Joy for Inny Shamrocks in Division 3 final
Westmeath Féile Peil na nÓg Division 3 final
Inny Shamrocks 2-7
St Mary's Rochfortbridge 1-6
The Westmeath Féile Peil na nÓg Division 3 decider was won by Inny Shamrocks, after a great tussle with St Mary's Rochfortbridge, at sunny TEG Cusack Park on Sunday, with all of the 16 scores coming from play.
The victors (a combination of Ballynacargy and Bunbrosna) led by 1-3 to 0-4 at half-time, following a fifth minute goal by the outstanding Tristan Boyce Jordan, whose relentless running from midfield was a feature of this entertaining final. Inny Shamrocks were five points clear after seven minutes, but a storming finish to the half by St Mary's brought them right back into contention.
Darragh Hanley's point in the 15th minute left just a solitary score between the teams, but Aidan Heduvan's neat point ensured the combination side held a very useful two-point advantage at the interval.
KEENLY CONTESTED
Again, it was Inny Shamrocks' superior start that saw them eke out a commanding lead when play resumed: Boyce Jordan's great run led to the opening point of the half while he exchanged passes with Liam Óg Maxwell before finishing to the net. Then his pass set up Finn Maher for a neat left-footed point to leave it 2-5 to 0-4 after just three minutes.
Niall Byrne Cleary's opportunistic finish gave St Mary's Rochfortbridge the goal they needed as they fought back in spirited fashion, making this a keenly contested second half. Their resurgence gathered momentum and they proceeded to add a brace of points; when Harry Tone notched his third of the day, just a goal separated the teams (2-6 to 1-6) with eight minutes remaining.
Ultimately, Inny Shamrocks were stronger and they defended tenaciously in the closing stages when Rochfortbridge came in search of the second goal. Heduvan's late point put the seal on a deserved victory and afterwards, Barry Kelly, Coiste na nÓg chairman, presented the trophy to Matthew Molloy, captain of the Inny Shamrocks side.
SCORERS - Inny Shamrocks: T Boyce Jordan 2-2, F Maher and A Heduvan 0-2 each, L Óg Maxwell 0-1. St Mary's Rochfortbridge: N O'Byrne Cleary 1-1, H Tone 0-3, D Hanley and L Gavin 0-1 each.
INNY SHAMROCKS - Jack Keena; John Lyons, Jack Atkins, Greg Penrose; Fionn Leslie, Matthew Molloy, Ben Forde; Tristan Boyce Jordan, Motiejus Racinkas; Sean Mahon, Cathal Keena, Liam Óg Maxwell; Leo Penrose, Finn Maher, James Connolly. Subs used: Oisín Keena, Aidan Heduvan, Aidan Keane, Mikey Lenehan, Peadar Baird.
ST MARY'S ROCHFORTBRIDGE - Liam Brogan; Robbie Mulvin, Padraig Keogh, Leigh Gunning; Colm Ford, Mikey Henry, Cathal Tone; Aidan Keogh, Harry Tone; Gavin Conroy, Darragh Hanley, Mikolaj Koper; Dylan Dowling, Larry Gavin, Ruairi Keogh. Subs used: Conor Byrne, Joe Connolly, Niall O'Byrne Cleary.
REF - Michael Moran (Killucan).