Relentless Aughnasheelin squeeze the life from Kiltubrid to claim Fresh Today Leitrim Junior title

It wasn’t pretty but Aughnasheelin displayed every bit of their grit and resilience as they held Kiltubrid scoreless for the entire second half to claim the Fresh Today Leitrim Junior A Championship title after a titanic and dour struggle with their neighbours last Sunday in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

​Trailing by five points at the halftime whistle and Kiltubrid to have the benefit of the considerable wind in the second half, it didn’t look good for Aughnasheelin who had been almost wiped out in the middle of the field in the first half, Kiltubrid’s dominance not truly reflected on the scoreboard as they played into the wind.

Crucially, Aughnasheelin steadied themselves in the second half – the introductiuon of Cillian Cullen before the break and Sean McWeeney after halftime saw their defence tighten up considerably while their midfield started to disrupt Kiltubrid’s supply lines as Aughnasheelin slowly grinded their way back into the game.

The game hung on a knife’s edge for the first ten minutes of the second half as Jack Moolick was unfortunate with two two-point efforts and as Aughnasheelin visibly grew in confidence, Kiltubrid seemed to slowly wilt under the increasing pressure their neighbours were putting on them in all areas of the field.

Previously, Kiltubrid showed poise and confidence as they worked the ball out of defence but with Aughnasheelin’s middle eight working ferociously to close gaps and assert pressure on their opponents, Kiltubrid started to find it much harder to manufacture scoring opportunities with the Aughnasheelin defence getting to grips with their forward line.

It was far from an instant transformation but perhaps the battle Aughnasheelin endured against St Mary’s second string in the semi-final proved to be a benefit – Cathal Murphy’s men seemed to grow in confidence the longer the game progressed and as their workrate forced errors from Kiltubrid, there was a sense that Aughnasheelin’s experience was beginning to tell its tale.

Quite a few of this Aughnasheelin team won Intermediate Championship titles in 2017 and 2022 and maybe one or two were on the team that lifted the Frank Reynolds Cup all the way back in 2008. Kiltubrid simply didn’t have that experience to call upon, their young team unable to get a grip on the game during the second half.

However, Aughnasheelin have some quality young players coming through including Man of the Match Thomas Gunn, Cillian McWeeney and Cormac Moran as they looked well placed for the future.

Aughnasheelin will now play the winners of the quarter-final between Mayo’s Ardagh and Roscommon’s St Aidan’s in the AIB Connacht Junior Club Championship over the weekend of November 21-22, a game that will be away if the Mayo team prevail and at home if the Roscommon side emerge victorious.

Kiltubrid opted to go against the wind in the first half and it seemed to pay quick dividends as, after Fionn O’Brien saw his shot drop short into keeper Pearse McTeigue, they dramatically took the lead when a defender lost the ball coming out, Karl Winters feeding Jack Moolick for a clinically taken goal inside a minute.

Aughnasheelin seemed to get their response just right - Fergal Flynn pointed from about 35 yards out after a good move before Diarmuid McKiernan was booked for a high challenge. And then Aughnahseelin took the lead, albeit with a hint of good fortune after keeper Conor Prior failed to control a speculative long ball.Conor Cullen snapped up the loose ball and rolled the ball to an empty net to put Aughnasheelin a point up after just six minutes, a score compounded when Kiltubrid lost former county player Stephen McLoughlin with an injury a minute later, Dermot McKeon coming into the fray.

It didn’t help that Barry McWeeney missed a free or that Con Doyle was blocked down but with advantage being played, Jack Moolick defied the wind by landing a free just inside the two point arch, tying the scores after 12 minutes.

Kiltubrid were on top, Fionn O’Brien unlucky from a tight angle before Barry McWeeney won the kickout, the ball worked to Karl Winters who drove on to score a fine point. Darragh McCormack tried to engineer a shot on goal but his effort lacked real power to trouble McTeigue in the Aughnasheelin goal.

However, Kiltubrid were beginning to dominate, an ample supply of possession as they dominated the kickouts and Barry McWeeney finished off a good run to score a fine point under pressure from the left corner after 18 minutes.

Jack Moolick left a two point free short and low, Aughnasheelin breaking quickly but Fergal Flynn shot wide, Cillian McWeeney following up with another wide as Aughnasheelin took remedial action, introducing Cillian Cullen for Cormac Sammon after 23 minutes.

