Coralstown-Kinnegad 1-8

Caulry 0-10

Coralstown-Kinnegad secured back-to-back U19 Football Championship Division 1 crowns by the minimum winning margin against newcomers Caulry at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.

Podge Quinn grabbed the vital score which helped Coralstown-Kinnegad retain the Darren Price Memorial Cup as a sweeping team move led to the midfielder finishing to the net for the game's only goal on 22 minutes. Not for the first time this season, Callum Cruise came up trumps for the holders, kicking four fabulous points, two either side of half-time.

Coralstown-Kinnegad were also spurred on by the superb defensive capabilities of Alex Ajeigbe, Brian McGrath and Michael Leonard, while the Cole brothers, Jack and Rory, got through a mountain of work around the middle third. However, from Stephen McNevin in goal, to corner-forwards Eoghan Kelly and Jason Macken, this was an excellent all-round team performance from the winners.

Both teams enjoyed generous amounts of possession throughout an entertaining encounter played in heavy conditions, although scores were hard to come by early on, and the opening point didn’t arrive until the 12th minute when Caulry dangerman Senan Baker curled over from play. But it was the only time they led as Cruise got his side off the mark with a supreme score and Kelly followed up with another for Coralstown-Kinnegad before Quinn blasted the ball home to make it 1-2 to 0-1.

The Mount Temple-Baylin outfit appeared undaunted and reduced the deficit to one thanks to unanswered efforts by Baker (two frees) and Oisin Shortall, the real turning point arriving just before the break when McNevin was quick off his line to deny a certain goal. Straight up at the other end, no. 14 Cruise showed the Caulry defence a clean pair of heels, giving the reigning champions a two-point cushion (1-3 to 0-4) going into the dressing rooms.

Paul Leacy's charges moved five ahead by registering the first three points of the second-half, Cruise split the uprights twice - the second from play after selling his opponent a beautiful dummy - and the lively Liam Daly then added his name to the scoresheet. But back came Caulry again, two scores each for substitute Aaron Murphy and Baker between the 42nd and 47th minutes had the game finely poised at 1-6 to 0-8.

Donnacha Fleming floated over a lovely point from a tight angle to stem the tide, only for Baker to reply with his fourth placed ball. With five minutes of normal time left on the clock, Shortall was sent off on a black card, having already received a yellow.

The resultant free from Cruise came back off the post and Brían Cooney reacted quickest to put two between the teams once more. Heading into three minutes of injury-time, centre-forward Cooney had a glorious chance to sink Caulry, but his blistering shot cannoned back off the crossbar after goalkeeper Conor Hynes dealt with Daly's initial attempt.

Caulry tore downfield for Baker to convert another free, but Coralstown-Kinnegad held possession and their nerve in the closing stages. Afterwards, Westmeath county board assistant secretary Brendan Shaw presented the silverware to joint-captains Luke Leacy and Jack Cole.

Coralstown-Kinnegad - Stephen McNevin; Jack Quinn, Michael Leonard, Alex Ajeigbe; Luke Leacy, Brian McGrath, Donnacha Fleming (0-1); Podge Quinn (1-0), Liam Daly (0-1); Rory Cole, Brían Cooney (0-1), Jack Cole; Eoghan Kelly (0-1), Callum Cruise (0-4, 1f), Jason Macken. Sub: Eimhin Whelan for Kelly.

Caulry - Conor Hynes; Alan Lynam, Tom Cloonan, Adam Doyle; Brendan McCormack, Tadhg Baker, Harry Stuart Trainor; Sean Murphy, Shane Lawless; Tiernan O’Donovan, Senan Baker (0-7, 5f), Oisin Shortall (0-1); Alan Malynn, Paul Hogan, James Buckley. Subs: Aaron Murphy (0-2) for Buckley, Cormac Murphy for Doyle.

Referee - Brendan Keena (Ballynacargy).

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