well-worked team goal that gave them breathing space.

Heading into the final quarter, Moate led 3-12 to 2-7 and looked to be cruising towards a semi-final meeting with Mullingar Shamrocks. But Tubberclair refused to fold and showed exactly why they were champions last year. Full of character, they threw everything forward.

Slevin, their best player on the day, made a barnstorming solo run straight through the heart of the Moate defence and after being hauled down, the ball broke to Seán Whittaker, who finished to the net for their third goal.

Slevin kicked a monster two-pointer and his midfield partner Ruairi Dolan added a score and suddenly it was 3-13 to 3-11 in the 55th minute. The small crowd in Mount Temple sensed an unlikely comeback.

This is where big players stand up, and Darragh Delaney delivered. What followed was the Delaney show. With Tubberclair pressing forward and leaving gaps, the full-forward kicked the last four scores of the game - two from play and two from placed balls under serious pressure - to see out the win and close the door on any revival.

With the score 3-17 to 3-11 and the clock in the red, a speculative ball into the square from Paul Keegan deceived everyone and ended up in the net. But it was too little, too late.

For Moate it is a deserved semi-final berth and they will now meet Mullingar Shamrocks in Springfield next Sunday, November 15 (throw-in 11.30am). They were more balanced, more efficient, and had match-winners in Mackey and Delaney when it counted.

For Tubberclair, there will be regrets about what might have been with a full hand to pick from, but they can be no complaints about character. They left everything out there.

Player of the match: Darragh Delaney (Moate All Whites). Sean Mackey had an excellent game, but Delaney got the scores to win the game. Taylor Slevin was best for Tubberclair.

Talking point: Verbal abuse directed at referee Vinny Cox was out of order. Drafted in only hours before throw-in with no neutral umpires or linesmen, he was left to officiate a high-stakes championship game on his own. Mistakes were made and there is human error in every walk of life, but he could not be in two places at once on the pitch.

Scorers – Moate: D Delaney 1-9 (1f, 1 45); R Costello 1-1; T Heavin 1-0; S Mackey and K Egan 0-2 each; H Niall (f), P McDonald (45) and A King Carroll 0-1 each. Tubberclair: R Dolan 1-4 (0-2f); S O’Neill, S Whittaker and P Keegan 1-1 each; T Slevin 0-4 (1tp, 1 45).

Moate All Whites - Peter McDonald; Aaron Claffey, Cian Whitney, Oran Finlay; Anthony King Carroll, Aodhan Curran, Senan Gilroy; Kian Egan, Billy Stenson; Tadhg Heavin, Hagan Niall, Sean Mackey; Adam McKenna, Darragh Delaney, Robbie Costello. Sub used: Jack Lappin.

Tubberclair - Peter Bourke; Jack O’Donnell, Matthew Lynch, Jack O’Shea; Sean Keegan, James Pettit, James Connaughton; Taylor Slevin, Ruairi Dolan; Odhran Mitchell, Paul Keegan, Tiernan Mitchell; Sean Whittaker, Sean O’Neill, Louis Clayburn. Sub used: Stephen O’Connor.

Referee - Vinny Cox (Rosemount).