|
|
Simonstown celebrated its 25th anniversary in style when capturing
the Junior championship at Cortown's expense in 1990.
Dermot O'Brien was manager and he was assisted by selectors Seamus
Heaney, John Lynch and Thomas Clynch
The following is the report of the game which appeared in the
Meath Chronicle:
Balanced Simonstown edge home in thriller
Simonstown Gaels
.2-10
Cortown
.1-10
North Navan was wild and wonderful last Sunday night as Simonstown
Gaels celebrated a magnificent Junior Football Championship victory
achieved in a thoroughly enjoyable final at Kells earlier in the
day.
And what a perfect year to make the big breakthrough at adult
level. The 25th anniversary party should be some occasion and
the future looks extremely bright with so much talent waiting
to join the current batch of players.
For Cortown it was another afternoon of bitter disappointment
at the final hurdle, but they didn't deserve to win against a
better-balanced Simonstown combination which played with tremendous
heart.
Some of the winners' players must have been dreaming (or having
nightmares) about Packie Henry in the run up to the big game.
How could he be stopped? Would he win the game on his own?
As it turned out Cortown often looked like a team which felt their
star performer should do everything. He tried to and almost succeeded,
but one man never won a game without adequate back up.
Magnificent
Once again he turned in a star performance and notched 1-8, to
bring his championship tally to a magnificent 3-62 from eight
championship outings. But such a remarkable statistic will be
of little consolation to Cortown or Henry as they reflect on what
might have been.
Simonstown were well prepared and performed far more efficiently
as a unit and this, in essence, sums up why they will be playing
Intermediate football next season. Their selectors must also take
a fair share of the credit. Their substitutions worked well and
the switching of Padraig Forde back to defence during the second
half was a master stroke.
Entertainment
It was a match which greatly enhanced the reputation of the junior
grade and the quality of entertainment was far superior to that
in the following senior semi-final. The pace was strong from the
start as the play flowed from end to end and it was clear right
from the outset that Simonstown had every right to be concerned
about the threat posed by Henry.
Gerry Hynes was given the unenviable task of attempting to mark
the Cortown flyer, but he had little success and Michael Byrne
was later switched onto him as the Gaels made a number of changes.
But Henry was a constant problem and he kicked seven of Cortown's
first half points as they retired with a slender 0-8 to 1-4 lead
after playing with the breeze.
Crucial
Forde played a crucial defensive role for the winners in the second
half and he did likewise in attack in the opening period when
he notched the goal which made their task that much more simple
after the break.
Cortown led by 0-3 to 0-2 when Forde struck with a spectacular
long-range drive in the eight minute following a Philip Traynor
pass and a move which was started by the always busy Les McAuley
in the half-back line.
The losers' only attacking ploy appeared to be to get the ball
into Henry any way they could and it was due to his ability to
gain possession and use it, plus some good work by cousin John,
that they managed to hold that narrow interval lead.
Some of Packie's scores were glorious efforts from difficult angles
and four of those seven first half points came from play. Trevor
Coyne was the only other player to score during this period.
Centre-forward Colm Keys, who did much of his work around midfield,
kicked three frees for Simonstown and McAuley notched the other
from play.
They might well have led at the break as Ronan McGrath hit the
crossbar when put clean through in the 21st minute and they were
also guilty of some wild and indecisive shooting.
They resumed with Keys and Colm Brady at midfield and Colm McDermott
on the forty and Brady's input in the second half had a decisive
bearing on the outcome. With Packie Henry's supply of ball limited
somewhat Cortown looked decidedly shaky and it was the Navan side
who made a storming opening to the second half.
Sullivan
Timmy Sullivan, enjoying his best game of the championship, drew
them level with a point and then linked up with Mick O'Riordan
for the second goal in the 37th minute. Traynor got the final
touch on the line.
Joey Rennicks and McAuley traded points, before Packie Henry produced
the outstanding piece of play over the hour to edge Cortown level
and set up a hectic last quarter.
Benny Sheridan delivered from the back and Henry gained posession,
outclassed three defenders and blasted past Graham Cooke for a
magnificent score which left the sides tied at 1-9 to 2-6.
Packie was less effective in the last quarter, however, as Simonstown
defended courageously, with Forde, Martin Wall, Mick Sweeney and
McGrath particularly effective.
Erratic
Henry notched the losers' final point with 14 minutes remaining,
in reply to a free from Keys seconds earlier. Overall Keys was
erratic from placed balls, but he still finished with a personal
tally of 0-5.
Brady set up McAuley for the lead point, but the big corner forward
should have netted, and less than a minute later substitue Paul
O'Brien made his presence felt when he stretched the advantage.
Brady's fitness told in the closing stages as he worked tirelessly
and Keys knocked over another free to practically assure victory.
Tempers flared somewhat in the closing stages and McAuley was
sent off in injury time by Joe Harlin.
It was an unfortunate finish to a splendid game in which Simonstown
had the better balance and Cortown once again discovered that
they put far too much pressure on one man. It was difficult not
to feel sorry for Packie Henry on Sunday evening.
County Board chairman Fintan Ginnity presented the Matthew Ginnity
Cup to Simonstown captain Colm Brady.
Simonstown Gaels - G Cooke; G Hynes, M Wall, M Byrne; G
Lally, M Sweeney, R McGrath; C Brady, C McDermott; P Forde (1-0),
C Keys (0-5), P Traynor (1-0); T Sullivan (0-1), M O'Riordan,
L McAuley (0-3). Subs - P Ward for Hynes, P O'Brien (0-1) for
Traynor.
Cortown - G Daly; P Murphy, L Keane, D Lynch; J Brady,
L Rennicks, B Sheridan; F Smith, J Henry; S Brady, C Smith, J
Rennicks (0-1); T Coyne (0-1), D Henry, P Henry (1-8). Subs -
V Keating for J Brady, F McFadden for D Henry.
Referee - Joe Harlin (St Patrick's)
|
CLUB NEWSLETTER
PLAYER PROFILES
ALL-WEATHER PITCHES