St Mary's edge past Mac Diarmada Gaels again after thriller

St Mary’s Kiltoghert may have kept their Finals hoodoo over Mac Diarmada Gaels going last Thursday night in the Cox’s Steakhouse U20 Division 1 Final in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada but this must surely have ranked as one of their closest shaves after a thoroughly entertaining encounter.

A more clinical and perhaps better balanced St Mary’s Kiltoghert struck for three first half goals after they struggled to get going and then added another after halftime to take complete control of this contest.

But Mac Diarmada Gaels, despite those body blows, didn’t  lie down and with the outstanding Paul Honeyman almost proving unmarkable, they came from ten points down to draw level with less than four minutes of normal time to go and momentum seemingly with them.

St Mary's celebrate dramatic win over Mac Diarmada Gaels in U20 Division 1 Final - GALLERY

St Mary's Kiltoghert retained their Cox's Steakhouse U20 Championship title on Thursday evening in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada when they held off a strong challenge from Mac Diarmada Gaels to win 4-11 to 3-12. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan

But that’s when we saw St Mary’s at their best - almost as if roused from a slumber, the defending champions woke with a vengeance, immediately responding with points from Jack Casey and Daniel Martin to reopen a two point lead and despite every Mac Diarmada effort, they commanded the final minutes of action.

Mac Diarmada did have one late chance to snatch a dramatic win but Honeyman was denied by a huge Niall Keaney save in added time as St Mary’s kept their amazing run of success going with yet another title.

Most impressive was St Mary's strength in depth - Ben Guckian (who endured a few late hits that left the St Mary’s man in a bad way after the game) & Gavin Reynolds dominated the middle while Emmet Regan continues to impress as a player with real potential. Jack Casey had, by his standards, a quiet game and yet ended up with 2-3 on the evening.

For a hugely committed Mac Diarmada Gaels, the over-reliance on Honeyman and, to a lesser extent, Paul Moran probably cost them in the long run but it also almost got them across the line at the end. Danny McWeeney, Karl Winters and Killian Maguire had their moments but St Mary’s strength in depth and, in fairness, resilience carried them to the title.

With St Mary’s wasting two early chances, Mac Diarmada Gaels were first on target with Paul Moran and Paul Honeyman  converting frees inside the first five minutes. Both sides missed chances before the Gaels went three clear when Danny McWeeney scored a fine solo effort on nine minutes.

Mac Diarmada could have been further ahead with Gavin Reynolds fielding a Honeyman free on the line and St Mary’s broke with Ben Guckian playing a lovely one-two with Mark Lowe to fire over an excellent point.

Those misses came back to haunt the Ballinamore and Kiltubrid lads when St Mary’s next score was a goal, Guckian seeing a long range free dip late, keeper Ciaran Redican unable to do anything but parry the ball and Jack Casey was on hand to force the ball to the net, two scores inside a minute giving the Carrick men the lead.

Paul Honeyman responded with an excellent point to tie the scores before another good point from play had the Gaels back in front but after Jack Casey put a free wide, the misfiring St Mary’s got into their groove when Ciaran Redican did very well to save a powerful Andrew McKenna shot only for Ethan Bohan to show real poacher’s instincts to palm the rebound to the net on 17 minutes.

Jack Casey converted a mark after good work from Bohan before Ben Guckian swapped a point each with Honeyman and Moran, both from distance. St Mary’s were now definitely on top, turning over a kickout and Bohan charging in to score on 26 minutes.

St Mary’s also took steps to stem the damage Honeyman was doing by bringing on County Minor Darragh Gardiner as they finished the half with a bang, Guckian converting a free before Andrew McKenna’s superb low finish from a loose ball found the net in the final minute.

The final score of the half came from a Paul Moran free as St Mary’s led 3-6 to 0-8 at the break but that lead was stretched to ten points inside the first minute. Gavin Reynolds won the throw-in but was fouled. His quick free found Ben Guckian charging forward - a pass found Jack Casey near goal but with bodies in front of him.

However, a clever finish that saw him drag his shot tight inside the near hand post gave St Mary’s a fourth goal. Darragh Gardiner was penalised for a jersey pull with a yellow card but Mac Diarmada Gaels gave themselves a good deal of hope with 1-1 inside 60 seconds. Paul Honeyman made a great catch from a high free to point before they turned over the kickout, Honeyman turning the ball into the net, also getting a talking to from the referee after a clash with a defender.

The drama got even higher three minutes later - a high ball into the area saw Honeyman win on the edge of the large parallelogram with referee Dolan blowing the whistle for a free. The Mac Diarmada player, however, kept moving and took the free quickly about five yards away with only the keeper to beat, which he duly did and the goal stood, despite St Mary’s protests.

The ball rebounds after Niall Keaney saves Paul Honeyman's injury time goal effort Picture: Willie Donnellan

St Mary’s were rattled but they steadied themselves with Brian McKenna finishing off a great move with a point and Jack Casey converting a mark. Midway through the half, Paul Moran converted a free to leave four points between the teams as both sides started to miss chances.

St Mary’s keeper Niall Keaney did well to field a high ball under pressure before a St Mary’s defender won the ball and went to ground but was penalised for holding a defender, Paul Moran converting the free with five minutes left, the first score in ten minutes.

From that kickout, Mac Diarmada won the ball back and went long into the danger area as the unmarked Danny McWeeney buried the ball in the net to dramatically tie the scores.

St Mary’s response was hugely impressive - Gavin Reynolds run ended with sub Daniel Martin firing over a good point and after Ethan Bohan turned over the subsequent kickout, Jack Casey fisted the ball over the bar as the Carrick men opened a two point lead within 90 seconds of being pegged back.

Mac Diarmada hit back with a Paul Moran free that got a very generous moving up from inside their own half to within touching distance of the 50 yard, still a fine hit to leave just a point between the sides as the 60 minutes were up.

St Mary’s, however, were dictating the pace - Casey had a wide before Ben Guckian produced one of his trademark flick-ups of the ball on the run to feed Gavin Reynolds. The Leitrim U20 player charged forward, got the ball to Brian McKenna and over the bar the ball went.

The drama was not yet over - a goal could still win it for Mac Diarmada Gaels and they came so close, Niall Keaney making a great save from Honeyman over two minutes into added time. St Mary’s learned from their near miss, went up the field and won a free that Brian Keaney put wide but the final whistle sounded seconds later as the Carrick men retained their title.

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ST MARY’S KILTOGHERT

Scorers: Jack Casey 2-3, 2M; Brian McKenna 1-2; Ben Guckian 0-4, 2f; Ethan Bohan 1-1; Daniel Martin 0-1

Team: Niall Keaney, Aaron Glancy, Niall Crowe, Mark Lowe, Kyle McCrann, Eoin Gibney, Joey Lowe, Ben Guckian, Gavin Reynolds, Jack Casey, Ethan Bohan, Andrew McKenna, Emmet Regan, Brian Keaney, Brian McKenna. Subs: Darragh Gardiner for Crowe (25); Cian Reynolds for Lowe (36); Daniel Martin for Glancy (53); Dean Earley for Casey (62)

MAC DIARMADA GAELS

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 2-5, 1-1f; Paul Moran 0-6, 4f; Danny McWeeney 1-1

Team: Ciaran Redican, Michael McBrien, Cian McGovern, Dylan Easterbrook, Naoise McManus, Danny McWeeney, Jack Foley, Karl Winters, Michael McKiernan, Paul Moran, Ralph McKeown, Eoin Connaughton, Paul Honeyman, Con Doyle. Subs: Gavin Darcy for Connaughton (39)

Referee: Eamonn Dolan