Junior football champions

Our supporters were singing in the rain after a dramatic Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 Football Championship final victory over St Loman’s at TEG Cusack Park last Saturday.

There were joyous scenes after Paul Fennell’s deflected injury-time goal secured the Hugh Daniels Cup and an instant return to the intermediate ranks on a 1-8 to 1-7 scoreline. The drama didn’t end there as St Loman’s had a late free from just inside the ’45 to force a replay, but much to our relief, it dropped short and was scrambled away. It was only after Conor Carroll’s clearance into the front row of the stand was accompanied by the sound of the final whistle that we could finally celebrate.

In keeping with almost every game we’ve played in this year’s championship, this one went right down to the wire and once again our never-say-die attitude and survival instincts got us through it. When St Loman’s turned a two-point half-time deficit into a four-point lead with 12 minutes of normal time remaining, we looked destined for defeat, especially with scores being so hard to come by in the monsoon conditions which prevailed throughout.

But from somewhere, we found the character to fashion an unlikely victory. With the deficit halved to two points in the 62nd minute, the ball broke to Paul Fennell from Brendan McMahon’s high delivery and the wing forward cut in along the endline before his shot was deflected into the net amid a goalmouth scramble.

The goal was greeted with a huge cheer – the great Richie Keoghan said it was the biggest crowd Kilbeggan had ever brought to a county final since attending his first as a youngster in 1965 – but was soon followed by a hushed silence as referee Enda Kenny consulted with one of his umpires over the legitimacy of the score. That was followed by an even bigger cheer when the green flag was raised and ‘square ball’ was ruled out.

Bidding for our first JFC title since 2018 and eighth in all, we were on top for much of the first half, but failed to make it count on the scoreboard. Niall Carey opened the scoring inside the opening minute before Paul Fennell hit the upright. Nigel Scally kicked two great scores to make it 0-3 to 0-1 before Loman’s reduced the deficit from a free. Paul Fennell (free) and David Fennell pushed us into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, but the Mullingar men got the last score of the half to leave just two in it.

With the breeze behind them, St Loman’s turned the game on its head in a dominant third quarter. They had levelled the scoring before wing back Seanaí Bracken burst forward to score a brilliant individual goal via the underside of the crossbar in the 44th minute. They went four clear four minutes later before Paul Fennell finally opened our second half account. Fennell converted two frees to reduce the margin to the minimum before full forward David Morgan gave St Loman’s breathing space from a 61st minute free.

But this Kilbeggan team are never beaten and they showed that again by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Afterwards, joint-captains James Fox and Nigel Scally raised the Hugh Daniels Cup in front of hundreds of delirious maroon and white-clad supporters on the pitch.

The celebrations continued back in Kilbeggan where refreshments and food in St James’ Hall was followed by a homecoming parade to The Square where each player and team mentor were introduced to the crowd. In a lovely touch, the New Forest Gaels minors – who won the Division 3 Shield earlier in the day – were also feted.

The club would like to take this opportunity to thank all who helped out with the homecoming, including compere TP O’Gorman, Evonne Lamar and the St James’ Hall Committee, Timmy Wrafter for making his curtainside trailer available at short notice, Ronan McCarthy of Centra Kilbeggan for supplying the food and Fergal Fox for serving it.

Most of all, we would like to thank our wonderful supporters who turned out in big numbers all season. You were truly our 16th man! The journey doesn’t stop here as we have a Leinster club JFC first round game at a Westmeath venue against the Kilkenny champions on Saturday, October 21 to look forward to. But that’s for another day.

Team: Joey O’Neill; Sean Hanlon, James Fox, Martin Ward; Conor Carroll, Aidan Stone, Micheál Coffey; Niall Carey, Brendan McMahon; Paul Fennell, Shaun Pidgeon, Danny Scully; David Fennell, Conor Delaney, Nigel Scally. Subs: Colin Draper for M Coffey (35 min), Darragh Coffey for Carey (38 min), James Finnegan for Scully (42 min), Alan Fennell for Delaney (60+4 min).

New Forest Gaels

Last Saturday got off to the best possible start when New Forest Gaels were crowned U17 Division 3 Shield winners following a 3-11 to 1-10 win over Esker Gaels in dreadful conditions in Castledaly.

Well done to Mattie McCormack, Sean McDonald and all the mentors who gelled these lads from Kilbeggan and Tyrrellspass into a fine team this year. The attention now turns to the U19FC Division 3 where Kilbeggan Shamrocks have qualified for a semi-final against Inny Shamrocks.

Team: Conor Mullins; Michael Farrell, Alex Eighan, Sean Clarke; Mickey Devine, Ryan Weston (captain), Brendan Fox; Darragh O’Brien, Jacob Browne; Jack Leonard, Neale Pearson, Mark McGivney; Aaron McDonald, Davin Egan, Jack Coyne. Subs used: Brendan Egan, Callum Dunne, Darragh Robinson, Shane Carey. Rest of panel: Cillian Rochford, Cormac Egan and Hugh O’Gara.

Sympathy

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Dympna Reid (nee Claffey), Garryduff on Sunday morning.

In her early nineties, Dympna was a lovely woman whose family are part of the fabric of Kilbeggan GAA. Her sons Vinny and Aidan are former players, while many of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family have also represented the club with distinction.

May she rest in peace.

Lotto

Last week’s lucky numbers were 3, 6, 20 and 23. The Match 3 winner was Caroline Kelly.

Thanks to everyone for their support. The jackpot is capped at €15,000. You can purchase your tickets in local shops or online.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our neighbours St Malachy’s on winning the IFC in the second part of last Saturday’s TEG Cusack Park double-header. We also extend our congratulations to the evergreen Aidan Gorry on captaining his adopted Coralstown/Kinnegad to a JFC2 title.

Tweet

Most Read Stories