Slane crowned champions in Tailteann thriller

Slane won out the contest via Penalties

TAILTEANN CUP FINAL

Slane 2-9

St Vincent's 1-12

Slane win 4-2 on penalties

Having played second fiddle to St Vincent's all night, Slane managed to come out on top after a dramatic penalty shootout in the Tailteann Cup final at Ardcath on Wednesday night.

It was not until the first-half of extra time that the eventual winners managed to get their noses in front for the first time.

Both sides had opportunities to win the game late on in normal time and extra time. However, Slane's tremendous accuracy from the penalty line was the deciding factor in sealing the victory for the visitors.

St Vincent's were given the first major opportunity of the game when Adam Tuite was deemed to be fouled in the large square and the men in maroon were awarded an early penalty. Ryan Hand stepped up to take the penalty and duly obliged by slotting it to the bottom left corner.

Micheal McIvor, who starred recently for the Ashbourne Community School side that narrowly missed out on All-Ireland glory, caught the kickout and made a break into the Slane half before slotting over the bar.

Soon after, McIvor pointed a free to give St Vincent's a five-point lead after 10 minutes. Four early wayward effort kept Slane scoreless at the end of the opening quarter, but in the 20th minute goalkeeper Braydon Colfer stepped up and slotted over a '45' to finally get his side up and running.

After that score, the game opened up significantly. Matthew Tully ran straight at the St Vincent's defence before shooting a low stinger over the bar.

Gary Tuite responded by chipping in with his first to bring St Vincent's tally to 1-3. Oisin Mooney got a wonderful score from a distance before Tuite reinforced his side's lead to 1-4 to 0-3 right before the half-time whistle.

St Vincent's opened the scoring in the second half when Conor O'Brien's kick picked up some snow on the way through the Slane posts. Paddy Arnold received a black card for a trip on Matthew Kealy. Kealy scored the resulting free kick.

Then came a pivotal moment, A high ball from Matthew Tully into the St Vincent's danger area fell kindly for Eanna Mooney and he slotted it into the net. It was Mooney's first touch as he had just been introduced as a substitute.

St Vincent's responded well and another free gave them a three-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Conor Forde immediately cancelled out the score. Alan Harding reduced the gap back to one with only five minutes remaining before Gary Tuite found himself in front of goal with a chance to put the game to bed only to slip as he pulled the trigger and the ball rolled wide.

Tadgh Martyn slotted the ball over the bar to level late on. Both teams had opportunities to win the game in injury time but neither could convert and the contest headed for extra time, 1-7 each.

Slane started the opening exchanges of extra time quickly. A well-taken mark from Mooney was converted and Slane hit the front for the first time.

McIvor levelled it up once again with a long-range free before Slane's Forde drove one over from distance from play to edge his side in front again.

Once again St Vincent''s responded with another free from Gary Tuite. Nothing separated the sides at half time of extra time 1-9 each.

Gary Tuite opened the scoring in the second period of extra-time before McIvor slotted over a lovely score to give St Vincent's a two-point lead.

Martin Fox put his team three points to the good. It looked as if St Vincent's had sealed it. That was until Slane went right up the pitch and Peter Martyn got on the end of a fantastic counterattack to draw the game level again with a fine goal.

Late on Slane's 'keeper Colfer had two opportunities to win it with a free and a '45' but he could not convert either of the chances.

St Vincent's went on the offence and won a free. With the very last kick of the game, McIvor's attempt dropped just short and the contest went to penalties.

St Vincent's missed two penalties, McIvor's attempt was well saved by Colfer while Gary Tuite sent his high and wide. Four very good penalties from Eanna Mooney, Eoin Feeley, Ethan Harding and Kevin Dunne was enough to seal victory for the visitors and Slane were crowned Tailteann Cup champions.

Slane - Braydon Colfer (0-1 '45'); Evan Murray, Jim Marry, Jonathan McDonagh; Eoin Feeley, Kyle Tallon, Sean Martyn; Cillian Gough, Peter Martyn (1-0); Sean Murray, Oisin Mooney (0-1), Matthew Kealy (0-1); Daniel Carolan, Alan Harding (0-1), Matthew Tully (0-1). Subs - Tadgh (0-1) Martyn for Carolan 20m, Ben McDonagh for S Martyn 20m, Francis Marry for Gough 35m, Eanna Mooney (1-1 one mark) for P Martyn 47m, Conor Forde (0-2 one free) for Tallon 47m.

St Vincent's - Evan Carroll; Conor White, Davy Tallon, Mark Crawley; Barry O'Sullivan, Ryan Hand (1-0 penalty), Gary Tuite (0-4 two frees); Robert Tallon, Micheal McIvor (0-4 two frees); Paddy Arnold, Conor O' Brien (0-1), Nigel Hand (0-2 frees); Adam Tuite, Stefan O'Neil, Patrick McGill. Subs - Conor Harford for O'Neill 40m, Martin Fox (0-1) for Tallon 55m, Dylan Kavanagh for McGill 60m.

Referee - Andrew Lenehan