Monivea fall short in dying stages of All-Ireland decider

Date Published: {J}

Crosshaven 17

Monivea 9

Rob Murphy at

Templeville Road

MONIVEA fell just short once again on Saturday as an All-Ireland title slipped from their grasp in injury time at a sun drenched Templeville Road in Dublin.

A penalty and a last gasp try in the five minutes of added time saw Cork side Crosshaven dig out a memorable win and condemned Galway’s most successful junior club to a season without silverware.

Having been pipped by Sligo twice this year in the league and cup on the home front, Monivea’s incredible run in this competition – becoming the first Connacht side to reach the final – had set up a chance to end their season on a high, but a mounting injury list and a lack for genuine form proved critical.

In a contest that was scrappy and tense throughout, the Cork side built up a six point half-time lead but saw it wiped away in the third quarter as the Connacht men began to dominate, yet a late surge in the final ten minutes saw a siege on the Monivea line and, ultimately, the concession of eight points in injury time.

Darren O’Keefe’s try was the icing on the cake as Monivea chased the game in the final seconds but were caught out with a cross field kick when Ger Divilly was down injured.

Liam Delaney has been instrumental to Crosshaven’s progress which had seen them beat Dundalk and Dromore away before toppling Sligo on home soil and he kicked three penalties in the first half for a 9-3 lead.

Ger O’Connor had answered for a flat Monivea who were struggling in the set piece play to get any sort of clean front-foot ball. Even when they had possession, mistakes were proving costly and the rampaging Crosshaven forwards were causing them trouble at the fringes.

Just before half time a brilliant attack from Seamus Fahey and Ger Divilly led to a penalty a yellow card for Michael Buckley. The kick was missed but O’Connor kicked two from thee in the third quarter to level matters.

The introduction of powerful tighthead Fergus Farrell proved important in the second half for Monivea as they came more into the contest. Scrums were more even and Cathal Divilly and Eoin Rooney were getting increasing chances to charge forward.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.