A bridge too far for Clara students in All Ireland Final as Spanish Point power home in second half

ULTIMATELY, it proved a bridge too far for a brave Ard Scoil Chiarain, Clara side as they were over powered in the second half of the Post Primary Schools All-Ireland Senior Football 'D' final in Tuam on Saturday afternoon.

All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior Football 'D' Final Br Edmund Ignatius Cup

 St Joseph's, Spanish Point 0-15

Ard Scoil Chiarain, Clara 1-7

Level at half time, 0-5 each, Ard Scoil had no answers once a very impressive St Joseph's, Spanish Point side clicked into top gear in the second half.

The final score of 0-15 to 1-7 was an accurate reflection of the difference between the teams. Indeed, Ard Scoil were a tad lucky to be that close as their goal came from a very soft penalty four minutes into injury time. Ben Kennedy brilliantly converted that penalty but had the game been in the melting pot, a penalty of that nature would have been a big talking point.

There was no shame in defeat for Ard Scoil. They gave it everything they had and really made a game of it in the first half. They had played some very good football in the first half, took their chances and they looked to have decent prospects at the break.

With hindsight, the writing was on the wall for them at that stage. St Joseph's had been the better side in the first half but had missed a half dozen good chances and if they tighetened up on their shooting, they were always likely to win.

They certainly did that, taking some quality scores as they won the second half by 0-10 to 1-2. They were very impressive in the second half and Ard Scoil couldn't cope with their power, pace and movement.

Ultimately it was a bridge too far for Ard Scoil. Fielding a panel entirely comprised of players from the Clara club, they were dealt a devastating pre-match blow when their captain and star player Marcas Dalton was ruled out with a hamstring injury. A key member of the Offal U-20 football side this year, Dalton also missed the All-Ireland semi-final and Ard Scoil just couldn't afford his absence. He would have been worth at least three points and while you could argue that they would still have been beaten, it would have been a very different game. They would have been competitive for much longer in the second half and you never know what way St Joseph's would have reacted if the pressure was on inside the closing quarter.

Considering the quality of their second half display, you would imagine they would have responded well but Dalton would have tested them to the full. As it was Ard Scoil can be proud of the way they played. They were very honest and they had some players who did very well with full back Christian McKeon doing trogan work in the first half, Conor Doyle running the midfield zone for spells and Ben Kennedy oozing class up front.

Both teams deserve huge credit for serving up an engrossing game in difficult conditions. The weather meant that there were plenty of mistakes but there was complete honesty, diligence and an obvious determination to try and do the right thing.

It was wide open at half time with the sides level on 0-5 each and Ard Scoil were the happier at the break. They had operated in survival mode for 15 first half minutes and St Joseph's should have been at least a couple of points to the good at the break.

Ard Scoil, however, took most of their chances and that is what football is all about. They had started very well with three quick points in the first six minutes, one from a free by goalie Tommie Bracken and two from a flying Ben Kennedy. They then lived on their wits for a prolonged spell, with their defence making some great blocks.

The Spanish Point students had three wides before Euan Lineen hit the target in the 9th minute and that should have been a goal as he blazed into open space in front of the Clara posts. They had a shot blocked, another one fell short but two points had them on terms by the 17th minute.

Two Ben Kennedy frees edged Ard Scoil back in front but each time, St Joseph's equalised wth Sean Neylon's lovely point making it a draw match at half time.

Ard Scoil were in bother from the restart as St Joseph's began to take their chances. They took control with three quick points before James Cullen settled Ard Scoil with a 36th minute point. It was only a brief respite. St Joseph's got the next four points on the trot for a 0-13 to 0-6 lead by the 48th minute. Ben Kennedy went for goal from a 14 metre free before converting one from distance as it petered out tamely enough.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Josh Moloney (St Joseph's): Josh Moloney had a sensational game for St Joseph's. The wing back drove up the field regularly in the first half and defended superbly in the second, cutting out a lot of ball. The power and pace of the St Joseph's team was particularly noteworthy.

THE SCORERS

St Joseph's: Euan Lineen 0-5 (2f and 1 '45'), Cathal Talty 0-4 (1f), Sean Neylon and Oisin Sexton 0-2 each, Josh Moloney and Cian Coughlan 0-1 each.

Ard Scoil: Ben Kennedy 1-5 (Goal from a penalty and 3f), Tommie Bracken (f) and James Cullen 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

ST JOSEPH'S SS, SPANISH POINT: Tomas Sexton; Shay Gleeson, Gary Donnellan, Conor Kearney; Josh Moloney, Diarmuid Comber, Cillian Keavey; Paul Frawley, Evan Cahill; Sean Neylon, Oisin Sexton, Darragh Townsend; Finn O'Driscoll, Euan Lineen, Cathal Talty. Subs –Cian Coughlan for O'Driscoll (41m), Cormac Byrne for Keavey (58m), Eoin Devanney for Frawley (62m), Colin Ryan for Gleeson (64m), Aidan Considine for Townsend (66m).

ARD SCOIL CHIARAIN, CLARA: Tommie Bracken; Kevin Minnock, Christian McKeon, Ryan Carroll; Ronan Touhey, Daragh McKeon, Conor Taylor; Conor Doyle, Ciaran McKeon; James Cullen, Barry Egan, Myles Handy; Greg Byrne, Ben Kennedy, Scott Griffith. Subs – Aaron Kelly for Byrne (41m), Brian Hogan for Cullen (45m), James Dunne for Griffith (45m), Hugh Hilliard for Taylor (66m), Kevin Gavin for Egan (66m).

Referee – Shane Corcoran (Mayo).

REFEREE WATCH

It was a difficult game to referee in poor conditions. Shane Corcoran did not give a perfect display but he did well, allowing for the conditions but showing cards as a handful of rash tackles flew in. The Ard Scoil penalty looked soft but it didn't matter at that stage.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The few minutes after the restart were pivotal as St Joseph's came flying out of the blocks. They got three quick points with Oisin Sexton getting two of them and even though the gap was only three, it was still a big lead at that stage.

VENUE WATCH

The spiritual home of Galway football, St Jarlath's Park in Tuam is positively quaint by modern standards but retains a charm of its own. It was an unusual venue for an Offaly and Clare school but both had to travel similar distances. There had been heavy snow in that part of Galway earlier in the week and the pitch was heavy, cutting up a lot. With an almost constant light drizzle, that couldn't be avoided and the game was well hosted with a large support creating a typical schools' game atmosphere.

One major complaint. There was a €3 charge for the programme and it provided zero value for money. It included teams from two other finals in Carlow and the Downs. There were profiles of the six competing schools but the only interest any school had was in their own final. A smaller programme costing €1 and just dealing with each final on a standalone basis would have been much better and the GAA, as a whole, really needs to question the necessity of big glossy programmes – supporters want the team details and not a whole lot else.

TALKING POINT

Defeat may have been thei lot but it was still great to see Ard Scoil Chiarain back in an All-Ireland final. Their achievement was particularly significant as all their players came from the one club, Clara. We will be watching the progress of some of these St Joseph's players with interest and a few of them have a lot going for them in terms of their physicality and their power and pace.

WHAT'S NEXT

That completes the season for both schools.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ard Scoil – 3 (3 in first half); St Joseph's – 7 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ard Scoil – 2 (Conor Doyle and Barry Egan); St Joseph's – 5 (Gary Donnellan, Conor Kearney, Darrgh Townsend, Sean Neylon and Cian Coughlan).``

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.