4th September 2011

Junior A Football Championship Final

Courcey Rovers 1-5 Ballygarvan 0-6
By Joe Kennefick
Courcey Rovers were crowned the Jonny's Return South East Junior A Football Champions for 2011, when they had a hard fought two point victory over Ballygarvan.
Played in Riverstick yesterday the winners laid the foundations for their victory with an early scoring burst that saw them lead 1-3 to no score after only eight minutes.
And while Ballygarvan dominated possession for the remainder of the game, they were well below their best and Courcey Rovers were deserving winners.
A punched goal in the second minute by Daire Lordan after he was set up by a devastating run from Simon Holland settled the winners, and points from Dan Lordan, Brian Hayes and Gavin Moloney put Courcey's in a strong position with the wind at their backs.
That they didn't score again in the first half was a testament to the improvement in the Ballygarvan performance, but too often their build up was laboured and the final ball into their forward line went astray. And when they did up the pace they could not find a way past a Courcey's defence that tackled hard and resolutely.
Courcey Rovers half Back line of Dan Lordan, Seamus Hayes and David Hayes were immense all through, while behind them Killian Moloney and goalkeeper Stephen Nyhan were confident and calm in clearing their lines.
After getting the run around early on, Ballygarvan settled and came into the game. Mark Kennefick had their first score in the 11th minute, when he fisted a Gary White free over the bar. The same player had a goal chance when he was played through by Ger Spillane in the 15th minute, but Seamus Hayes made a crucial block when Kennefick seemed certain to goal.
But both teams were finding chances hard to come by and Gary White pointed a free in the 28th minute to leave the half time score 1-3 to 0-2 in favour of Courcey Rovers.
Ballygarvan's tactic of playing a third midfielder seemed to come unstuck as Sheamus Hayes played the loose man to perfection and cleared an amount of ball. While upfront Simon Holland was a constant thorn in Ballygarvan's side.
The second half was tight and tense. Even though Ballygarvan had the wind at their backs, it was Courcey's again who made the better start.
Gavin Moloney pointed after Seamus Hayes won the ball in his own half in the 34th minute and three minutes later they went six points ahead after Simon Holland, whose pace caused Ballygarvan trouble throughout the game kicked a good point.
White pointed another free in the 40th minute as Ballygarvan and Ger Spillane in particular upped the tempo. But they found scores difficult to come by.
Kennefick and White kicked wides and Ger Spillane kicked an effort into Nyhan's hands as they failed to make their dominance count on the scoreboard.
They had goalkeeper Jack Murphy to thank for keeping them in the game as he made a good save from Shane Moloney after a move involving Holland and Gavin Moloney.
After 50 minutes Courcey's still led 1-5 to 0-3 and with Conor Ryan excelling at midfield they looked set for victory. Ballygarvan though had other ideas.
Sub Dave Murphy and White both pointed to leave just a goal between the teams, and when Tadgh Quilligan pointed in the 60th minute there was just two points between the teams.
Ballygarvan laid siege to the Courcey's goal. White had an effort that carried to Nyhan; Matthew O'Riordan then saw his goal bound effort stopped by Brian Hayes. Ger Spillane tried to cut through but was dispossessed and finally O'Riordan seemed to be pulled back as he tried to find the all important goal, but referee Ger Harrington spotted something and halted the game for a throw in, from which Courcey's cleared their lines and the final whistle blew to scenes of great joy from the men from Ballinaspittle.

Scorers for Courcey Rovers: Daire Lordan 1-0, G Moloney 0-2, B Hayes 0-1 (1f), Dan Lordan 0-1, S Holland 0-1.
Ballygarvan: G White 0-3 (2f), M Kennefick 0-1, D Murphy 0-1, T Quilligan 0-1.
COURCEY ROVERS: S Nyhan; C Duggan, K Moloney, J O'Regan; Dan Lordan, S Hayes, D Hayes; T Collins, C Ryan; G Moloney, B Hayes, S Lordan; J Duggan, Daire Lordan, S Holland. Subs: S Moloney for S Lordan (36), O Crowley for Daire Lordan (60).
BALLYGARVAN: J Murphy; J Browne, C O'Sullivan, J Barron; D McSweeney, D O'Sullivan, M O'Riordan; S O'Leary, D Stafford; P O'Sullivan, J Spillane, G Spillane; G White, K Ashman, M Kennefick. Subs: D Murphy for P O'Sullivan (38), T Quilligan for D Stafford (44), D McCarthy for J Spillane (44), A Murphy for S O'Leary (56).

Referee: Ger Harrington (Carrigaline).