This was fast and furious from the beginning. The early game saw Kiernans’ pressurizing the Tir Chonaill defense and forcing
turnovers. They were rewarded with the first
score of the game from a free. Tir Chonaill
slowly began to get a grip around the middle
of the field and some quick counter-attacks
runs yielded a pair of points and the lead. St.
Kiernans’ continued to press going forward
but this left them exposed at the back. Their
center back position was comprised on
several occasions and after a fast break the
Gael’s Adrian Hanlon had the ball in the net
Adrian Hanlon on the attack for Tir Chonaill Gaels (white & red). Photo: Declan Flanagan.
with the assist from lively full forward Seamus Friel for the first goal of the game and a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.
trailed by 1-1 to 2-2 at the end of the first quarter. Aided by
the strong wind St. Kiernans’ regrouped anew and from there
One worried slightly at this stage for Kiernan’s prospects
to the end of the half outscored their opponents to take a slenbut they responded splendidly as two minutes later they
der 1-6 to 2-2 lead. Kiernans also suffered a loss when they
scored one themselves through a fisted effort from Cathal
had their midfielder Tom Waters black carded.
Og Greene. The ball had arrived in from a free given against
O’Hanlon who received a black card. His replacement and
Seamus Friel levelled things with a fine point on the restart
the goal was a double blow for the champions. But then a
for the Gaels but Kiernan’s despite playing now against the
further twist as the Gaels immediately replied with a second
gale hit two in a row to push into the lead again.
goal. Center forward Cathal Magee made a break through
the center and offloaded to Friel who made no mistake. The
But then came that purple patch for the Gaels, two good
Kiernan’s defense had been carved open yet again as they
points to level anew before Magee, becoming more influential at center forward, pushed his side in front
with a fine point. Soon after they struck for
the killer blow when half forward Liam Boyle
made a good run into the danger area where
his fisted effort hit the far upright and the
rebound fell to lively corner forward Brian
Duddy who bundled the ball across the line
for a goal.
‘Man of the Match’ Cathal Magee in possession for Tir Chonaill Gaels. Photo: Declan
Flanagan.
With Magee and Mark Gotsche at midfield
dominant St. Kiernan’s were chasing the game
from there to the finish. The Gaels showed
plenty of poise in the closing stages running
out worthy London champions once again.
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