Nobber/Kilmainhamwood's late surge helps them down Blacks
Rian Stafford fires over what proves to be winning point
When Nobber/Kilmainhamwood and Walterstown met in an earlier round of the u-20 B FC it was the latter who prevailed with the help of a late surge.
At Dunganny this evening, in the final of the competition, it was the former who made it across the line first, also with a late surge, to claim the coveted piece of silverware.
The final score read 1-9 to 0-11, the closeness of the contest was reflected in the minimum margin that separated the teams when referee Henri Clifford brought the engaging contest to a conclusion.
When something extra was needed the Nobber/Kilmainhamwood combination were able to delve into their bag of tricks and find something extra with Kian Gillespie and Rian Stafford slotting over the final two scores of the game.
Stafford has an impeccable footballing heritage as he is the nephew of former Meath player Brian Stafford and he is also related to ex-Royal County sharpshooter Ray Magee.
Gillespie's score drew them level before Stafford calmly, cooly applied the coup de grace to land the score that was to prove so, so crucial. The winner.
The delighted victors looked when all the action was over as if the silverware they won represented a far more precious present than anything Santa Claus could bring them.
They certainly had to work harder for this prize than anything the man in red is likely to leave under the Christmas tree.
For much of the contest it looked as if Walterstown could claim the trophy - especially in the opening half but they were unable to make the most of a number of decent, goal-scoring opportunities.
Nobber/Kilmainhamwood side (managed by a combination of Sean Carolan, Daryl Hutchinson, Michael Shankey and Paul Carolan) kept battling and believing and were ultimately rewarded for their doughty persistence.
They were greatly helped along the way by the only goal of the game. They trailed by 0-2 to 0-5 and were really struggling to find traction when with 25 minutes played they put together a fast-paced move.
Imposing midfielder Mark Condra and the influential Stafford exchanged lightning quick passes. They cut a swathe through the Walterstown defence with Stafford finishing off the move by neatly slotting the ball to the net from close range.
Walterstown hit back to lead 0-7 to 1-3 at the break but Nobber/Kilmainhamwood had the cutting breeze and the slope in their favour in the second-half - and they too were factors in helping them across the line.
The sides were still neck and neck in that second act with the sides level four times and the real prospect of extra-time loomed as the final furlong approach. Then Nobber/Kilmainhamwood found that little extra surge of energy to prevail in the dying minutes.
Stafford was a big player for them throughout with his energy and drive. He capped his enterprising display with 1-4 while Joe Tierney, Condra, Conor Owen, Gillespie and Lorcan McEntee also registered points. Barry Bradley, Darragh Smith and Brian Cassidy were other influential figures for the winners, especially Smith with his surging runs.
Seven players got on the scoresheet for Walterstown, an indication of the threat they carried especially in the opening half when they carved out a number of good goal-scoring opportunities.
Charlie Reilly was denied very early on by a splendid save from Nobber/Kilmainhamwood's Niall McMahon. The 'keeper also did extremely well to denied Byron Farrell again shortly before the interval.
In between those chances the Nobber/Kilmainhamwood defence did well to clear after Neil McGinley looked destined to find the net. Somehow the players in the white jerseys were able to deny the Blacks with a arm or a leg, the rugged resistence of the defence mirrored throughout the team.
Byron Farrell and Adam Quinn each scored a hat-trick of points for Walterstown while Troy Campbell O'Brien, Ryan Conway, McGinley, Charlie Reilly and Murphy were others who slotted over during the fast-paced if at times scrappy contest. They just couldn't muster the goal they needed to really give a turbo-charged boost to their cause.
This time it was Nobber/Kilmainhamwood who were able to push up along the rails and win out. This time they made it across the line to give themselves the kind of Christmas present even the bearded man in red suit would find hard to match.
SCORERS
Nobber/Kilmainhamwood - Rian Stafford 1-3; Joe Tierney 0-2 one free; Lorcan McEntee 0-1; Kian Gillespie 0-1; Conor Owen 0-1; Mark Condra 0-1.
Walterstown - Byron Farrell 0-3 one free; Adam Quinn 0-3 two frees; Troy Campbell O'Brien 0-1; Ryan Conway 0-1; Neil McGinley 0-1; Charlie Reilly 0-1; Adam Murphy 0-1.
TEAMS
Nobber/Kilmainhamwood - Niall McMahon; Jo Jo Ogungbe, Barry Bradley, Jamie Duffy; Darragh Smith, Brian Cassidy, Eoin Finnegan; Mark Condra, Killian Russell; Conor Owens, Rian Stafford, Kian Gillespie; Joe Tierney, Jack Gillespie, Lorcan McEntee. Subs - Kian Owen for Duffy 39 mins, Colin Condra for Finnegan 51m, Evan Lowry for Condra 55m.
Walterstown - Caoilinn Campbell O'Brien; Eoghan McCague, Jack Wilson, Brendan McGuinness; Ross Reynolds, Jack Doyle, Lorcan O'Connor; Adam Quinn, Ryan Conway; Ciaran Cox, Troy Campbell O'Brien, Charlie Reilly; Byron Farrell, Diarmuid Freeman, Neil McGinley. Subs - Luc Doyle for Cox 42 mins, Adam Murphy for Reilly 45m.
Referee - Henri Clifford (Ballivor)
REPORT WITH PICS FROM THE GAME IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE