It was a final like no other, one that brought all the hype and a generous amount of entertainment to the huge crowd who descended into Masterson Park to see Last year’s Junior B champions take on this year’s JFC favourites play it out in the Tailteann Cup Final. A fascinating final which saw the sides level pegging throughout, from full time to extra time and it was penalties that would decide the winner.

St. Vincents got the home crowd warmed up with a foul on Adam Tuite giving St. Vincents an early penalty opportunity. It was Ryan Hand who stepped up and  hit the back of the Slane net to give the hosts the early lead in the fourth minute. Slane’s kickout was won by Michael McIvor in the middle of the pitch who made a solo run though the field to hit his first point from play. Both teams worked hard but failed to take their chances, racking up the wides for a small period. A great break through by McIvor was stopped as he was fouled but he converted the free to push the home side 1-02 to no score. Slane pushed hard but the Ardcath men played well throughout the field keeping them at bay. Another Slane kickout fell into the arms of Barry O’Sullivan who made a great run forward, however his well sought for point was denied by the upright.

Not too long after Slane were refused a goal opportunity with a great save from Evan Connor resulting in a Slane ‘45. This was to be the visitors opening score of the match as the Slane goalkeeper struck the ‘45 between the posts in the 20th minute. Slane followed with the next score of the game with a point from play. A further Slane kickout gathered by St. Vincent’s saw Gary Tuite run direct at the Slane defence much to their supporter’s dismay to kick another point from play. But they were not to be put down and Slane fought back to kick their last point of the first half from play. St. Vincent’s finished the first half defending well and working tightly together, a foul on Davy Tallon gave Gary Tuite reason to push the home side on kicking a well pointed free. 

Half Time: St. Vincents 1-04 Slane 0-03

St. Vincent’s quickly tallied up three wides in the opening minutes of the second half before Adam Tuite hit a great point from play in the 33rd minute. A foul from Paddy Arnold resulting in a black card allowed Slane to reduce the margin with a pointed free. A well kicked free from Nigel Hand in the 41st minute was quickly answered by Slane with a well-earned goal in the 43rd minute reducing the deficit to just two points with a scoreline of 1-06 to 1-04. It was evident from here that the visitors found determination to fight all the way. Nigel Hand brought it back to a three-point game not long before Slane responded with two points from play 1-07 to 1-06. St. Vincents chances of a goal were dismissed when Gary Tuite hit the ball wide across the Slane goal mouth. For the first time in the game Slane equalised in the 58th minute. St Vincents had one final chance to score but couldn’t find a way through as Martin Fox’s effort were denied by the upright and sent wide. It wasn’t to be, and Andrew Lenehan blew the full-time whistle in the 62nd minute. All level at full time, extra time now to be played.

Full Time : St Vincents 1-07 Slane 1-07

Extra time was going to be much of what had been seen in the opening 60 plus minutes with neither team prepared to leave without giving it their absolute all.  Back-to-back scores followed from each other. Slane putting two points on the score board, one from a mark and one from play. McIvor from the ’45 line hit the ball between the posts followed by another pointed free from Gary Tuite. After ten minutes there was still no separating the sides on the scoreboard, 1-09 to 1-09. Three unanswered points from St. Vincents was surely to be the ending but Slane were not out of hope. After Slane received a yellow card, St. Vincent’s defence stood open, and the visitors had only one item on the agenda. Slane kicked for goal, and it was the visitors who were cheering as the ball rattled the back of the net to bring the sides level once again, with now only one option to separate the teams. Penalties! 

Full Time AET: St. Vincents 1-12 Slane 2-09

Penalties: St Vincents 2 Slane 4

St. Vincents Scorers: Michael McIvor (0-04), Gary Tuite (0-04) Ryan Hand (1-00), Nigel Hand (0-02), Adam Tuite (0-01), Martin Fox (0-01)

St. Vincent’s: Evan Connor, Conor White, Davy Tallon, Mark Crawley, Barry O’Sullivan, Ryan Hand, Gary Tuite, Robert Tallon, Michael McIvor, Paddy Arnold, Conor O’Brien, Nigel Hand, Adam Tuite, Stefan O’Neill, Patrick McGill.

Subs: Conor Harford for Stefan O’Neill, Niall Tallon for Paddy Arnold, Martin Fox for Bob Tallon, Dylan Kavanagh for Patrick McGill, Kevin McEnerney for Dylan Kavanagh

 

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