O’Connell shines as James’ boys win final replay

Date Published: 21-Oct-2009

St. James’ 0-16
Micheál Breathnach 0-9
ST. James’ powered their way to a third West Board Minor A title in four years on Saturday in Pearse Stadium, overcoming a gallant Micheál Breathnach side in a replay which, although not hitting the dramatic heights of the first encounter, still provided compelling viewing for those in attendance.
While the drawn game provided six goals and lead changes aplenty, this time around St. James’ had learnt their lesson and adapted accordingly. Two personnel and eight positional changes were evident from the start and one of the new faces, ‘keeper Nigel Walsh, had a favourable impact on the course of the game.
With only two minutes remaining and St. James’ three points to the good, