Carnaross 0-16 St Patricks 0-11

Carnaross emerged victorious in this Premier 9 Football Championship final after a hard-fought battle against St. Patricks. The game was won in the third quarter with 7 unanswered points ensuring the Eddie Callan cup was heading back over the river Blackwater. PHOTOS

Carnaross exploded out of the blocks in the immaculately presented Páirc Tailteann with Dermot McGee registering the first score after he was ably assisted by Adam Kerins. Adam lined out in midfield in his first year of adult football, while his father, Dean, roamed the sidelines as part of the management. Decky Reilly opened his account with a deft finish before the men from Stamullen awoke from their slumber. They notched up 4 points without response with their full forward looking especially dangerous.  The hoops responded well with Decky Reilly adding two quickfire points. It was great to see Decky back playing ball after he solemnly swore off football last year , prioritising the golf course instead. Killian Porter kept the scoreboard ticking over after an excellent Cillian Comaskey delivery before St Pats missed two glorious goal scoring opportunities. The first, Carnaross had the width of the post to thank, for keeping the O’Neills size 5 out. The second, a combination of Peter Farrelly and Paul Mooney, the ref, to thank when the Pats full forward was bundled to the ground but play was waved on.  Not to be perturbed, the men in green ventured into the lead with the next 2 points.  The North Meath men responded well and finished the half out the stronger with Reilly and McGee converting chances from play. The corner backs, Muldoon and Smith, gained the upper hand on their opponents nulifying the Pats’ attack. The final score of the half went to the joint captain, Oisín Farrelly. Amazingly Oisín had the distinction of playing alongside his father, Ollie, in the earlier stages of the competition, such is the joy of the Premier Divisions.  At half time, Carnaross held a slender 2 point advantage, but the game could’ve changed drastically if either of Pats’ goal chances were converted.

The second half began in a similar vein when Oisín Farrelly doubled his tally before Pats spurned a glorious goal chance. After a bouncing ball evaded the Carnaross rearguard, the Pats attacker hit the post, despite the goals being unattended. This let off for Carnaross sparked them into action. The youthful halfback line of Lynch, Farnan and Odhran Farrelly began to dictate proceedings. Kerins and Shane Yore picked up numerous breaks around the middle which laid the platform for the forwards to attack at will. Dermot converted a long range free before his neighbor, Killian Porter, scored his second of the day. Decky Reilly was unlucky to see his goal-bound effort bounce off the crossbar before his rebound crashed back off the post, much to his dismay. McGee kicked another minor before St Pats brought on their reinforcements. Pats inevitably hit a purple patch but only converted 3 chances out of 7 shots in the next 10 minutes. Dermot broke the Pats momentum with a fine score from play. With time running out, the men from Stamullen needed a goal but Carnaross sweeper keeper, Ollie Murphy, directed proceedings expertly  ensuring his sheet remained well and truly clean. The two scorers in chief, Dermot and Decky notched another point each before referee Paul Mooney blew the final whistle. Carnaross deserved their victory but Pats were unfortunate, but never threw in the towel, admirably died with their boots on and were magnanimous in defeat.

It was a joyous day for the Carnaross club and parish with many reasons to celebrate.

 It was most definitely a family affair with no less than 5 sets of brothers lining out throughout the campaign (Cillian, Eamonn and Brian Comaskey, Shane and Colin Yore, Thomas and Paddy Nugent, Dermot and John L McGee, Darragh and Shane O’Reilly). 

We also had two father and son combinations between playing and managing (Adam and Dean Kerins, Oisín and Ollie Farrelly). 

It was a day to remember for Ollie Murphy, Patrick Fox and Brian Comaskey. 30 years previously in 1993, these 3 great men, lined out for St. Ciaran’s minor team (Moynalty/Carnaross amalgamation) beating St Colmcilles in the very same venue, Páirc Tailteann on a scoreline of 2-11 to 1-9. 

The team consisted of 5 squad members who are still in secondary school, two secondary school teachers and 5 members of the squad who haven’t been in school in well over 25 years, the perfect concoction for any second team.

Amazingly, Carnaross lifted the Eddie Callan cup back in 2019. Matthew O’Reilly was captain that day when Dunderry were defeated 1-11 to 1-08 in the B League Division 4 final. With the B League disbanded and merged into the Premier Championship, the Eddie Callan cup is back in Páirc Naomh Chiarán. 

Carnaross: Ollie Murphy, Matthew Muldoon, Cormac O’Reilly, Peter Farrelly, Aidan Lynch, Paddy Farnan, Odhran Farrelly, Adam Kerins, Cillian Comaskey, Shane Yore, Dermot McGee(0-6), Paddy Nugent, Oisín Farrelly (0-2), Killian Porter (0-2), Declan Reilly (0-6). 

Subs: Paddy Smith for Cormac O’Reilly, Brian Comaskey for Paddy Smith, Peter Mullan for Cillian Comaskey, Conor Kenny, Paul Donoghue, Patrick Yore, Colin Yore, Eamonn Comaskey, Matthew O’Reilly, Callum Brady. Tadgh Skelly.

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