Inside Track: Championships had close finishes and good football

It was also nip and tuck coming towards the end in the under-18 decider, won by the combined forces of O’Connell’s and Stabannon Parnells, playing under the St Michael’s banner.

Neither of the replays was won from flag-fall to finish – in each of them the winner had to come from behind. And it was by putting in the storming finish that the other one was decided.

Let’s leave the racing jargon behind and identify the contestants and the games. Newtown Blues, who brought up senior win No 24, were caught close home in their drawn match with St Mochta’s, but in the replay found themselves needing two very late scores to get past their plucky rivals, seeking a first win in the competition.

Young Irelands have reason to curse their luck after all that happened to them in their two junior final outings with Naomh Finbarra. They had a substantial lead in each of the games, but couldn’t hold out.

The unavailability of two of their leading players due to dismissals in the drawn match, greatly damaged their chances the second day, but questions can still be asked over their failure to hold out.

Credit to Finbarra, howver. Their refusal to accept defeat as inevitable was decisive in both games

The better team on the day, Stabannon Parnells didn’t need a replay to get the better of St Bride’s in the intermediate final. Still, had they not kept their composure for the entire 60-plus, they wouldn’t have won.

Bride’s smelt victory as the clock began to wind down. They were just a point ahead, admittedly, but all they needed, it seemed, was for them was to keep control of the ball.

It didn’t happen. Charlie McBride, fresh from his minor championship win the previous week, won possession for Parnells and scored a two-pointer, putting his side marginally in front.

With their tails up, Parnells grabbed another score to increase their lead. Like their neighbours, St Mochta’s, the day before, Bride’s were left to reflect on what might have been.

Some thoughts on the championship season, its standard of play the best there’s been in a while:

Comebacks

There were many, in the preliminaries as well as the finals. Cooley Kickhams were 0-13 down at the interval in their round robin tie with Dreadnots, but fought back to reduce the margin to two points. That was enough to get them into the quarter-finals.

Newtown Blues won the final on the back of one, just as the defeated St Mochta’s did in their drawn final and against Dundalk Gaels at the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Top game

That meeting of Mochta’s and Gaels had everyone talking. It was fast and furious from start to finish and score for score until Gaels pulled six points clear inside the final quarter. Mochta’s showed their qualities by fighting back to win by two.

He had some cheek

That was Junior Shatayo in Seán O’Mahony’s intermediate quarter-final with St Kevin’s. Most penalties are blasted, or at least kicked with some strength. But not the one Junior took as O’Mahony’s fought to get back in the second half.

This was simplicity in itself, the Kevin’s goalie, having been sent the wrong way, was only able to look on as the ball trickled into the back of the net from a perfectly placed kick.

Twins

Dylan and Ryan Shevlin played their part in Stabannon’s intermediate win. They were repeating the feat of Oisin and Seán Murray, who were on the Gaels team that won the same competition two years ago.

Going further back, Mickey and Alan Rooney helped St Mary’s to a senior win in 1985. For good measure, the twins’ brothers, Gerry and Ken, were also involved in the win over St Patrick’s.

All-Stars

Three All-Stars played in the senior competition. Not among them was the injured Craig Lennon. Sam Mulroy and Dara McDonnell (honoured last Friday night) lined out for Naomh Mairtín, and former Tipperary player, Michael Quinlivan, played with Gaels.

Referees

They’ll get by, maybe even receive outside recognition, if they concentrate of refereeing games and not players and teams.

Controversy

A year never passes without it. Roche Emmets played Hunterstown Rovers in a senior relegation semi-final. When the sides finished level, the referee played extra-time, which ended with Roche ahead by a point.

Was the referee right or was he wrong to have extended the match? The issue was discussed at length by a number of committees, but when it seemed it might have to go the Court of Human Rights in The Hague, a verdict was reached: Roche keep their win.

Lose one, win one

Seán O’Mahony’s were beaten by St Patrick’s in a senior final in 2015, but bounced back to win the title – for the first time – 12 months later. Stabannon Parnells have done the same, atoning for last year’s defeat in the intermediate final to win it at the second successive attempt.

Programme

The programme for the drawn senior final was the best ever produced on the big day. Lots of information and features, and no shortage of phots.

Biggest surprise

Clear winners over St Mochta’s in their first round-robin tie, when a three-goal salvo in as many minutes, won it for them, St Mary’s were at near unbackable odds to beat neighbours Hunterstown Rovers next time out. The favourites were turned over.

Taking inspiration from Ryan Burns’ performance, Rovers were worthy of their win. That was the first sign that Mary’s weren’t on song. They had won the league, but failed to follow up it, losing their semi-final with Blues in the dying minutes.

Best player

Let’s go with Declan Byrne. No longer in the full flush of youth, the St Mochta’s player did more than anyone else to make it the Louth Village side’s year.

A prolific scorer in the league, he carried his best form into the championship, scoring from play as well as from placed-kicks.

One of the latter was audacity in itself, bringing the senior final to a replay. And he was again on the mark in the replay. Don’t bet on him not been again involved next season.