AUGHLISNAFIN suffered heartbreak in extra time of the Parador Lodge JFC Final at Pairc Esler on Friday night as St Paul’s clinched the title for the first time.
The ‘Fin were roared on to the pitch before the throw-in by a vociferous travelling support, hoping to cheer their team to victory.
Unfortunately, it was not to be, but the ‘Fin players can hold their heads high after putting on a spirited display and running their Holywood opponents close.
Shane McCann got the opening score of the game for Aughlisnafin just shy of the five-minute mark as their early pressure told.
It was to prove the opening salvo of a frenetic first few minutes.
St Paul’s hit back with a goal on minutes. Tom Grimley’s hopeful ‘up and under’ was met in the square by Sean Tucker who knocked the ball into the net beyond the grasp of Fin goalkeeper Morgan Croskery.
Despite the quick-fire nature of the teams’ approach, those were the only two scores by the first water break.
Oran Flanagan kicked wide for Aughlisnafin on 18 minutes from a free when the position looked inviting.
But four minutes later, a flowing midfield move saw Shea Croskery split the posts to make it 0-2 to 1-0 in St Paul’s favour.
Daniel Eastwood got a first minor score for St Paul’s, finishing off a strong move from midfield which he himself had started, punting over from range.
With a midfield battle taking shape, Niall Grimley of St Paul’s then turned an angled effort over the bar — a wonderful point — to put three between the sides.
On 27 minutes two St Paul’s players were beaten by the bounce of the ball into the danger area, but a stretching Adam Garland could not get on the end of the ball with enough conviction as it arrowed wide of Craig McKenna’s post.
Just shy of the half-hour mark, Tucker shook off the attentions of his marker and thumped a rangy effort over the bar. Adam Garland knocked over a point just before the interval to leave St Paul’s with a 1-3 to 0-3 interval edge.
In the second half, Garland caused some panic in the St Paul’s back line when his floated effort towards the back post threatened the goal, but with no one there to pounce, goalkeeper McKenna was able to watch it go around.
Daniel Eastwood punished that mistake a moment later when he thumped a long range effort over the bar. Oisin O’Toole responded in kind when he added ‘Fin’s fourth score. He then did the trick again in the 37th minute with another wonderfully crafted effort to make it St Paul’s 1-4, Aughlisnafin 0-5.
Skipper Donagh Steele kept Aughlisnafin’s momentum going when he wrestled free of his marker to float the ball over from a tight angle. Shea Croskery kept the ‘Fin fire burning with a driving run at the St Paul’s defence.
He was fouled, bringing a free for Garland who made no mistake to make it a level game at 0-7 to 1-4.
A Tucker free with 17 minutes remaining floated just wide as Fin survived a scare. As St Paul’s tried to play out of defence inside the last 13 minutes, they were caught out by Croskery who, after stealing possession, steadied himself well and arrowed the ball over the bar to put Aughlisnafin a point ahead just before the water break. After the resumption, St Paul’s grew in stature, with Aughlisnafin beginning to tire. However, a combination of stoic defending and some wasteful finishing ensured Fin kept their lead intact.
With the game getting stretched in the closing stages, and St Paul’s chasing that one point deficit, the game was on a knife-edge.
Daniel Eastwood landed a huge last gasp free to level the tie up and bring relief to the St Paul’s contingent and force extra-time with the scoreline at Aughlisnafin 0-8 St Paul’s 1-5.
In the opening period of extra time chances were at a premium.
St Paul’s were enjoying the lion’s share of possession, but possibly the best scoring chance fell to Oran Flanagan who shot wide.
Garland however stole in front of his marker, to pinch the ball and fire over with eight minutes played to put ‘Fin 0-9 to 1-5 in front by the end of the first period. In the second period, Gerard Walls spun and directed over a huge point to bring St Paul’s back on level terms.
A hopeful Walls effort towards Croskery’s goal saw Niall Grimley lying in-wait and he pounced to fumble the ball into the net to put St Paul’s 2-6 to 0-9 ahead.
Aughlisnafin pulled a score back with a free from Garland. Steele had one late chance to land the goal ‘Fin craved as the clock ticked away, but he was thwarted by the defence as St Paul’s hung on to clinch glory.
Aughlisnafin: M Croskery, J Matthews, S McCann (0-1), N Travers, C Matthews, O O’Toole (0-2), T Noade, D Steele, (C), O Flanagan, S Croskery (0-2), B McComiskey, F Murphy, R Croskery (S Willoughby, 68), A Garland (0-4), C Croskery, C Doran.
Substitutes: S Willoughby, L Ward, R Quinn, B Ogle (for T Noade at h/t), R Murphy, J Brannigan, A Lenaghan, D McKibbin, E Travers, B Willoughby, M Stratton.
St Paul’s: C McKenna, R Loughran, E Kelly, S Haughey, M Collins, J Gray, G Walls (0-1), T Grimley, P Eastwood, M Cox, S Tucker (1-1), C Shannon, D Rooney, D Eastwood (0-3), N Grimley (1-1).
Substitutes: C McPeake, O Monaghan, J Parsons, N Johnson, C Duffy, C McKenna (for McPeake 46 minutes), R Davidson, N Kelly.
Aughlisnafin 0-10
St Paul’s 2-6
PARADOR LODGE JFC FINAL