Wait over for Teconnaught champions

Wait over for Teconnaught champions

23 October 2013

HISTORY was made in Drumnaquoile on Saturday when Teconnaught won their first ever JFC title.

The Rann Road men failed to put Dromara away in the first tussle, but they made no mistake this time around.

Powered by the might of Paddy Flanagan at midfield and the scoring prowess of Conan Russell up front the affectionately known ‘Wee Team’ were the superior outfit for much of the game.

Dromara’s failure to make the most of their chances in the original fixture cost them dearly. Their lack of cutting edge in the forward line came back to haunt them in this one as they hit ten wides.

It was Ciaran Carville who got the scoring underway three minutes in. His effort was added to by Conan Russell, Danny Morgan and Paddy Flanagan as Teconnaught stumped up a four point lead within ten minutes.

Dromara didn’t raise a white flag until the quarter hour mark when their most effective attacker, Kieran Kelly, pointed.

A number of shots strayed wide before Kelly ended the barren spell. John Fegan and Patrick Doyle added another two conversions in quick succession to the Dromara cause to bring it to a one point game.

Teconnaught continued to do enough to keep their opponents at bay and a Conan Russell free coupled with a fine Tony Davis score edged them three clear.

With half-time approaching, Dromara continued to push forward, but a Paul Kelly strike was all that they could muster from their promptings.

The roaming Colm Flanagan rounded off Teconnaught’s first half endeavours as he made it 0-7 to 0-4 at the break.

Dromara had plenty of possession in the first half, but their execution in front of the posts was poor. Six wides came their way. Teconnaught were much more economical with their forwards’ good movement being a feature of the game.

Goalkeeper Shaun O’Hare was first to register in the second half.

Having missed a number of 45s in the drawn encounter, O’Hare showed a new found confidence as he stroked over a 45 four minutes in.

Teconnaught’s response was forthright as Conan Russell sank a free before Danny Morgan grabbed his second from play. Dromara kept pushing hard though and the energetic Gavin McElroy sliced over before target man Kieran Kelly got in on the act again.

With 18 minutes to go the score was 0-9 to 0-7 in favour of Teconnaught.

Only another two scores would arrive in the remainder of the game.

Dromara started to tire and Teconnaught’s greater fitness levels began to hold them in good stead.

Chances were few and far between with a lot of bunched up play taking place in the middle of the park.

Kieran Kelly’s third point brought the minimum back between the sides and this provided for a tight finish. However, it was Conan Russell’s penalty three minutes from time that put the game to bed.

The confident corner man stepped up and expertly tucked the ball into O’Hare’s right corner.

The final few minutes saw Teconnaught hog the ball. Dromara hassled and harried but to avail.

Then Marty Brady’s whistle blew which prompted scenes of ecstasy and jubilation as Teconnaught finally got their hands on the JFC after many years of hurt.

Paddy Flanagan was arguably the winner’s best player. He worked hard around the middle and carried out a lot of the donkey work. John Young was confident in goal and his distribution was faultless.

Captain David Kelly and the experienced Michael Hamill were the pick of the Teconnaught defence. Kelly marked tightly and played the ball well while Hamill orchestrated the unit and kept them on their toes.

Up top it was Conan Russell who ended up top scorer again. He had a good outing as did Ciaran Carville and Colm Flanagan who were both major forces.

Dromara’s 52 two year wait for a JFC continues. Brendan McNeill, Vinny Lavery, Richard Gilmore, Kieran Kelly and John Fegan were the pick of their

combatants. Their efforts deserved better.

Final score: Teconnaught 1-9 Dromara 0-8.

Teconnaught: J. Young, J. O’Hare, J. Larkin, J. Bell, D. Kelly, M. Hamill, D. McClements, P. Flanagan (0-1), C. Clarke, C. Carville (0-1), D. Morgan (0-2), E. Bell, C. Russell (1-3, 1P, 2F), T. Davis (0-1), C. Flanagan (0-1). Subs: B. Dagen, C. Heath, D. Kirton.