Gorry goals sink Tubberclair as Kinnegad men take title

Coralstown-Kinnegad 2-7 Tubberclair 0-8

By John Dingle

Two late goals from substitute Aidan Gorry steered Coralstown-Kinnegad to victory in the Westmeath Junior B football final last Sunday afternoon.

Tubberclair enjoyed home advantage for the decider and a brave display from Gerry Walker's team fell just short of creating a surprise against the pre-match favourites.

A low scoring opening half was evenly contested with no more than two points between the teams at any stage. Tubberclair opted to start playing with the wind but the elements made little difference to the outcome.

Oisín O’Meara put the hosts in front with a free kick from the right after six minutes. Robbie Curley doubled the lead when popping over a point after initially claiming a mark. The visitors opened their account after 13 minutes through centre-forward Ronan Foley, while a further point from Jack Cole a minute later had the teams on level terms.

O’Meara put Tubberclair back in front as the game headed into the second quarter but parity was soon restored when Ciaran Daly pointed. Coralstown-Kinnegad enjoyed lots of possession but could not make it tell on the scoreboard. Eight wides in the half did not help their cause and Tubberclair, in contrast, were only off target on two occasions. A free from the left from Curley put the home team ahead but Coralstown- Kinnegad had the last score of the half after 28 minutes. A point from Dan Leech left it all square at the break at four points apiece with no obvious winner emerging.

There was again little difference between the teams when play resumed with the Kinnegad men only sealing victory late on. Tubberclair fell behind for the first time when Foley sent over a point two minutes into the second half. The lead did not last for long though as Curley fired over another free. A free at the other end from Jack Cole put Kinnegad back in front but it proved to be the visitors' last score for 13 minutes.

Tubberclair tried to take advantage during this period but were up against it in terms of physique and power as they looked to regain their composure. Nevertheless, Walker's men popped over two more points to lead by one heading into the last quarter.

O’Meara and Conor Elliott fired over good points to leave it 0-7 to 0-6. A Jack Cole free again levelled matters with extra-time always a possibility as neither team took control of proceedings.

As the game headed towards the final moments, the outcome was still very much in doubt. Significantly, Coralstown-Kinnegad improved their shooting in the second half as they halved their number of wides. The raising of the green flag was needed, however, to finally shake off a brave Tubberclair team. The hosts were living on limited possession but were only shaken off late on.

The men in red and white only made one change in personnel over the hour but it proved to be a crucial one. Having waited for the opportunity, former Kilbeggan Shamrocks player Aidan Gorry joined the action for the closing stages in place of Leech and was soon celebrating a goal with his first touch which arrived in the penultimate minute.

Fergal Dardis played a high ball in and Gorry got the better of Simon Fagan in the home goal to raise the first green flag of this final. In such a close encounter, a goal was always going to be crucial and so it proved.

Tubberclair had mounted a serious challenge and, as the game headed into the second additional minute, they still had hope and a free kick afforded them a chance to try for a goal. A three-pointer remained out of each but Charlie Kennedy got a touch in a crowded goalmouth to reduce the deficit to two points. The ball could easily have ended up in the net on another day.

There was no late drama as Tubberclair had now completed their scoring. Instead, Coralstown-Kinnegad struck again to raise their second green flag. In the third additional minute, Jack Cole set up Gorry and, amazingly, the sub was again celebrating a goal to leave it at 2-7 to 0-8.

Despite having played for less than ten minutes, Gorry still ended up as top scorer in an amazing finale. It completed the action in a decider that was a lot closer than the final scoreline would indicate.

Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall then presented the cup to joint captains Dardis and Gorry as the curtain came down on the 2023 football campaign with silverware for Coralstown-Kinnegad.

SCORERS – Coralstown-Kinnegad: A Gorry 2-0; J Cole 0-3 (2 frees); R Foley 0-2; C Daly and D Leech 0-1 each. Tubberclair: O O’Meara (1f) and R Curley (2f) 0-3 each; C Elliott and C Kennedy 0-1 each.

Coralstown-Kinnegad: Damian Molloy; Jack Quinn, Brian McGrath, Michael Leonard; John Kiernan, Jason Macken, Luke Lacey; Stephen Bracken, Ciaran Daly; Rory Cole, Ronan Foley, Paddy Leydon; Fergal Dardis, Jack Cole, Dan Leech. Sub: Aidan Gorry for Leech (57 mins).

Tubberclair: Simon Fagan; Cian Kenny, Michael Byrne, Kyle Fagan; Peadar Dolan, Niall Walker, Sean McGrane; Kevin Claffey, Charlie Kennedy; Finn Duffy, Conor Reid, Joseph Martin; Oisín O’Meara, Robbie Curley, Conor Elliott. Subs: Matthew Whittaker for Martin (half-time); Aaron Brady for Kenny (55 mins); Luke Maleady for Duffy (57).

Referee: Declan Nugent (Maryland).