But Kiltubrid were on top and Barry McWeeney hit his second from play, showing good patience and skill on the ball as he rounded the defence and cut inside to score, increasing his team’s lead to three points.

The strength of the wind was evident as Diarmuid McKiernan’s shot, on target, was held up by the wind, falling just short but Jack Moolick floated a lovely effort between the Aughnasheelin post from the right wing, using the wind to good effect.

Despite wides from Iarlaith O’Brien and Moolick before the break, Kiltubrid went into the halftime break five clear after Danny McWeeney fisted over after a high Moolick shot was worked back for the score, Kiltubrid leading 1-6 to 1-1 at the break.

As they would have the wind at their back in the second half, Kiltubrid looked poised for victory but crucially, they were unable to get an early score to settle them, a two point Moolick free from the sideline gathered well by keeper Pearse McTeigue.

Kiltubrid keeper Conor Prior did well to punch a shot out while under pressure but Aughnasheelin were hanging on as Moolick saw a two point effort come off the crossbar and rebound to safety.

Kiltubrid started to lose their way, picking up two quick yellows for Barry McWeeney and Darragh McCormack in the space of 30 seconds, Barry McWeeney then firing a wide and crucially, the first score of the second half came from Aughnasheelin, a short free routine not working out but Darragh Gunn managed to regain possession and point after 41 minutes.

The big score came two minutes later - Cillian Cullen’s surging run saw him cut through the Kiltubrid defence but just when it looked as if he had lost his way, he managed to get the ball away almost diving rugby-style, finding Thomas Gunn who produced a superb finish to find the net.

That left just a point in it and despite a poor Cillian McWeeney effort being held by Conor Prior, Kiltubrid were unable to answer as a two point effort from Barry McWeeney bounced agonisingly wide for the men in red & green.

With less than ten minutes left in normal time, Aughnasheelin drew level when Thomas Gunn finishing off a move as confidence seemed to surge through the Aughnasheelin ranks. Ciaran Cullen shot wide on the run but another patient move ended with Tommy Reilly firing over from about 35 yards to put them in front.

Kiltubrid were growing desperate, Karl Winters charging forward but unable to get the height needed into his shot, Pearse McTeigue gathering and clearing. Cormac Moran had a bad wide for Aughnasheelin on his way through while a two point attempt from Jack Moolick fell short in added time.

After about four previous breeches were missed, one was spotted when Kiltubrid, chasing the game, didn’t leave enough personnel back and with the crowd and Aughnasheelin bench roaring, the offence was spotted and captain Fintan Fitzpatrick tapped over a close range free to leave two between the teams.

Kiltubrid, to their credit, didn’t back down but they couldn’t work the two point chance they needed - Karl Winters saw a two blocked down while Jack Moolick shot wide over five minutes into added time, that miss followed shortly after by the final whistle and wild Aughnasheelin celebrations!

AUGHNASHEELIN

Scorers: Thomas Gunn 1-1; Conor Cullen 1-0; Tommy Reilly, Fintan Fitzpatrick (f) & Fergal Flynn 0-1 each

Team: Pearse McTeigue, Wayne Gilgunn, Senan McTeigue, Shane McGirl, Cillian McWeeney, Paul Earley, Ciaran Cullen, Cormac Sammon, Tommy Reilly, Cormac Moran, Fintan Fitzpatrick, Darragh Gunn, Conor Cullen, Thomas Gunn, Fergal Flynn. Subs: Cillian Cullen for Sammon (23); Sean McWeeney for Gilguinn (HT); Colm McGirl for Moran (59)

KILTUBRID

Scorers: Jack Moolick 1-2, f; Barry McWeeney 0-2; Karl Winters & Danny McWeeney 0-1 each

Team: Conor Prior; Dylan Easterbrook, Peter Winters, Stephen McLoughlin; Diarmuid McKiernan, Eamon Geoghegan, Danny McWeeney; Karl Winters, Jack Moolick; Iarlaith O'Brien, Fionn O'Brien, Michael McCormack; Darragh McCormack, Con Doyle, Barry McWeeney. Subs: Dermot McKeon for McLoughlin (7); Patrick Meehan for D McCormack (40); Marcel Zelias for Easterbrook (52)

Referee: Jason Glennon