St Vincents 3-08 Clann na nGael 1-08

There were yellow and orange weather warnings for the weekend, but the prevailing colour in Ashbourne on Saturday night was maroon as St. Vincent’s booked their place in this year’s Junior Football Championship Final. 

A large crowd had gathered as referee Robbie Barrett got proceedings underway. St. Vincent’s broke the fastest with Gary Tuite striking the upright from the first play. Nigel Hand’s volley from the rebound was saved by the Clann na nGael keeper. Conor O’Brien broke from the St. Vincent’s half and found Nigel Hand with a lovely pass. Hand escaped two defenders to slot over the opening point of the game. Michael McIvor doubled the lead after Nigel Hand retrieved a ball right at the corner flag. The Athboy men got their first score of the night in the 9th minute following some good attacking play. Paddy Arnold had a chance to increase the lead in the 12th minute, but his shot was saved by the Athboy keeper, before being palmed away from the lurking Nigel Hand. Clann na nGael broke up field and drew level with a point from play. They got their noses in front, after patient build up play eventually broke through the robust defending from Ardcath, with a point from play. A long ball in from Michael McIvor at midfield found Nigel Hand and he duly fired over a point to draw the sides level again. Over the next few minutes both sides were wide of the mark in their shooting. Patrick McGill restored St. Vincent’s lead with a fisted point from play. Michael McIvor made it a 2-point lead when he fired over a free in the 21st minute. A high ball into the square from Paddy Arnold saw the Athboy keeper beat Nigel Hand to the ball to clear a goal chance. Clann na nGael broke at pace from this and a ball into the corner forward saw him beat his marker and finish to the back of the net to give the Athboy men the lead just when it looked like St. Vincent’s were in control. A well taken point in the 27th minute gave Clann na nGael a 2-point lead and would be the last score of an enthralling first half. 

Half Time, St Vincents 0-05 Clann na nGael 1-04

Clann na nGael started the second half brightly but their first effort was denied by Evan Connor in goal. The turning point in the game came the Clann na nGael centre half forward was black carded for a trip on Conor Harford after he had played the ball. Despite being a man down the Athboy men continued to attack at pace, but it was St. Vincent’s who registered the first score of the half. Nigel Hand firing over a lovely point from distance to leave 1 point between the sides. Clann na nGael regained their 2-point advantage with a point from play. Some great interplay from Niall Tallon and Conor Harford ended with a shot across goal from Niall Tallon, but the ever-present Nigel Hand gathered before firing St. Vincent’s into the lead with a well taken goal. Some excellent defending from Ryan Hand denied the Athboy men as they sought to get back on level terms. Evan Connor was on hand to snuff out another chance as Clann na nGael bore down on goal. A poor kickout from the Athboy keeper fell to Paddy Arnold. He lofted the ball into the unmarked Nigel Hand who, although initially denied by the keeper, made no mistake from the rebound as he found the back of the net for his second goal. Conor Harford pointed from play to put the Ardcath men 5 points to the good. Credit to Clann na nGael, they stuck at it and struck back with two pointed frees to leave the gap at 3 points. However, St. Vincent’s weren’t finished yet. A mazy run from Man of the Match Nigel Hand saw him float a ball into Stefan O’Neill at the edge of the square and he made no mistake in rattling the back of the net for St. Vincent’s third goal. Gary Tuite twisted and turned before firing over a point, despite the attentions of several Clann na nGael defenders. The final score of the game came as Clann na nGael pointed from play, but it would not be enough as St. Vincent’s registered a two goal victory in this hugely enjoyable semi-final. 

The Ardcath men now look forward to the final in Páirc Tailteann on 20th October at 12:00 where they face Dunsany, just as they did in the 2021 final.

St. Vincents scorers: Nigel Hand (2-03), Stefan O’Neill (1-00), Michael McIvor (0-02), Gary Tuite (0-01), Conor Harford, (0-01), Patrick McGill (0-01)

St Vincents: Evan Connor, Shane Caffrey, Davy Tallon, Mark Crawley, Conor Harford, Niall Tallon, Gary Tuite, Bob Tallon, Michael McIvor, Conor O’Brien, Jack Byrne, Paddy Arnold, Nigel Hand, Ryan Hand, Patrick McGill

Subs: Barry O’Sullivan for Shane Caffrey, Stefan O’Neill for Jack Byrne, Matthew Tuite for Patrick McGill, Andrew McEntee for Conor Harford, Martin Fox for Conor O’Brien

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