Conneff's dramatic winner sends Eadestown into Senior 'A' Final
Emmet Bolton is all smiles after Eadestown booked their place in the Joe Mallon Motors Senior 'A' Football Championship Final in dramatic fashion.
Eadestown became the first team to book their place in the inaugural Joe Mallon Motors Senior ‘A’ Football Championship final after Eoin Conneff struck a dramatic winning goal with the final kick of an exciting contest against Sallins.
Colm Dalton opened the scoring for Sallins but, after Eadestown responded with the next seven points, they never trailed again until Luke Killian and Stephen Kelly edged Sallins in front during injury time.
There was an element of fortune about the decisive score. Cian Bolton was attempting an equalising two-point effort when his shot dropped short. Sallins goalkeeper Matthew Farrelly could only punch the ball as far as Darragh Jameson, who reacted quickest to slip a pass to Conneff and the Eadestown corner-forward arrowed a low finish into the bottom-right corner of the net.
It was an engrossing encounter throughout, packed with turnovers and rapid counter-attacks, and thanks largely to that seven-point burst during the opening quarter, Emmet Bolton's side carried a 0-10 to 0-5 advantage into the interval.
That lead was gradually reduced during the opening 15 minutes of the second half before Sallins drew level in the 46th minute with a clinically worked goal. Although Charlie Carroll's short kick-out reached an Eadestown player, Sallins immediately pressed aggressively and, once they won possession back just outside the 45, the danger signs were clear.
James Dalton surged forward at pace and picked out Luke Killian, whose ball across goal was deftly turned to the net by Kevin Foley.
Eadestown almost produced an instant response but from close range, Rian Boran palmed Tom Boran's delivery against the crossbar and, when the rebound fell kindly, Jameson's follow-up effort was blocked by the massed ranks of Sallins defenders who had retreated to the goal line.
Cian Bolton and Ben Fitzsimons, both outstanding throughout, nudged Eadestown two points clear with seven minutes remaining, but Sallins appeared the more likely winners as the closing stages unfolded.
They reeled off four unanswered points, including two Kelly frees that were advanced to directly in front of the posts, leaving them in a strong position as time ebbed away.
However, the old adage that a two-point lead can be the most dangerous margin in football rang true once more. Conneff's late intervention sealed victory and ensured Eadestown's exciting weekend got off to the perfect start.
Max Sargent played his part with a point during his 42-minute outing and will now switch attention to Sunday's Minor 'B' Championship final against Round Towers. Later that afternoon, the club's ladies side welcome Dunshaughlin Royal Gaels in the Leinster Senior Championship.
For Sallins, meanwhile, the curtain falls on a campaign that has effectively stretched across 18 months. Their Intermediate success, which delivered Kildare and Leinster titles and saw them come within touching distance of an All-Ireland final appearance, meant one season almost rolled directly into the next.
With an opportunity now to rest and regroup, they have shown enough in their first season back at senior level since 2006 to suggest they can be a force among the county's leading sides in 2027. Eadestown, though, have their sights firmly set on silverware.
Charlie Carroll; Cian Cahill, John Lawlor 0-1, Paul O’Dwyer, Darragh Jameson, Jack Sargent, Harry Carroll; Rian Boran, Niall Cummins; Ben Fitzsimons 0-4fs, Padraic Tuohy, Sean Hynes, Eoin Conneff 1-3, Cian Bolton 0-4 (1tp), Max Sargent 0-1. Subs: Tom Boran for M Sargent, 42; Conor McCarthy for Hynes, 47.
Matthew Farrelly; Darren Keane, Aaron Carney, Sean Egan, Sean O’Domhnaill, Paul Farrelly 0-1, Glen McEvoy; Daragh Mangan, Sean Conway; Lorcan McKenna, Colm Dalton 0-2, Luke Killian 0-1, Stephen Kelly 0-5 (4fs), Alan Marshall, James Dalton 0-1. Subs: Rory Gavin 0-1 for Conway, 36; Ruaii O’Domhnaill for Egan, 36; Kevin Foley 1-1 for Marshall, 36; Emmet Ralph for McKenna, 55; Ferdia O’Domhnaill for Carney, 55.
Owen Murphy.
