St Dominic's lose out in exciting decider to St Croan's bridge

A twenty-year barren spell was finally broken by St. Croan's at Dr Hyde Park as they became the holders of the Jamesie Murray Cup when securing a hard-earned victory over 2007 intermediate champions St. Dominic's. It was certainly a dream come true for St Croan's manager Sean Tarmey, who also masterminded their 1989 Intermediate Championship success over St. Aidan's and, while reasonably impressive performances were achieved in their path to Sunday's decider, further improvement was vital for a final showdown with a St. Dominic's squad who had tasted senior championship fare just twelve months ago. Undoubtedly, Malachy Gately's, Knockcroghery charges desired a quick return to senior football, having been relegated just a year after bridging a twelve year spell in Intermediate football when defeating Michael Glavey's in the 2007 decider at Athleague. Group success was achieved with a win over Eire Óg and draw against Kilglass Gaels, and an easy quarter-final win over Shannon Gaels was followed by another victory against Eire Óg in the semi-finals. Against this background, the 800 or so attendance looked forward to a battle royal in Sunday's decider, and they would not be disappointed. Conditions could not have been better for this latest meeting between these keen rivals in brilliant sunshine at a headquarters rarely looking better and where the wind had little or no effect. Croan's lined out as selected while Dominic's made no fewer then eight positioned changes from the team listed on the programme. Padraig Naughton (full-back), Adrian Brennan (midfield) and Arthur Beades (left half-forward) did not start with Niall Naughton (captain), Daniel Byrne and Tomás Gilleran subsequently introduced in a myriad of consequential switches. The tenor of subsequent exchanges was set from the off with Croan's on the mark within the opening minute as full-forward Shane Lannon pointed from play. Hard tackles were the order of the day as Dominic's equalised in the third minute when the excellent Aidan Weir stormed upfield from centre-back to fire over a superb point. More of the same, this time form Croan's wing back Eamonn Towey, quickly followed, as the former inter-county player sent straight and true over the bar. The frantic early pace was maintained when Weir again drew the free, punished with aplomb by the accurate book of midfielder Michael Finneran (6th minute). A lovely forward movement, featuring Anthony Donnelly, Liam Murphy and Ultan Kelly saw Kelly shoot the Dom's into the lead (12th minute). The attendance were enjoying every minute of it as play swung from end to end in a thrilling encounter, with Croan's again levelling (15th minute) per Martin Towey, placed by Brian Mullen who was proving linkman and provider par-excellence from his corner-forward berth. It took a brilliant block from the deep-defending midfielder, Kieran Hunt, to prevent a certain Mullen goal, but Shane Lannon scored his second point to give Croan's the lead again, on 17 minutes. Both sides then exchanged wides before Conor Fallon (free) tied the contest (21st min) for the third time. But with Aidan Kelly (full-back) and Aidan Weir (centre-back) excelling in the Croan's and Dominic's rearguards respectively, we now entered a scoreless spell. A foul on Kieran Hunt was punished by Conor Fallon to edge the Knockcroghery men ahead, but Croan's were full of resilience with Martin Towey on hand to tie up the final for the fourth time (29th minute). So far, we had no goals in this decider, but all that would change on the stroke of 30 minutes when a high centre from corner-forward Robbie Keenan was fielded magnificently by the lurking Brian Mullen near the edge of the square, who turned his marker to drive an unstoppable missile to the Dominic's net. This score sent the Ballintubber/Ballymore side to their dressing rooms at the interval ahead by 1-5 to 0-5, and it would ultimately prove the difference between the protagonists at the denouement. Opportunities were missed by both teams on the resumption but it was a revitalised Dominic's who proceeded to take total control for the ensuing ten minutes. Croan's goalie Vincent Egan made a fine interception from a probing Michael Finneran centre, but centre-forward Conor Fallon struck a purple patch when lofting over a trio of points (2 frees) including a fabulous effort, after midfielder Liam Murray sent the no. 11 on the way. Once again the teams were deadlocked, but first when it seemed that Dominic's were launching a match winning salvo, back came Croan's with renewed resilience. After referee Ollie Kelly penalised goalie Mark Miley, Thomas Mockler registered Croan's first score of the second moiety (41st minute free), and with Brian Mullen continuing to put the strings in a now revitalised attack, Sean Tarmey's men surged forward. Centre-forward Ronan Collins hit the upright but Shane Lannon pointed in follow-up play and, predictably, it was the towering Mullen who broke the ball to the on-form Lannon for the full-forward's fourth point (45th minute). Dominic's lifted the siege four minutes later when Michael Finneran had what was arguably the score of the match with a superlative point, from all of 60 metres, but they would not score again. Croan's battened down the hatches in defence, but Dominic's wide count would increase to ten before full-time as they found it impossible to again breach the Ballintubber bastion. Brian Mullen would once more, emerge playmaker par excellence as he placed impressive sub Gregory Grogan for Croan's last score and that three point buffer (52nd minute). Conor Fallon forced a fruitless '45' for Dominic's but the goal they required to take the game to a reply didn't materialise, and it was a jubilant Croan's who finally ended that twenty year famine to take the Jamesie Murray Cup. And so, St. Croan's return to the SFC after a long absence and, on the day, deservedly so. They turned in one of their best performances for years on Sunday, with stars especially in goalie Vincent Egan, defenders Cathal Finan, Aidan Kelly and Eamonn Towey, midfielder James Connaughton with Shane Lannon, Brian Mullen and Martin Towey making it happen up front. St. Dominic's contributed hugely to make this a pulsating final, but can have few complaints about the eventual outcome. They could not shake off their opponents tenacity, but had superb performers in Aidan Weir, Paul Dolan, Michael Finneran, Liam Murray, Conor Fallon and Niall Naughton at various stages of the hour. St. Croan's: Vincent Egan, Cathal Finan, Aidan Kelly (capt.), John Hester, Eamonn Towey (0-1), Declan Lannon, Tommy Garvey, James Connaughton, Gerard Mockler, Thomas Mockler (0-1f), Ronan Collins, Martin Towey (0-2), Robbie Keenan, Shane Lannon (0-4), Brian Mullen (1-0). Subs: Gregory Grogan (0-1) for Collins (36); Joseph Towey for Garvey (57). St. Dominic's: Mark Miley, Anthony Naughton, Niall Byrne, Ian Naughton, Paul Dolan, Aidan Weir (0-1), Niall Naughton (capt.), Michael Finneran (0-2, 1f), Kieran Hunt, Liam Murray, Conor Fallon (0-5, 4f), Daniel Byrne, Anthony Donnelly, Ultan Kelly (0-1), Tomás Gilleran. Subs: Arthur Beades for D Byrne (24), Andrew Grady for I Naughton (31), Seamus McKeon for Gilleran (48); Padraig Naughton for A Naughton (51). Referee: Ollie Kelly (St. Faithleach's), who issued six yellow cards, four to St. Croan's, during a teak-tough, but sporting encounter.