Better-balanced St. Michael's edge out gallant Bunbrosna side

Despite the wintry conditions, St. Michael's and Bunbrosna served up an entertaining Westmeath minor football Division 3 final at St. Loman's Lakepoint Park, with the combination side proving to be worthy champions over the hour.They say that 'goals win games' and St. Michael's ability to raise green flags at crucial junctures ultimately proved crucial. Ironically, their third three-pointer midway through the second half came in a counterattack directly after Bun were very unlucky not to find the net at the other end of the pitch. Such turnarounds often decide matches but, in the overall analysis, the better side triumphed.A crossfield wind threatened to spoil the game, but the commitment of both sides ensured a decent spectacle for the hardy souls present. St. Michael's were never headed and they took the lead in the second minute when Stephen Boylan's goalbound shot was tipped over the bar by Bun goalkeeper Mark Wilson. The winners could have been awarded a couple of close-range frees in the next few passages of play, but they eventually doubled their advantage in the eighth minute with a fine point from 25 metres from Tommy Doyle. Kenny Lord was involved a couple of times in the move that ended with him shooting St. Michael's third point in the 11th minute. Within a minute, the blue and whites opened their account, Barry O'Meara slotting over a 25-metre free.The losers' netminder, Mark Wilson then had to pull off a smart save with his legs from Robert Cooney, before Bunbrosna had another let-off when Stephen Boylan blazed the ball high and wide when a goal looked likely. Bun were not immune to missed chances themselves, while Barry O'Meara was unlucky to see his shot come back off the upright. With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Kenny Lord tapped over a routine free for St. Michael's. It got even better for the green and golds when Tommy Doyle was alert to a knockdown from Stephen Boylan and the rangy forward planted a great left-footed shot in the back of the net. Shane Moran did well in the St. Michael's goal to keep out Barry O'Meara's low shot, but the same player made amends with a converted free in the 30th minute. In the last action of the first moiety, Paudie Maher was wide with a goal attempt for Bun, leaving the half-time score reading: St. Michael's 1-4 Bunbrosna 0-2.Within three minutes of the restart, Bun had reduced the margin to just a goal, with a brace of outstanding points from Barry O'Meara and Richard O'Neill respectively. However, the winners struck for a second goal in the seventh minute, Mark Coyne smashing the ball to the net after reacting the quickest when his a shot from his team-mate Glen Flynn came back off the upright. Bun's response was immediate, Barry O'Meara setting up Corey Doherty whose shot seemed to hit the St. Michael's net almost in slow motion. In the tenth minute, Bun's Emmet Brennan kicked a lovely point from 30 metres, but this was soon cancelled out by a delightfully-curled shot from Stephen Boylan.Midway through the half, an overlapping Ronan Scally was very unlucky to see his venomous shot come back off the St. Michael's crossbar and a swift counterattack by the winners ended with Tommy Doyle burying the ball in the Bun net, to put his side ahead by 3-5 to 1-5. With extra space available, as is often the case in 13-a-side games, the goals continued to come thick and fast. Barry O'Meara found the St. Michael's net from 15 metres to leave his side trailing by a single goal with ten minutes of normal time remaining. Within a minute, Mark Coyne registered his second three-pointer, the ball cannoning off Mark Wilson's legs en route to the net. A first-time pull from Paudie Maher, an opportunist flicked effort by Corey Doherty and a pointed free from Barry O'Meara left Bun three points in arrears with three minutes left. However, try as they might the Bunbrosna lads could not reduce the margin further and a composed point from Stephen Boylan ensured victory for St. Michael's in the first minute of injury-time.St. Michael's: Shane Moran; Aaron Leahy, Stephen Sullivan; David Higgins, Shane Fagan, Robert Cooney; Glen Flynn, Mark Coyne (2-0); Aidan Daniels, Stephen Boylan (0-3), Alan Fitzsimons; Keny Lord (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Tommy Doyle (2-1). Subs: Paddy Cheevers (for Lord, 43 mins), Michael Connors (for Cooney, 49 mins), Emmet Corrigan (for Sullivan, 57 mins).Bunbrosna: Mark Wilson; Michael Connell, Michael Cox; Richard O'Neill (0-1), Ronan Scally, Kieran Yourell; Conor Lyons, Liam Walsh; Shane McGovern, Barry O'Meara (1-4, 0-3 from frees), Paudie Maher (0-1); Corey Doherty (1-1), Emmet Brennan (0-1). Subs: Gerard McGovern (for O'Neill, 44 mins), Ciaran Walsh (for Brennan, 55 mins).Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).Footnote. After the match, the chairman of the Westmeath GAA Minor Board, John Weir presented the winners' shield to St. Michael's captain Mark Coyne.