Oranmore Maree claimed the County U19 A football title for the first time after a four-point win over Dunmore MacHales in a foggy Duggan Park on Wednesday night. The final scoreline of 2-18 to 2-14 proves that this was undoubtedly the football game of the year with fast, attacking play as the order of the day. Yet, there was no denying the best team won, with Oranmore Maree dominating the first and last quarters to hold off the spirited challenge of the North Board champions and they had the supreme player on view in midfielder Harry Keady, the Man of the Match and son of Galway hurling legend Tony.
Dunmore MacHales elected to play their top-scorer Colm Costello at full-forward and he pointed in the second minute to give Dunmore the lead for the only time in the game. Within 10 minutes, Oranmore Maree had taken over and they blitzed the MacHales with a succession of points from Ryan O'Donnell, Aaron Doyle and James Murphy, with two '45s, to open up a 0-6 to 0-1 lead. Dunmore responded and further points from Colm Costello and Barry Murray closed the gap, but they missed a great chance to level the match when Jack Jordan hit the post with only goalkeeper Shane Carney to beat. Buoyed up by the let-off, Oranmore Maree took control again, with Keady and his midfield partner Jamie Cullinane in a tremendous battle with Dunmore duo Dylan Hannon and Padraig Martyn. Further scores from Ryan O'Donnell and Darragh Clery helped the winners go in 0-11 to 0-7 ahead at the break and Derek Cullinane's side prepared themselves for the expected Dunmore onslaught in the second half. It duly arrived, as Colm Costello scored a magnificent goal from a brilliant cross-field pass by Jack Jordan to close the gap to the minimum at 0-12 to 1-8, but the MacHales missed two crucial chances to equalise and Oranmore Maree seized the chance to pull clear again. A goal by Ryan O'Donnell following a defensive slip opened up a 4-point lead again, and the points began to flow with James Murphy and Ciaran McDonagh on the mark for a rampant Oranmore Maree side. When substitute Daniel Cullinane rolled the ball home for his side's second goal 10 minutes from time, Oranmore Maree led by 2-17 to 1-10 and the navy and sky blue ribbons were being attached to the John Power Cup. Incredibly, Dunmore MacHales refused to go away and they outscored their opponents by 1-4 to 0-1 in the closing minutes, the goal scored by the excellent Padraig Martyn, but the mountain was too high to climb and the final whistle from referee Martin Flaherty brought the curtain down on a deserved victory for Oranmore Maree after a pulsating final that anyone lucky to have witnessed will remember for a long time.
After the game, Ollie Turner spoke to Oranmore Maree manager Derek Cullinane and Man of the Match Harry Keady.
ORANMORE-MAREE: S. Carney; A. Connaughton, M. Burke, C. Byrne; E. Lohan, J. Murphy (0-3, 0-2 45s), C. Horan; J. Cullinane, H. Keady; H. Duffy (captain, 0-1), E. Costelloe (0-1), A. Doyle (0-2); D. Clery (0-3, 0-1 free), R. O’Donnell (1-4, 0-2 frees), C. McDonagh (0-4). Subs: D. Cullinane (1-0), for Horan, 43 mins; S. Rabbitt, for Connaughton, 46 mins; A. Burke, for J. Cullinane, 55 mins; N. de Paor, for Costelloe, 60+2 mins.
DUNMORE MACHALES: M. Halliday; J. Meehan (0-1), F. Cronin, T. Óg Keely; D. Reddington, R. Walkin (0-1), F. Murray; D. Hannon, P. Martyn (1-1); S. Carr, J. Jordan (captain), B. Murray (0-1); R. Glynn, C. Costello (1-10, 0-4 frees), S. Glynn. Subs: M. Connolly, for F. Murray, half-time; O. Cloonan, for R. Glynn, 51 mins.
Referee: Martin Flaherty
