Having lost two of the last three JFC finals, St Vincent's clinched their maiden title with a minimum margin win over Dunsany at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday. 

St Vincent's ...... 1-4
Dunsany ...........0-6

St Vincent were following in the footsteps of the Ardcath club who were champions in this grade in 1948

The outcome was tough on Dunsany whose final quarter rally saw just come up short again. Their wait for the Peter McDermott Cup goes on.

Dunsany looked a beaten docket when they trailed by 0-2 to 1-2 at half-time having played with the strong blustery wind in the first-half. Such conditions can be difficult to capitalise on, as St Vincent's showed in the second-half.

As the wind lessened in strength and the rain eased in the second-half, a lifeline was thrown to Dunsany. Five points and a man down (following the 38th minute black carding of Eoin Harkin, it seemed the curtain had come down on the team resplendent in navy and red.

Four points down with 56 minutes gone, with St Vincent's lead threatened by their own mistakes, Dunsany persisted and posted three points from the 57th minute, two Shane Walshe frees to go along with sub Rian Kealy's effort.

Dunsany can feel a tad aggrieved as referee Kieran Olwell appeared to call time before the four added minutes had elapsed.

Dunsany opened with the strong blustery wind at their backs but it proved difficult to capitalise on. Mark Brennan had them in front in the second minute from a 45-metre effort. Shane Walshe added to their tally in the fourth minute but there were no further scores before the first water break.

Dunsany posted five wides in the opening quarter while the Ardcath-side had two.

Ardcath resumed with two points in quick succession. First, team captain Ryan Hand had them on the scoreboard before Eric Callaghan's 19th minute free levelled matters for the first time.

The same player passed up a chance to put the Ardcath-side in front from a 21st minute free but his effort into the wind was wide.

Mark Crawley made a great block on Mark Brennan's point attempt. By half-time Dunsany had six wides to St Vincent's three.

Then in the third minute of added time, a pivotal moment. Gary Tuite's delivery was fielded by Paddy Arnold who off loaded the leather to Eric Callaghan who fired to the net.

That left it 1-2 to 0-2 at the break, with Hugh Durrigan's men in the driving seat for the first time.

Even with the wind at their backs, St Vincent's found it difficult to add to their tally in the second-half. Two pointed Nigel Hand frees moved them five clear by the 38th minute.

St Vincent's failed to add to their tally thereafter, taking bad options to leave the door ajar for Dunsany. Four points from the 44th minute wasn't enough to earn a first JFC title.

Scorers: St Vincent's - Eric Callaghan 1-1; Nigel Hand 0-2 (fs); Ryan Hand 0-1.
Dunsany - Shane Walshe 0-3 (2fs); Rian Kealy, Mark Brennan, Pierre Fox 0-1 each.

St Vincent's - Evan Connor; Ciaran Brangan, Davy Tallon, Mark Crawley; Gary Tuite, Ryan Hand (C), Conor Harford; Jack Byrne, Martin Fox; Robert Tallon, Eric Callaghan, Leo Corry; Eoghan Corry, Paddy Arnold, Nigel Hand. Subs - John Corry for Brangan (30 + 1), Stefan O'Neill for J Byrne (49), Thomas Field for R Tallon (49),Robert Lynch for Callaghan (59)

Dunsany - Niall Flynn; Patrick Dunne, Joey Keena (C), Pauric Burke; Conor Harkin, Charlie O'Donnell, Declan Smyth; Eoin Harkin, Shane Brennan; David Boyle, Cathal Murphy, Kyle Donnelly; Pierre Fox, Mark Brennan, Shane Walshe. Subs - Alan Kelly for Brennan (ht), Rian Kealy for K Donnelly (ht), Alexander Smyth for C Harkin (42), Daniel Thynne for Murphy (42), Cathal Burke for Shane Brennan (57),

Referee - Kieran Olwell (Moynalty)

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