Conor Burke’s tour de force in attack helped a gutsy Ennistymon Community School outfit book their place in the Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan Cup (Senior C Football) final.
Ennistymon Community School 1-13
St. Patrick’s Keady 2-6
Venue: St. Croan’s GAA Grounds
By Ivan Smyth
Conor Burke’s 1-10 helped Ennistymon Community School back up their Munster final success last week and book an All Ireland final berth as they came through an exciting All Ireland semi final against Armagh foe.
Ennistymon Community School appeared in a spot of bother after conceding 1-3 without reply to a St. Patrick’s Keady side who enjoyed the elements in the second half.
The Clare outfit had led 0-12 to 1-3 after 35 minutes but were held scoreless for the next 21 minutes as Liam Rafferty’s goal on the counter attack restored parity.
Tara Rynne’s side kicked four wides and dropped three efforts short in the opening half when enjoying a sizeable wind advantage. That almost proved costly after Rafferty’s pair of goals, with one arriving in each half. However, dogged defending helped Ennistymon Community School restrict the damage as they forced the Armagh side into difficult shots as St. Patrick’s Keady registered eight wides in the final period.
Burke kicked his side in front after a lovely reverse handpass from Colm Breen in the 56th minute as their opponents kicked two further wides and dropped an effort short in the closing stages. Ennistymon Community School saw Joshua Daniels produce a key block on Danny McGee to help preserve their lead.
Then in the 61st minute, Ennistymon Community School countered as Joe Concannon burst into space and teed up Burke, who slotted past John Flanagan in the St. Patrick’s Keady net to ensure Ennistymon Commumnity School advance to an All Ireland final.
With wind advantage in the first half, Ennistymon Community School knew they needed to build a strong lead at the interval. Despite Páidí Comiskey opening the scoring for St. Patrick’s Keady, Ennistymon Community School looked the more imposing outfit. Louis Griffin got the Munster champions off the mark while Burke soon stamped his authority on the game.
The full forward tormented the St. Patrick’s Keady defence in the first half as he kicked three fine scores in the opening quarter, two from play. The Armagh side crowded the middle third and dropped bodies deep as they sought to frustrate Ennistymon Community School while playing against the elements.
Olaf Kurowski was deemed to have been fouled for a penalty after fielding Sean Óg McNaughton’s probing delivery much to the dismay of Ennistymon Community School. Liam Rafferty stepped up and found the net to move the Ulster champions 1-2 to 0-4 in front.
Once more, Burke led the way as his side outscored St. Patrick’s Keady 0-6 to 0-1 in the second quarter. The full forward kicked five of those scores, two of which came from frees that he won himself. Joe Concannon also got in on the act after a brilliant cross field ball from Dominic Griffin.
A pair of late Burke scores helped Ennistymon Community School lead 0-10 to 1-3 at the interval although with the wind growing stronger, this was by no means a formality. Burke and Concannon pushed the gap out to six, the latter coming from a flowing team move. Despiute their slow start to the second half, St. Patrick’s Keady showed their threat when Seán Woods’ palm effort struck the base of the post.
Sean Óg McNaughton kicked two scores, the second a gorgeous effort from the outside of his right foot while Wood’s kick from just inside the 45m line made this a one score game. Ennistymon Community School thought they had daylight when Burke and Colm Breen combined to tee up Daniel Brody but the wing back’s punched effort was cleared off the line by the diving Darragh McKee.
Rafferty managed to net on the counter after being set up by Sean Óg McNaughton and just as it appeared their shot at All Ireland glory was slipping away, Burke’s late 1-1 helped Ennistymon Community School secure a dramatic triumph.
Scorers for Ennistymon Community School: Conor Burke (1-10, 0-3 frees), Joe Concannon (0-2), Louis Griffin (0-1).
Scorers for St. Patrick’s Keady: Liam Rafferty (2-0, 1-0 penalty), Sean Óg McNaughton (0-3), Seán Woods (0-2, 0-1 free), Páidí Comiskey (0-1).
Ennistymon Community School
1. Jack Gallagher (Ennistymon)
2. Niall Twomey (St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
3. Conor Rynne (Inagh Kilnamona)
4. Gavin Twomey (St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
15. Jack Cullinan (Inagh Kilnamona)
7. Louis Griffin (Ennistymon)
6. Alex Leyden (Inagh Kilnamona)
5. Daniel Brody (Ennistymon)
8. Colm Breen (Corofin)
9. Donncha O’Dwyer (St. Breckan’s)
17. Joe Concannon (Ennistymon)
11. Joshua Daniels (Kilmaley)
10. Dominic Griffin ((St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
13. Seanán Kirby (Corofin)
14. Conor Burke (Inagh Kilnamona)
Subs:
Jack Lavin (Ennistymon) for Kirby (42 mins),
Darragh McGroary (Corofin) for D. Griffin (54 mins),
Daniel Healy (Clann Lir) for G. Twomey (60 mins).
St. Patrick’s Keady:
1. John Flanagan (Castleblayney Faughs)
5. Tom Fox (Maghery)
2. Anthony Brady (Armagh Harps)
3. Daniel Cosgrove (Ballymacnab)
10. Darragh Geraghty (Keady Michael Dwyers)
4. Conor Mone (Keady Michael Dwyers)
6. Darragh McKee (Keady Michael Dwyers)
14. Seán Woods (Keady Michael Dwyers)
11. Jack Loughran (Keady Michael Dwyers)
8. Sean Óg McNaughton (Derrynoose)
15. Peter Keegan (Ballymacnab)
7. Páidí Comiskey (Madden Raparees)
13. Olaf Kurowski (Pearse Óg’s)
9. Liam Rafferty (Granemore)
20. Aaron Grimley (Madden Rapparees).
Subs:
Danny McGee (Keady Michael Dwyers) for Mone (21 mins),
James Hamilton (Derrynoose) for Grimley (37 mins),
Shea Farrell (Derrynoose) for Geraghty (48 mins),
Pauric Toal (Keady Michael Dwyers) for Fox (55 mins)
John McKee (Pearse Og’s) for Kurowski (61 mins).
Referee: Brendan Healy (Roscommon).
