Corbally seals it for Moate

Moate All Whites 0-13 Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-6

On a miserably cold Sunday afternoon last, the All Whites from Moate eventually brought some silverware south with a one-point win in TEG Cusack Park after virtually dominating the Westmeath JFC 2 final.

From the throw-in, they were the better side and probably had 65 to 70 percent of the play, but in the end they had to hang on as a defiant Kinnegad staged a remarkable late comeback to almost force the game into at least added time.

In truth, Moate would have been kicking themselves had they let this slip, but a late rally form the Reds almost stole the game. Indeed, if they had been a little bit cuter in front of goal, they might have stolen the title here.

However, Moate’s John Corbally struck the winner in the 57th minute, and it sealed what should have been a far comfortable success in the circumstances.

The game was a slow burner, and the biting cold and intermittent rain did not allow for a free-flowing encounter. It was Kinnegad who opened the scoring with a penalty goal conversion after Enda Leonard was hauled down in the square, and Aidan Gorry slotted to the net for a score against the run of play.

Moate almost equalised immediately, but Eoghan Curran saw his effort come back off the bar. Their persistence did bear fruit though when they levelled after 14 minutes with points from Conor Bracken, Reece Jones and Bracken again, all from play and all well-constructed.

Michael Leonard restored Kinnegad’s lead with a superb point from long range, but the Reds were under serious pressure thereafter as Corbally pointed a free and Darren Claffey put them ahead for the first time after a brilliant ball from Nicky Hamm.

Indeed, Hamm, Jonathan Rooney and Eoin Bracken in the Moate half back line were tremendous and stemmed any Kinnegad fightback, until Mark Gorman drew them level again after possibly their best move of the half.

Moate upped their game again and hit the next three with Corbally, Curran and Corbally again establishing a well-deserved three-point advantage again, and all from play.

But just at the short whistle, an Aidan Gorry free narrowed the gap, and it was the Whites who led 0-8 to 1-3 at the break.

That lead was down to the minimum when Gorry finished a super move with a well-taken point, but Corbally restored the two-point cushion with the best score of the game, as the intensity began to build.

Veteran Enda Leonard reduced it to the minimum again, and in truth could have netted, but Moate lifted themselves again and after two poor wides, Dylan Nulty, Bracken and Corbally hit three superb scores on the trot, and looked to have sealed the deal.

Coralstown/Kinnegad really needed a goal and Mark Gorman almost supplied it, but his effort went over rather than under the bar. Then the Reds lost centre back Alex Ajeigbe to a straight red card, and all hope seemed to have faded.

But in true never-say-die spirit, they were not for lying down and after Gorry’s effort for a point dropped short, wing back Sean Kenny latched onto it and fired a levelling goal with seven minutes to play.

That really should have been the catalyst that they needed, but it had the opposite effect, as Moate bit down on the collective gumshield, and Corbally marked his man of the match display with a superb winner.

The All Whites could have scored more in the dying minutes as the Kinnegad fight dissipated, and they held on for a win to the delight of their very large and vociferous following.

Man of the match: John Corbally (Moate All Whites). Luke Leacy, Paddy Leydon and the evergreen Mark Gorman stood out for the Kinnegad men, but Moate had outstanding stars in Nicky Hamm, Jonathan Rooney, Conor Bracken and James O’Brien. But Corbally just gets the nod ahead of Eoghan Curran for a six-point haul that more than saw his team home.

Scorers – Moate All Whites: J Corbally 0-6 (1f), C Bracken 0-3, R Jones, D Nulty, D Claffey and E Curran 0-1 each. Coralstown/Kinnegad: Aidan Gorry 1-2 (0-1f), S Kenny 1-0, M Gorman 0-2, M Leonard and E Leonard 0-1 each.

Moate All Whites: Owen Higgins; James O’Brien, Michael Henry, James Costello; Jonathan Rooney, Nicky Hamm, Eoin Bracken; Troy Bradley, Cathal O’Brien; Dylan Nulty, Reece Jones, Darren Claffey; John Corbally, Eoghan Curran, Conor Bracken. Subs: Sam Fannin for Claffey (39), Gareth Murray for Nulty (52).

Coralstown/Kinnegad: Damien Molloy; Jack Quinn, Brian McGrath, Michael Leonard; Sean Kenny, Alex Ajeigbe, Luke Leacy; Fergal Dardis, Nigel Boardman; Colin Kiernan, Mark Gorman, Paddy Leydon; Aidan Gorry, Enda Leonard, Eoghan Kelly. Subs: Jason Macken for Kiernan (39), Eimhinn Whelan for Kelly (52), Neill Carty for E Leonard (54).

Ref: Barry Nea (Killucan).