Derry Intermediate Football Championship final: Steelstown Brian Og's 0-9 Greenlough 0-8
STEELSTOWN Brian Ógs made history on Saturday afternoon as their tale of persistence transformed into an emotional first ever taste of championship glory.
Cahir McMonagle’s stoppage time free proved the winning score against champions Greenlough in a repeat of the last year’s decider.
On the weekend that marked the 13th anniversary of the death of former underage star Brian Óg McKeever – who the club is now named in memory of – they tore up their tag of nearly men after three heart-breaking defeats in 11 seasons.
Steelstown hit the first three and the last two points of a keenly contested encounter. It was their game management in the other 50 minutes that defined them.
In contrast to last year’s defeat, Steelstown’s better composure on the ball was the start of their climb.
Another factor was how Eoghan Concannon shackled county star Niall Loughlin, holding him scoreless from play. The ‘Lough relied on Enda Lynn and he was a huge loss when forced off injured three minutes from time.
Oran McMenamin, Diarmuid Baker and Donncha Gilmore gave Steelstown a platform in the middle third.
The final part of the puzzle was unleashing skipper Neil Forester from his defensive post on the last 10 minutes, with Baker swapping back to keep an eye on Lynn. It was time to be brave and his three inspirational runs from deep changed the dynamic of the game.
Steelstown trailed by a point, but Forester ignited a belief that it was going to be their day. He kicked the equaliser with one minute of stoppage time remaining and it was his pass to Mark Foley that orchestrated their injury time winner.
“Was it our best performance of the year? Absolutely not,” McGrath admitted after the game. It wasn’t the ‘cohesive’ manner in which they wanted to play.
“None of that matters in finals,” he added. “It just matters that you are ahead at the end of the game.”
Jason McAleer and Eoghan Bradley (2) kicked Steelstown into three-point lead after seven minutes, but Greenlough tightened up their defence and a Ryan Tohill point got them off the mark.
By half-time, the sides were level – at 0-5 each - with points from Lynn and Conall McErlean.
An eye-catching leap and mark at midfield from Loughlin led to a 36th minute point from Brian McCallion to give Greenlough a two-point lead.
After 21 scoreless minutes, a Ben McCarron free settled any Steelstown nerves and he levelled matters with 15 minutes remaining, at the end of move created by Baker’s run with the input of substitute Rory Maguire.
Greenlough survived a dipping McMenamin shot coming off the bar and they could’ve had a goal at the other end when Chrissy Lagan went through, but he didn’t spot Loughlin on the run off his left shoulder.
It a tight finish, Patrick Feeney looked to have kicked Greenlough towards the finish line, but Steelstown weren’t to be denied again and their late scores ensured the new Sheridan, Bateson and Lee Cup was heading to the city.
Steelstown: M Dunne; O Fox, E Concannon; N Forester (0-1), J McAleer (0-1); D Baker, D Gilmore; O McMenamin, R Devine; G Logue, M Murray (0-1), B McCarron (0-3, 0-1 free); M Foley, E Bradley (0-2), C McMonagle (0-1 free)
Subs: R Maguire for G Logue (39), M McKinney for M Murray (49), E Heraghty for M Dunne (60), S O’Connor for R Devine (61)
Yellow cards: J McAleer (10), C McMonagle (33)
Greenlough: K Mullan; P Quinn, S Lynn, J McCann; C McErlean (0-1), C Kearney, J Moore; B McCallion (0-1); K McCann; C Lagan, R Tohill (0-1); S Bradley, E Lynn (0-3); N Loughlin (0-1 free), C Tohill
Subs: E McNally for J Moore (43), P Feeney (0-1) for C Tohill (43), C Mullan for R Tohill (49), C Lynn for E Lynn (57), C Madden for K McCann (57)
Referee: G McWilliams (Ballinascreen)
