Clonard/Ballinabrackey 1-18 Kilmainhamwood 1-14

On a cold winter evening in Dunganny our under 19 lads once again proved their ability and character with a hard-fought win over Kilmainhamwood in this championship decider played on a surprisingly good surface in Meath GAA’s centre of excellence.

Both teams had eased their way to the final appearance knowing this was going to be a very different challenge to what they had faced in the group stages and semi-finals.

Kilmainhamwood won the toss and chose to play with the wind towards the dressing room end, and it was immediately evident that their tactical plan was to take full advantage of the elements in the first half as they kicked a fine two pointer with only a minute on the clock.

Dean Carroll responded for Clonard/Bracks with an excellent score from play to get his side on the scoreboard, then Dylan Duignan popped over a free, followed by an Eoghan Monahan run and point from play as the lead was reversed with 6 minutes played, three points to two. It was already apparent that this was going to be entertaining affair.

The North Meath side responded and showed their long-range kicking ability with a further double of fine two pointers from their midfielder Milo Stafford, a name synonymous with Kilmainhamwood and sharp shooting. His scores sandwiched a well taken point from Clonard’s corner forward Evan Foran who was causing his marker all sorts of turmoil with his excellent runs.

The midfield duo of Kian Campbell and Ryan Scott were now getting on top and winning plenty of aerial possession from kickouts at both ends of the field, and then contributing on the scoreboard as Campbell finished off a great team move with a tidy finish from play off his left foot. Joint captain Ben Monahan then also raised a white flag from play.

Kilmainhamwood didn’t buckle as they made the most of frees awarded with accurate kicking and seemed to take opttimism from a couple of missed goal chances by the amalgamation side as Evan Foran rattled the post and crossbar and Dean Carroll shot too close to the ‘Wood goalkeeper which saw it tipped over the bar. Suddenly, the ‘Wood were five points up with five minutes remaining of the half as they looked to and take even more from the wind advantage by the half time break.

But this Clonard/Bracks side once again showed it’s mettle and determination by shooting the last 3 scores of the half against the wind, from the boots of Duignan, Carroll, and Foran. The half time whistle sounded and there was just two points between these two very good sides, Kilmainhamwood 0-11, Clonard/Ballinabrackey 0-9.

The second half got underway and almost immediately full forward Dylan Duignan pointed the first score with another effort from a placed ball which was followed by a Kayden Plunkett left footed point from play which saw the sides level again, 35 minutes were gone.

Kilmainhamwood heads didn’t drop and they worked the ball up the field via their lively forwards, when a speculative pointed effort held up in the wind and wasn’t dealt with by the Clonard/Ballinabrackey full back line, who did appear to recover well as full back Darragh Browne dispossessed his opponent only to hear the referee’s whistle sounding and see his arms outstretched. A penalty to Kilmainhamwood which they duly dispatched past Ben Gilsenan to lead by a goal.

Almost to script, Clonard/Bracks responded predictably, after another well worked move down the field, inittiated by great defensive play from Paddy Fitzpatrick and Niall McHugh, a sign of the great work been done on the training field by team management, which resulted in a long fist pass by Kian Campbell which found the grateful arms of Dean Carroll who dispatched brilliantly to the top corner to provide the perfect response. The sides were level again.

The amalgamation side now had their heads up and were dominating possession, but some wides and misplaced passes meant it wasn’t being seen on the scoreboard. Then Kayden Plunkett added his second point of the game and Evan Foran added his third, the latter punching the air in jubilation as the sideline responded with loud applause. The South Meath side smelled blood. Two further scores followed from placed balls as Duignan added his fourth from the hands, and Campbell added his second, this time from a ‘45.

Kilmainhamwood’s only response was a pointed free, while Clonard/Bracks further dominant midfield possession resulted in a brilliant Ryan Scott point from play and an excellently taken score from the lively Bradley Begley who was sprung from the bench in very timely fashion.

As the clock ticked down Kilmainhamwood’s only and last response was their fourth two pointer of the game but Clonard/Ballinabrackey had already done enough to deservedly finish as county champions on a final scoreline of Clonard/Ballinabrackey 1-18 Kilmainhamwood 1-14.

County Chairman and Clonard member Jason Plunkett presented the cup to joint captains Niall McHugh and Ben Monahon to rapturous applause from parents and supporters with thanks expressed to competition sponsors Coolrite Refrigeration.

Huge congratulations to this team who have bonded so well from the two clubs, forging strong friendships and having several family connections in the team, so typical of small rural clubs, none more so than the Browne brothers, Scott brothers, Campbell brothers, Monahan cousins, and the Duignan/Hannon cousins.

This team has excelled on the pitch under the excellent stewardship of bainisteoir Enda Leonard and his management team of Eoin Treacy, Nicky Judge, Padraig Condon, David Campbell, and Dean Pluck.

Achieving the status of county champions is a fully justified reward for the excellent work done both on and off the training field by Enda and his team. Thanks also to team sponsor SME Group who provided post-game pizzas to the players on their return home.

This was a performance that bodes well for the future of both clubs, with several of the younger players adding an U19 title to previous titles at U15 (2022) and U17 (2024) level. Bring on 2026.

Clonard: Ben Gilsenan, Ciaran Browne, Darragh Browne, Paddy Fitzpatrick, Eoghan Monaghan (0-1), Niall McHugh, Shane Walsh-Oxley, Kian Campbell (0-2, 0-1f), Ryan Scott (0-1), Kayden Plunkett (0-2), Ben Monahan (0-1), Aaron Sco􀆩, Dean Carroll (1-2), Dylan Duignan (0-5, 0-4f), Evan Foran (0-3 0-1f).

Subs: Bradley Begley (0-1), Daniel Johns, Daniel Ward, Alan Hannon, Fiachra Smith, Darragh Kirrane, Charlie Campbell, Jimmy Patrizi, Jack Lynch, Charlie O’Donnell (inj.), Kevin Whyte (inj.), Oisin Walker(inj.).

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