Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 1-8
Liatroim 1-19
In what was to be the seniors last game of the year against a heavily fancied Liatroim side proved to be just too good in the end. Going in at half time the blues were only two points down, 0-8 to 0-6, but had played with a furiously strong wind which had been a dominant factor in the previous game which saw Newry Shamrocks come from eight points down to win by one point in the other semi-final.
Playing against the wind in the opening half it was Liatroim’s Óisín McManus who got his side out of the blocks first with a 30m free, indeed it was McManus accuracy from placed balls that had a big impact on the overall result, scoring a goal and eleven points, with eight coming from placed balls. Matthew Teague was quick to reply and struck back with a fine individual effort. McManus and john O’Kane (Joker) traded frees before James McParland struck for the lead point after receiving an intelligent popped pass from Matty Teague. Joker then gave Warrenpoint a two-point lead from a free as tempers started to increase with the heat of championship battle, Liatroim replied with another McManus free. Two minutes later Matty Teague broke two tackles and landed another excellent score from 50yds out and Liatroim knew that this was not going to be the walk over they’d expected it to be. With the wind being a major contributor to the flight of the sliotar and some major handling issues McManus levelled matters with five minutes to go with a pointed free and one from open play. It was then that the blues were dealt a cruel blow when Cathal Fagan, who had been causing the Liatroim defence some headaches had to retire with a serious hand injury. Liatroim to their credit struck for the next three points, again McManus with a point and Pearse Óg McCrickard getting his name on the score sheet also. With time almost up the blues, who were trailing by three reduced the difference when joker converted a free, having just had a previous effort drift inches wide to leave the half time score Liatroim 0-8 Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 0-6.
Playing into the wind in the second half CPN knew their best chance was to play the sliotar quickly out of defence and use the wings in an effort to cut out the opposition midfielders of Pearse Óg and Paul McAleenan. But Liatroim were now in the advantageous position of playing with the strong wing and were putting a lot of pressure on the blues half backline, forcing them into making mistakes which Liatroim duly punished thanks to the frees of McManus and Pearse Óg with a further three points. Disaster then struck when McManus found himself free on the edge of the square after a Crossfield pass and flashed the sliotar passed Michael Fegan in nets. Liatroim pushed further ahead with two more points from McManus and another from Micéal McCartan, whilst joker once more knocked over a 55yd free. With the Liatroim men in a comfortable 11 point lead, the blues drove forward and a great pass from Mark Rafferty found Joker on the wing and he broke through two to three heavy tackles before flicking the sliotar across the square to the waiting James O’Hare, who swept it to the net. Warrenpoint had only ten minutes left if they were to mount a comeback, but Liatroim tagged on four more points from McManus, Micéal McCartan, midfielder Paul McCartan and Óisín Duggan whilst Matty Teague replied with a free just before the whistle sounded.
Although beaten by a better and more seasoned side, the blues management commended the team on how they made Liatroim work hard for their win.
CPN were: Michael Fegan, Fergal Murphy, Mark Murtagh, James McParland (0-1), Brian Óg Murphy, Tom Daly, John “Joker” O’Kane (0-4), Mitch Murphy, Antoin Magill, Conor Keenan, Daryl Freer, Mark Rafferty, James O’Hare (1-0), Mathew Teague (0-3), Cathal Fegan. Saran McElroy for C. Fegan, Thomas Magill for Freer.
