St. Michaels / Nobber 1-15, Blackhall Gaels 4-05                                              

A dramatic late point from Conal O'Sullivan secured victory for the north Meath combination of St. Michaels and Nobber in the Group 7 final played under perfect conditions in Grangegoddan Kells on Monday morning.  It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Blackhall Gaels lads in what was an epic encounter. 

St. Michaels / Nobber started the game in emphatic fashion as straight from the throw-in midfielder Declan Reilly won the ball and went through the Blackhall defence to rifle the ball over the black spot after just 13 seconds, not quite as fast as Jack O'Connor's effort in 9.5 seconds for Meath the previous day.  

Conall O'Sullivan posted a further three minors on the trot before Ryan Gaffney finished off a fine up-field move with a point of his own for a five point advantage after only 8 minutes play. 

Blackhall Gaels responded straight away with their opening goal which sailed into the back of the net without having been touched from a free from 40m out, game on. Ben Forte pulled off a mighty save three minutes later to prevent Blackhall from cutting the deficit further. However a further 1-1 from Blackhall put them a point to the good at the end of the first quarter following another minor from play from Declan Reilly. 

Blackhall posted their third major on 20 minutes but this was soon followed by a fine Conor Owens effort from play to reduce the deficit to three points, Rowland O'Reilly punished some slack defensive work from the Gaels side to leave just two points between the sides, Owens made it a one point game soon after but again the Gaels replied with only their second point of the match with 27 minutes on the clock. It was left to Garóid O'Malley to sent over the final score of the half to leave his side trailing by the minimum, 0-10 to 3-2 at the break.  

 The first job half time substitute 'keeper Josh Carolan had to do 60 seconds into the new half was to face up to a penalty kick which Blackhall duly put past him for a four point lead.

The St. Michaels / Nobber lads regrouped after the frantic opening half and with Luke Kelliher, Cian O'Loughlin, Evan Nelson, Cathal Walsh, Jack Griffin and Ryan Gaffney mopping up everything that came their way in the winners defence the Blackhall Gaels lads went the next 20 minutes scoreless while the combination side chipped away at the deficit with points from Reilly and Owens to leave just a point between the sides on 46 minutes, Blackhall made it a two point margin again before a brilliant three man move by substitutes Omokorede Otubango and CJ Lynch put Fionn Murray through on goal and he duly rattled the net for a one point lead. Conor Owens made that a two point lead but two quick fire points from Blackhall levelled the match with a minute of normal time remaining. You could feel the tension in the air in Grangegodden but as the clock ticked towards the second minute of injury time up popped Conal O'Sullivan and calmness personified split the posts for the winning point much to the delight of his team mates and the large support present. 
Credit must go to both sides as all players played their hearts out and represented their clubs with immense pride. Well done lads. 

St. Michaels / Nobber team and scorers: Ben Forte; Luke Kelliher, Cian O'Loughlin, Evan Nelson; Cathal Walsh, Jack Griffin, Ryan Gaffney (0-1); Declan Reilly (0-3), Conor Owens (0-5); Conal O'Sullivan (0-4), Matt Moriarty, Fionn Murray (1-0); Rowland O'Reilly (0-1), Garóid O'Malley (0-1), Evan Sheridan.   
Subs: Josh Carolan for Forte, Omokorede Otubango for Sheridan, C.J. Lynch for O'Reilly, Leon McGovern for Nelson, 

Referee: Paul Mooney. 

Report by: Pascal Reilly St. Michaels PRO.

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