On fire Oates the hero as Gaels edge out

The more things change, the more they remain the same. This truism aptly summed up County Final day at Dr. Hyde Park, where the 2008 champions once again showed resilience and perseverance par excellence by retaining their respective Minor and Senior football crowns. Roscommon Gaels, by virtue of a tour-dé-force display by their marauding full-forward Scott Oates, ensured that the Division 1 MFC title remained in the county capital for the second successive year, while it was surely a case of the old dog for the hard road, as Castlerea St. Kevin's brought back the Fahey Cup to the West Roscommon town, as they had done in 2008, with a richly meritorious win over a fancied Western Gaels outfit. While neither decider at a somewhat overcast HQ will live long in the memories of those present, this fact will not matter one bit to newly-crowned champions who have, once again, successfully thrown down the gauntlet to all-comers in 2009. Pádraig Pearses turned in a superb performance in their semi-final last Sunday evening week, travelling to Kiltoom and coming away with eleven points to spare over St. Brigid's, never an easy task bearding the Kiltoom/Cam Lion in its Newpark den. Although now facing a Gaels fifteen who had overcome Castlerea St. Kevin's and last year's unlucky finalists, St. Ciaran's, en route, the Woodmount lads entered 'the Hyde' justifiably confident of dethroning the holders and regaining a title they last won in 2007. Such aspirations appeared to be well on-course at the end of an overall disappointing, stop-start, opening half of Sunday's final at which stage they led by 1-3 to 0-5, despite playing into a stiffish breeze. Alas, an early second-half blitz by David Kelly's town team which realised an unanswered 1-2, set the scene for ultimate Gaels' success. Another goal from the reigning champions, five minutes from the end, opened up a six-point gap. And while three late pointed Pearses frees, courtesy of Aaron Fehilly, cut arrears to a goal, time ran out for the South County lads as referee Michael Brennan's long whistle signalled a second successive title for Roscommon Gaels. Despite the fact that, up to five minutes from the end, never more than four points separated the protagonists at any stage, this final for long periods lacked the championship intensity required to realise the thrilling contest many had anticipated between these fine sides. Exchanges were often of a stop-start nature and the game, as a whole, spluttered and stalled like a malfunctioning engine. Consequently the smallish attendance present, in ideal playing conditions, rarely got into full voice. Gaels undoubtedly had the best player on view in full-forward Scott Oates, who, particularly in the second half, turned this final irrevocably in his side's favour with a dazzling display of marksmanship. He finished the hour with a person tally of 1-6, all but two points from play and, just like the 2008 final against St. Ciaran's, he was chief architect of this win. In a defence whose full-back trio held their opposite numbers scoreless over the hour, team captain Kevin Maher (operating at full-back from the start), David Hughes, the excellent John McManus (son of long-time Roscommon star Tony McManus) and Pádraig Feeney (who drifted between midfield and half-back) played crucial roles in repulsing many Pearses raids. Midfielders Cillian Egan, in particular, and James O'Gara won much primary possession against the strong Pearses duo, while in a sector where four of their starting forwards scored from play, the talismanic Oates received top-class support from Mark Gilleran (1st half), goalscorer Darren Coyne and Cian Connolly. Pearses battled bravely throughout, but were not as slick or coherently effective as they had been against Brigid's a week earlier. Impressing in attack early on they would then go 20 minutes of the opening half without raising a flag. They recovered well from that early second-half Gaels surge to again make it a 1-point game. But, although wind-assisted, they just couldn't get their noses in front before further Gaels scores closed out the game. They were best served in a defence put under serious pressure especially in the second half by Niall and Conor Daly - both of whom scored from half-back - Stephen McManus and Shane Dolan, with goalie Eóghan Clogher also clearing his lines to effect on occasions. Pádraig Corbett and Éamon Donoghue got in some good work in the centre of the park. But the attack found the going tough in the extreme against close-marking opposition. However, David Cullen was very impressive, his goal of the highest order, and team captain Aaron Fehilly, with 6 points, was his team's top scorer, though he was off target late in the opening half with some scorable frees. Midfielder Cillian Egan had wind-aided Gaels a point ahead in the opening minute. But it was Pearses who responded superbly with a Conor Daly point (10th minute) and they were then boosted with a brilliant David Cullen goal, following fine approach work by Aaron Fehilly. Back came Gaels with a brace of Scott Oates points (1 free) and a 19th minute point from Mark Gilleran. Pearses utilised corner-forward Shane Mulvey as defensive sweeper, but Pádraig Feeney did the approach work for another Gaels point from Gilleran. Pearses, having gone 20 minutes without a score, got back into scoring business (31st minute) with a smart David Cullen point, with Aaron Fehilly's (34th min) delightful point giving Pearses a slender one-point lead (1-3 to 0-5) at half-time. An unusual triple substitution was made by Gaels at half-time, who resumed with all guns blazing. Another two Scott Oates (1 free) points ensued, the now rampant Oates combining with Mark Gilleran and Darren Coyle to fire home a smashing goal (35th minute), thus opening up a 4-point Gaels lead. Pearses, managed by Pat Daly, Michael Fehilly and John Corbett, responded superbly to this onslaught and, with Stephen McManus making a series of tremendous blocks in defence, had points at the other end from Conor Daly and Aaron Fehilly (2), to make it a 1-point game. Gaels, however, came again and another 1-3, per a Darren Coyle goal with points from Cian Connolly and Oates (2), as against a Niall Daly point for Pearses, left the margin at six points. With time now running out, the Reds needed goals to at least force a draw, and while they had a late trio of Aaron Fehilly pointed frees, the Gaels were still 3 points in front at the conclusion. After the game, Roscommon Gaels team captain Kevin Maher received the championship cup. SCORERS - Roscommon Gaels: S Oates (1-6, 0-2f), D Coyle (1-0), M Gilleran (0-2), C Egan (0-1), C Connolly (0-1). Pádraig Pearses: A Fehilly (0-6, 4f), D Cullen (1-1), C Daly (0-2), N Daly (0-1). Roscommon Gaels: Craig Simpson, Kevin Maher (capt), Pádraig Feeney, David Shannon, Michael Coll, John McManus, David Hughes, James O'Gara, Cillian Egan, Darren Coyle, Mark Gilleran, Cian Connolly, Daniel Hoare, Scott Oates, Enda Lannon. Subs: Triple substitution at half-time: Mark Healy, Mark McCourt and Niall Hunt for E Lannon, M Coll and D Hoare. Pádraig Pearses: Eóghan Clogher, Stephen McManus, Anthony Butler, Shane Dolan, Mike Kinirons, Niall Daly, Conor Daly, Pádraig Corbett, Éamon Donoghue, David Cullen, Aaron Fehilly (capt), Shane Carty, Niall Tumulty, Shane Blackweir, Shane Mulvey. Subs: James Kelly for S Carty (35); Alan Mannion for S Blackweir (44); Evan Kelly for N Tumulty (57). Referee: Michael Brennan (Boyle).