AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship final: St Mary’s, Rockcorry (Monaghan) 3-10 St Mary’s, Faughanvale (Derry) 0-9
IN keeping with the county’s tradition, Rockcorry became the fifth Farney club to etch their name on the trophy in the past decade with an inspiring display at the Athletic Grounds yesterday.
The swirling wind really benefited neither side but it was Rockcorry who adjusted best and, apart from a spell at the start of the second half, were the dominant force. Their tackling was magnificent and the amount of turnovers won through sheer guts and passion was very much central to their achievement.
However, they have their keeper Jamie Smith to thank for keeping the scoreboard in their favour, his three point blank saves in the opening half boosting their outfield confidence no end.
In contrast, the Monaghan men took their goal chances to perfection, Fergal McGeough’s brilliant 39th minute three-pointer putting the brakes on a spirited Faughanvale revival at the start of the second period.
McGeough turned in a masterly display, ably supported by corner-forwards Mark McGuirk and Lorcan Smyth.
Rockcorry also won the midfield battle where Mark Daly got through a mountain of work causing the opposing defence endless problems with his penetrating runs. Johnny Reilly and Keith Daly in the heart of a dogged defence also contributed sizeably.
Faghanvale player-manager Joe Gray gave it his all but they really had few others to make a lasting impression with the likes of Eoin McElhinney, Martin McGuinness, Odhran Mc Kinney, Steven King and Michael Sweeney inclined to drift in and out of the action.
Mark McGuirk from a free gave Rockcorry the lead after three minutes and his clinically dispatched goal three minutes later gave them a footing they were able to build on, especially with their own goalmouth charmed.
The Derry side sat on a solitary point scored by Kevin Martin on seven minutes, failing to register again until the 30th minute, defender Jordan Curran landing a wonder point.
But it could have been a lot different, Rockcorry ’keeper Jamie Clarke saving superbly from Aaron Cassidy, Eunan Murray and Odhran McKinney. And when Martin McGuinness pulled his shot wide a few metres out from an open goal, the champions were certainly riding their luck.
Fired on by their breaks of good fortune, Rockcorry showed passion in abundance, tackling like demons and between the 10th and 28th minutes, hit an unanswered 0-4, the brilliant Kevin McGeough claiming three of them.
Trailing 1-6 to 0-2 at the break, Faughanvale needed an early injection and three points in the opening seven minutes courtesy of Martin McGuinness (0-2) and Joe Gray, gave them a new look. However just having got their act together, the Derry men were stunned with a fabulous Fergal McGeough goal which effectively shattered their hopes.
Rockcorry went on to dominate the closing quarter, outscoring their opponents 1-3 to 0-2, the goal from substitute Martin Carroll coming four minutes from time.
Full-back Michael Sweeney had a consolation score for the Faughanvale before the loudest cheer from the large Monaghan support came when substitute Anthony Tate put the icing on the cake with a splendid injury time free.
An emotional Rockcorry manager Mickey Morgan said he couldn’t have asked for more from his players.
“I’m thrilled, absolutely delighted, it’s a great day, a Monaghan team presented with the cup by a Monaghan man [Ulster President Martin Mc Aviney] and the cup named after Paul Kerr from Cremartin,” he said.
“I thought it was a great game, the pitch was in great condition after all the rain and both teams played very well. They created four goal chances in the first half, we probably got a few more breaks than they did. But for most of the game we kept it fairly tight, our marking was good, won a lot of turnovers that led to scores, but as I have said, they had taken any of their goal chances, it would have been a different game. Our second goal killed it stone dead.”
In paying tribute to the spirit of his team, Morgan added:
“We are a good bunch, small in numbers, but we can play. To win an Ulster final at any level is a great achievement, it’s absolutely brilliant.
“The fear of losing is a serious driving force, the fear of us going home without the cup had us in the right frame of mind. They were faster than us in some sections of the field, so the only hope we had was to fight till the death and I think we achieved that for most of it.”
Faughanvale player-manager Joe Gray, while making no excuses, reflected on how things might have been.
“Their keeper made three really good saves in the first half; if we had have taken one of two of them it would have kept us within touching distance,” he said.
“It might have been a different story, but it wasn’t to be, he made the saves and they took their goal chances and took them well. So credit to Rockcorry, they were the better team on the day and were deserving winners.”
He also agreed that the McGeough goal was the decisive score.
“We had a mountain to climb, we were disappointed how we performed in the first half and came out to give it a go. We got a good start but they went up and scored another goal, which a kind of took the sting out of it.”
Rockcorry: J Smith; C Quinn, J Reilly, N McKeown; S Mc Guirk (0-1), K Daly, C McGeough; M Thornton, M Daly (0-1); C Sheridan, D McGeough (1-4, 0-1 free), P McKeown (0-1); M McGuirk (1-1, 0-1 free), N Carroll, L Smyth (0-1).
Subs: M Carroll (1-0), for Sheridan (52), A Tate (0-1 free) for S Mc Guirk (58), A McGorman for Smyth (60).
Yellow cards: P McKeown (38), C Quinn (42), N Carroll (44)
Faughanvale: D Moore; D McGuinness, M Sweeney (0-1), G Fahey; J Curran (0-1), S King, A Cassidy; O McKinney, R King; E McElhinney, J Gray (0-3, 0-2 frees); M McGuinness (0-2), K Martin (0-1).
C O’Hara, E Murray (0-1 free).
Referee: S Laverty (Antrim).
