Clann na nGael and Moylagh will have to meet again
Clann na nGael and Moylagh will have to do it all over again in Ashbourne next Wednesday night after they ended tied on 1-8 each following this afternoon's JFC final at Pairc Tailteann.
The news that the replay will take place in just four days was greeted with a chorus of boos from both sets of supporters and after the game both Moylagh manager Kevin Dowd and Clann na nGael boss Tom Hanley were less than happy with the arrangements.
“When I heard the replay announced for Wednesday night in Ashbourne myself and Tommy Hanley looked at each other in dismay,” Dowd told the Meath Chronicle after the final whistle.
“When you’re a manager you are trying to get your players out on the field as fresh and as mentally prepared as you possibly can. Playing it Wednesday night is the same for both teams, but it;s not fair on the players.
“This is a lack of respect. This is a real sign of not caring and just trying to get a fixture out of the way. Fair enough, I wouldn’t like the job the lads have on the fixture committee, but you have to have respect for everyone.
“If it really, really needs to be played Wednesday night then we'll go out and play it, bit I’m sure something can be done about it.
“It doesn’t make sense, it’s not fair on lads training since last January. Tommy Hanley is the very same as myself, he's out there training lads since last January, they're ready to go and now they have a three day recovery to go out and play in a county final.
“I don't think it ever happened before. It might have happened back in the 50s,” concluded the Moylagh manager.
Clann na nGael manager Hanley didn't want to say too much, but with 11 of his players also expected to line out for the club's hurlers in the Leinster Club JHC next Saturday he is clearly under pressure to have everyone in peak condition for all the big games ahead.
“I suppose success does bring plenty of games so we won’t complain about that anyway. It’s great to be playing games at this time of the year. We'll just have to get ready and organised for Wednesday night now, that’s just the way it is,” said Hanley.
As for today's final Clann na nGael looked to have kicked it away as they kicked 10 wides in the opening half and trailed by two at the break.
Moylagh got off to a great start with a goal from Rory Gibney after just two minutes, but both sides left their shooting boots behind with 14 wides between them in the opening quarter.
Clann na nGael did eventually settle and closed the gap to 0-3 to 1-2 at the break. However after the interval Mloylagh kicked on and opened up a 1-5 to 0-5 lead with 16 minutes remaining.
Clann na nGael clawed their way back into the contest and drew level with a Philip Garry goal. Further points from Daragh Griffin (two) and Ger O'Sullivan edged them ahead for the first time with four minutes remaining.
However a Thomas O Reilly free restored partity in the 59th minute and that is how it stayed to set up the replay in Ashbourne next Wednesday night at 8pm.
SCORERS
Clann na nGael – Philip Garry 1-0; Daragh Griffin 0-3; Micheal Priest 0-2 one free; Eamonn O Donnachada 0-1; Jack Doherty 0-1 free; Ger O'Sullivan 0-1.
Moylagh – Thomas O'Reilly 0-4 frees; Rory Gibney 1-0; Sean Reilly 0-1; Eanna Brody 0-1; Emmet Grall 0-1; Shane Gibney 0-1.
Check out Tuesday's Meath Chronicle for full match report, reaction and photographs.