Double championship disappointment for St Anne’s footballers
THERE was double disappointment for St Anne’s GAA at either end of the county last Sunday, writes Daire Walsh.
The club’s AFL6 side lost out to Naomh Olaf 1-13 to 1-8 in the Dublin Junior Two All County Football Championship final in Bohernabreena, while in St David’s later that afternoon, their third adult men’s outfit suffered a comprehensive 4-18 to 1-9 reversal at the hands of Clontarf in a Junior Six All County Football Championship showpiece.
Following their impressive promotion from AFL7 in 2019, the Anne’s second team had their sights set on championship glory this year.
But it was the visitors who had the better of the opening stages with Fergal McCann (two) and Eoin Kinsella hitting unanswered points.
However, the Anne’s challenge sparked into life when Niall Bergin coolly converted a sixth-minute penalty. This was supplemented by scores from Stephen O’Toole, Bergin and Mikey Brennan to give the hosts a 1-3 to 0-3 cushion at the first half water break.
This break was to benefit Olaf’s as they proceeded to dominate the remainder of the opening period. Either side of an outstanding point by former Mayo footballer James Gill, Eoin Kinsella and Derek O’Flaherty raised white flags.
After adding his second point of the tie, Gill was fouled for a penalty that O’Flaherty comfortably slotted to the net.
While Adam Doran finally enhanced the Anne’s tally with a pointed free, O’Flaherty and McCann ensured Olaf’s were 1-9 to 1-4 ahead at the interval. A dramatic fightback could not be ruled out and with Brennan and Bergin dissecting the posts on the resumption, there was just a goal separating the teams.
Points from Fiachra McLoughlin and Kinsella for Olaf’s were cancelled out by the influential duo of Doran and Bergin. Yet with Kinsella and Eoin Donnelly on hand to register late points for their Pairc Ui Bhriain opponents, St Anne’s ultimately came up short in their quest for championship glory.
The Junior Six showdown between Clontarf and Anne’s in Artane had begun brightly for the latter. Thanks in no small part to the forceful displays of Jonathan Doyle and Orlando Verrachia, they raced into a 0-8 to 0-5 lead with 14 minutes gone on the clock.
Jamie Carter impressed in attack during this juncture and was proving to be a real focal point for Anne’s. Despite being in existence since 1961, ‘Tarf were searching for their maiden adult football championship crown.
It had been a difficult start to the contest for Gerry Reid’s troops, but three unanswered points ensured the Anne’s buffer had been wiped out ahead of the half-time break. A scintillating Charlie Meehan goal galvanised Clontarf after the restart and they ruthlessly dominated the remaining minutes.
By the time the second half water break had arrived, Anne’s found themselves 12 points adrift, but still they persevered.
Ross Nevins and Derek Ryan did their utmost to stem the tide, while Carter rattled to the net to bring his personal haul up to 1-3, but it was not enough to halt the progress of Clontarf.