Drumbaragh Emmets 1-07  St.Vincents /Curraha 0-08

A strong second-half showing led by Jake Madden and Jack McCormack was the difference as Drumbargh Emmets edged St.Vincents /Curraha to claim the U19 FC Div. 5 title at a howling Paddy O'Brien Park. PHOTOS

Storm Darragh played havoc with that weekend's fixture list but credit to both clubs, and to our host Navan O'Mahonys, it was game on! Drumbaragh had the "wind" advantage in the first-half, but it was St.Vincents' danger-man Michael McIvor, who chalked the first score of the contest with a free. Jack McCormack replied with a free of his own in the 3rd minute to level things with both sides struggling with the conditions. 

Drumbaragh grappled to take the initiative with a turbulent wind at their backs. McIvor and Madden traded blows early on with a free apiece. This game was going to be a tight one. Referee Ian Dowdall was busy with the whistle, as pitch conditions worsened underfoot. St.Vincents /Curraha stretched ahead 0-05 to 0-02 with frees from Matthew Tuite (17mins, 22mins) and McIvor (21mins). It was all going the South Meath men's way until County minor Jake Madden hit top gear. 

Madden finished a brilliant team move linking up with Shea McManus and Darragh Brennan before finishing from a distance. The score coming from a Carl McGovern turnover deep in his own half. He raised another white flag within seconds, after he fielded the resultant kickout from his previous score! Madden would level things in added time after Brennan was pulled down as he was about to get his shot away. The sides level at the break, five points apiece.

Drumbaragh's running game suited facing a stiff wind in the second half, but they failed to convert three gilt-edge goal chances. resulting in a barren third-quarter for both sides. To make things worse, the Kells side lost captain and All-Ireland winning minor Jake Balfe for a second yellow ten minutes into the second-half. 

The Drums now playing against the elements with a man down. However, their persistence finally paid off, raising the only green flag of the game on 44 minutes, thanks to Jack McCormack being in the right place at the right time as the opposition failed to deal with a high ball. Madden extended his side's lead to four two moments later - the pendulum now swinging in Drumbaragh's favour.

As in the first half, scores were at a premium, as both sides defensive units stood firm. Jack Galligan, Evan DeMange, Luke Quinn, Max Chang, Tom Tracey, and Carl McGovern excelled for Drumbaragh, keeping a formidable St.Vincents/Curraha attack at bay for large parts of the game. 

The midfield battle ebbed and flowed, Shea McManus Tomás Doogan arm-wrestled with their St.Vincents /Curraha counterparts Mylo Hussey and John Dardis throughout as they covered every square inch of the Paddy O'Brien Park.

Credit to St.Vincents/Curraha, they battled on, McIvor converting another free with seven minutes left to play. A nervous energy surrounded the Navan venue, with both sides guilty of some poor decision-making with the finishing line in sight. Madden and McCormack teamed up yet again to find our own Storm Darragh (Brennan) in space to restore his side's four-point advantage. 

In a game of few chances, it looked as though Drumbaragh may have done enough, only for St.Vincents/Curraha to rally once more with Drumbaragh opting to sit deep, resulting in two points in as many minutes, the latter being their first point from play. A two points lead is always a dangerous lead, and with the clock deep into added-time St.Vincent's/Curraha were awarded a penalty to the disbelief of the water-tight Drums' rearguard. Suddenly, it was St.Vincent's /Curraha's title to lose. 

The season came down to this moment. Matthew Tuite v James Jordan. The talented Tuite with last kick of the game. Jordan dives to his right. Tuite's effort rolls inches wide of the post. A puff of the cheeks of Jordan - who had been immense in goal for Drumbaragh all campaign - followed by wild celebrations. The Drums hold on to claim the honours.

On receiving the cup from Meath GAA's Brian Carberry, Jake Balfe thanked "a team of leaders on the field" and "the team of leaders off it," namley manager John Madden, Hank Traynor, Brian Forde, Vincent Tracey and Barry Monaghan.

Drumbaragh Emmets would like to thank the aforementioned John Madden for his years of work with this group underage, culminating in 25 players lining out for the newly crowned U19 champions. A club in rude health. A club on the rise. 

Drumbaragh Emmets - James Jordan, Jack Galligan, Luke Griffin, Max Chang, Adam O'Brien, Carl McGovern, Tom Tracey, Evan DeMange, Tomás Doogan, Shea McManus, Darragh Brennan (0-01), Jack McCormack (1-01), Jacob Flood-Norton, Jake Madden (0-05), Jake Balfe. 

Subs - Scott Lynch for Tracey, Rory Quann for Flood-Norton, Cameron Feehan for Brennan.

St.Vincents /Curraha - Tadgh Tuite, Mark Mahon, Cian Heagney, Eoghan Burke, Dylan Rowland, Shane Caffery, Conor O Brien, Mylo Hussey, John Dardis, Micheal McIvor (0-04), Shane Andrews, Matthew Tuite (0-03), Kevin O'Connor, Jared Roche, Adam Andrews. 

Subs - Kevin Doyle (0-01)

Referee – Ian Dowdall (Bective)

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