Grangenolvin withstand strong second half by Fighting Cocks to lift Leinster title
Grangenolvin celebrate winning the Leinster Junior Football Championship Photo: James Lawlor
Grangenolvin are the AIB Leinster Junior Football champions after a four point win in SETU Carlow but they had to endure a turbulent second half as Fighting Cocks clawed their way back into the game with a huge effort over those closing 30 minutes.
When composure was needed Grangenolvin had it in abundance over the closing minutes and despite the Carlow side getting within four, Oran Bergin and Nathan Doyle kept the Grange noses in front.
Grange enjoyed the benefit of that strong breeze in the opening half and they took full advantage to build up a sizeable lead at the break,1-9 to 0-1 Conall Bergin combined with brother Oran after a great run by Lee Doyle to open the scoring inside 90 seconds.
Timmy Doyle made it two before Conall Bergin added his second four minutes in.
The Grangenolvin defence were playing like men possessed as they easily sniffed out any Carlow attack.
Grange did add a fourth through Oran Bergin before the tenth minute. In between they had a goal disallowed but the referee had signalled long before the ball found the net. A block on the 50 metre line presented Fighting Cocks with their only score of the half as Aaron Dowling added the free.
The closing quarter of the half was all Grange. Fionn Bergin pointed a free after Conall was fouled and then the game’s opening goal arrived. Nathan Doyle won possession 30 metres out but Conall Bergin was coming in off the left and Doyle found him and the midfielder brilliantly finished off the move.
Brian Cullen got on the end of brother Tomas's pass to tap over before Nathan Doyle, and Fionn Bergin scored, that coming from a free after Conall was fouled as he was about to add a second goal. Oran Bergin finished the half with his second as Grange led by eleven.
Fighting Cocks were always going to respond such was the strength of the breeze and when Cillian McElligott and a two pointer from Willie Kelly reduced the gap it was game on. Five minutes in it got considerably better as Cillian Fagan waltzed through for a brilliant goal.
Brian Cullen settled the nerves with a much needed point 12 minutes into that second half. Aaron Dowling responded with a fine two pointer and the gap was down to four. Oran Bergin, who was fantastic throughout, got on the end of Lee Doyle's to extend the lead to five. Nathan Doyle got on the end of Fionn Bergin's pass to fisted Grange six ahead.
Late points for Aaron Dowling and Cillian Fagan reduced the gap but Grange had done enough to claim the Leinster title. They have waited 20 years since the last chance and they weren't going to let the chance slip. Superb afternoon for the Kildare side who can look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final in the new year.
C Bergin 1-2, O Bergin 0-3, N Doyle 0-2, B Cullen 0-2, F Bergin 0-2 (fs), T Doyle 0-1.
A Dowling 0-4 (1-2pf 2fs), C Fagan 1-1, W Kelly 0-2 (2p), B Molloy 0-1.
Conor McMahon; Gavin Ivory, Lewis Gannon, Lee Doyle; Paul Huntington, Dylan Costigan, Brian Cullen; Cillian Bergin, Conaill Bergin, Keith McGloin, Tomas Cullen, Fionn Bergin; Timmy Doyle, Oran Bergin, Nathan Doyle. Subs: Ross Dooley for McGloin (38), Aaron Phelan for T Doyle (44), James Gannon for T Cullen (52), Johnny Lawlor for Cillian Bergin (60), Danny Cullen for Cullen (60).
Darragh Byrne; Conor Ruane, James Hickey, Dylan Ruane; Billy Molloy, William Kelly, Billy Nolan; Cormac McElligott, Liam Sheppard; Trevor Watchorn, Jack McDonald, Emmet Moran; Cillian Fagan, Alan Quigley, Aaron Dowling. Subs: Mattie Dowling for Watchorn (39), Glenn O’Rourke for Quigley (38), Matthew E Hayden for Molloy (52).
Colm McCullough (Louth)
