Inside Track: Another final decided in the dying minutes

Twenty-four hours earlier, there was that humdinger in Drogheda, Newtown Blues mugging St Mochta’s right on the line in a never-to-be-forgotten senior final replay.

The weather dictated that the Gaelic Park attendance would be sparse; but it was different at The Grove, a fine crowd turning up for the meeting of Stabannon Parnells and St Bride’s.

There was value for money here as well, with the game right in the melting pot until referee, Colm McCullough, called time. The final score showed Stabannon in front by 0-13 to 0-11, the mid-Louth side mounting a rally similar in ways to Newtown Blues’ the day before to claim the title for the first time since 1989.

Bride’s had victory in their sights, holding a one-point lead, with only minutes remaining. By then, Parnells had Charlie McBride in as a sub. This is the young man who top-scored for St Michael’s in a Minor championship final win the previous weekend.

He got five points then. This time he was two short of that total, but how valuable two of those points were to Parnells. Much less experienced than Ciarán Downey, but just as game, McBride went for a two pointer and got his reward. His side were now in front.

There was still time for Conor Clinton to add another point, and now two clear, Parnells had just to guard their goals, while at the same time not give Bride’s the chance of kicking from outside the arc.

Stabannon have had their ups and downs since the Fiachra Bell-captained side beat Seán McDermott’s in the final of 37 years ago. Without question the high points were the four Senior championships of the 1990s. When that side faded, however, there was a relegation to intermediate and a further drop to junior.

Signs of a revival were there for all to see in recent years. With more luck, last year’s team could have won the Séamus Flood Cup, instead of falling to a narrow defeat to Hunterstown Rovers in the final.

Now, while Hunterstown are heading back to the second tier’s championship following their loss to Naomh Mairtín on Sunday last, Stabannon are back among the elite, eligible to compete for the Joe Ward Cup, which they were first winners of, in 1949.

Seán Reynolds has been with the county seniors for the past few years, and is likely to be on Gavin Devlin’s next panel. He could be joined by other club colleagues, Harry Butterly among them.

This young man, with a strong Parnells’ pedigree, had a fine game on Sunday, but it was Colm Giggins who deservedly got the man-of-the-match award.

County player, Kieran McArdle, tried all he knew to give Bride’s a second title in six years. He came in with four points, matching the return of another player to don the county jersey, Seán Marry.

Their offering, and that of their colleagues, looked as if it would carry the day. That was until McBride, and then Clinton, made their marks on the scorebard.