Louth GAA club | Westerns complete remarkable comeback for place in JFC semi-final

There was late drama in Hunterstown as the Westerns completed a remarkable late comeback to seal a place in the semi finals of the Louth GAA Junior Championship with this one point victory over the O’Connells.

With 55 minutes on the clock, this appeared a hugely unlikely scenario, as the O’Connells led by seven points, and were in control of proceedings, having won 16 out of 26 on the Westerns’ kickout.

But the Westerns scored 1-5 down the home straight to secure a dramatic victory, which was sealed by a late two pointer from that man again Tommy Durnin, as he sent a left foot shoot over the bar outside the arc to give the Westerns the lead for the first time since the opening quarter, sparking jubilant celebrations from their supporters at full time.

It was the Westerns who made early impressions on the scoreboard, having led by 0-3 to no score after 4 minutes, beginning with a delightful Killian Crosbie effort with the outside of his left foot, before Tommy Durnin converted a two pointed free.

Despite this, the O’Connells looked menacing early on in an opening quarter where they could have scored two goals.

Robert Quigley, who opened their account from play, sent a long ball into the square which saw Niall Conlon get a touch ahead of Westerns’ keeper Anthony Durnin, only to be cleared off the line by his colleague Joe Murphy.

Tommy Durnin fired over another two pointed free to leave the Westerns 0-5 to 0-1 to the good after 8 minutes.

Despite this, the O’Connells were still dominant in the middle sector, winning 8 out of 13 on the Westerns’ kickout, with Sean Cairns, and Cailum Woods, aided by a support cast of Harry Kierans, Evan Kearney, Conor Culligan, Emmet Byrne and Adam Flynn in this area.

They did punish the Westerns for some sloppy passing and handling, scoring 0-7 in that first half from turnovers.

Such scores included back to back Robert Quigley frees, including one from outside the arc, leaving his side just a point in arrears after 14 minutes.

A slick move through the hands, involving Kearney, Culligan and Conlon, saw the marauding Justin Cooney denied from close range by Anthony Durnin.

Another turnover in the middle area, saw Jackie Agnew equalise from play for his side, leaving the teams deadlocked at 0-5 apiece heading into the second quarter.

Niall Conlon and Robert Quigley (f) left the O’Connells two clear.

The Westerns responded through a white flag on the angle by Killian Crosbie, before the O’Connells grabbed three out of the next four scores to take a four point lead into the half time break.

The Westerns struggled to handle Robert Quigley, who converted another two pointed free, before firing over from play, off the back of a Westerns’ kickout and a move involving Harry Kierans.

That left the O’Connells 0-10 to 0-6 ahead in the 25th minute.

The Westerns did respond through the lively Oisin Drumgoole after combining with Jack Martin, before another Quigley free restored that four point lead for the O’Connells at the break.

Second Half:

Straight after the throw in, the Westerns closed the gap to three when Matthew Kane finished off a move involving Ciaran Scriven.

Following an Evan Kearney two point free, the Westerns asked a question of the O’Connells. When a toe poked effort from Jack Martin was blocked, the ball fell to Tom Maguire, whose shot squirmed under O’Connells’ keeper Bernard Osborne and into the net for a badly needed goal for the Westerns, closing the gap to two points.

Robert Quigley and Tom Maguire then traded scores, before more fine shooting from Quigley including another two pointed free, left the O’Connells five clear once again by the end of the third quarter at 0-17 to 1-9.

Despite hitting a number of disappointing wides, the O’Connells appeared to weather that Westerns’ storm, with Sam Shearman keeping a close eye on Jack Martin.

Oisin Drumgoole fired over two frees for the Westerns, either side of another two pointed free from Evan Kearney, keeping the O’Connells ahead by five.

The O’Connells continued to score from Westerns’ turnovers, with close range strikes from Jackie Agnew, Conor Culligan and sub Cian Doyle leaving the O’Connells with that seven point lead after 55 minutes.

It looked like the O’Connells were on their way to a third consecutive Junior Championship semi final.

However, momentum is such a key element of modern-day football, and the Westerns grabbed some when they needed it.

Following another Drumgoole free, the O’Connells could not get out of their half, as the Westerns won seven consecutive O’Connells kickouts, as Tommy Durnin and Tom Maguire came into their own, finishing with 21 and 17 possessions respectively.

A spectacular Maguire two pointer, was followed by a huge slice of luck for the Westerns. Sub Cathal Kennedy who impressed following his introduction, saw his attempt for a point from the right wing deceive O’Connells keeper, Bernard Osborne and find the net, to leave just two points between the sides approaching stoppage time. Prior to that, Osborne had impressed between the sticks for his side.

Oisin Drumgoole (f) left just one between the sides, before another O’Connells kickout led to Tommy Durnin, firing over a dramatic late two pointer to complete a stunning Westerns revival, sending them through to the JFC semi-finals in dramatic fashion.

Westerns: Anthony Durnin; Joe Murphy, Darragh Osbourne, Conor Smith; Killian Crosbie (0-2), Roan Gallagher, Mick Martin; Tommy Durnin (0-6) (2 tpfs), Matthew Kane (0-1); Finn Duffy, Ciaran Scriven, Emmet Smith; Jack Martin, Tom Maguire (1-3) (1 tp), Oisin Drumgoole (0-5) (4f).

Subs: Ryan Duffy for Emmet Smith (42), Cathal Kennedy (1-0) for Crosbie (42).

O’Connells: Bernard Osborne; Joshua Horwell, Jack McGeough, Sam Shearman; Emmet Byrne, Conor Culligan (0-1), Adam Flynn; Cailum Woods, Sean Cairns; Harry Kierans, Justin Cooney, Jackie Agnew (0-2); Niall Conlon (0-2), Robert Quigley (0-10) (2 tpfs), Evan Kearney (0-6) (3 tpfs).

Subs: Cian Doyle (0-1) for Kierans (54), James Walsh for Woods (60).

Referee: Stephen Murphy (Naomh Martin).