Teconnaught just hang on to clinch crown

17 October 2018

TECONNAUGHT were crowned JFC masters for the second time in five years at a miserably wet St Patrick’s Park, Newcastle, on Saturday afternoon.

It was a case of doubles all round for the Rann Road side as they duly added the JFC crown to the ACFL Division 4 title that was secured several weeks ago.

However, spare a thought for a gallant Kilclief side who took the game to their much more vaunted opponents and on another day would have emerged victorious, but they were left to rue a number of chances that got away.

Kilclief had done everything right. They got their tactics spot on and negated the influence of danger men Ciaran Carville and Paddy Grant, but they simply lacked a killer touch in front of goal.

This showdown was an enthralling encounter that kept a large crowd on the edge of their seats from first to last minutes.

Neither side took a backward step throughout 60 intriguing minutes with sweeping counterattacks the order of the day. Of course there were a lot of handling errors, misplaced passes and attempted points falling short, but the combatants must be applauded for the football served up in poor conditions.

Both sides registered wides before David Kelly (0-2) and Tony Davis pointed Teconnaught into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after 21 minutes. Kilclief, by this stage, had shot five wides and desperately looked in need of an injection of confidence.

That eventually came in the 24th minute when Caelin Savage converted a 21m free. Kilclief sent for the cavalry in a bid to quell Teconnaught’s scoring superiority and brought on the talismanic Ciaran Sloan for Shea Savage at corner forward.

Sloan immediately became the focal point of Kilclief’s attacks and further points from Caelin Savage and Ryan Miskelly from a 45’ had the sides level by the 30th minute.

Kilclief, who were in the ascendancy, were dealt a bad blow just before the break when they lost Brian Fitzsimons to a black card, but were fortunate enough to be able to replace him with with the teak-tough Sean Culta.

The energetic Conall Magee pointed Kilclief into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead on the restart, but Teconnnaught replied with a Paddy Grant score.

With 35 minutes gone a Magee free ped short, but Teconnaught survived the ensuing scramble with ‘keeper

Justin Kelly leading the resistance.

Callum Shields and David Kelly swapped points before a Ciaran Sloan free edged Kilclief into a deserved 0-6 to 0-5 lead midway through the second half.

Dale Curran had a certain goal saved by Kelly as Kilclief looked to settle the issue, but Teconnaught refused to buckle.

They went straight down the park and consecutive points from Jack Larkin, Shane Brennan and Grant completely turned the tables with Teconnaught now leading 0-8 to 0-6 with four minutes remaining.

Kilclief threw caution to the wind and went for broke, but Curran shot wide before Teconnaught survived a hectic scramble after a searing run from Louis McMullan.

Ciaran Sloan managed to leave a point in it with a 28th minute free, but Teconnaught held out for victory.

Teconnaught: Justin Kelly, Rory McDonnell, John Johnston, Kevin Johnston, Jack Bell, James Greene, Shane Brennan (0-1), Tony Davis ((0-1), Jack Larkin (0-1), David Kelly (0-3, 1f), David McGreevy, Conor Degan, Patrick Grant (0-2, 1f), Ciaran Carville, Conor Greene. Subs: Daniel Flanagan for Degans.

Kilclief: Ryan Miskelly (0-1, 45’) Conor Hynds, Aidan McCann, Brian Fitzsimons, Declan Merron, Eoghan King, Conall Magee (0-1), Louis McMullan, Ruarai McErlean, Conan Hynds, Callum Shields (0-1), Caelin Savage (0-2, 1f), Dale Curran, James McGrath, Shea Savage. Subs: S Cultra for Fitzsimons (black card), Ciaran Sloan (0-2f) for Shea Savage, Conor Sloan for Caelin Savage.

Teconnaught 0-8

Kilclief 0-7

PARADOR LODGE JFC FINAL

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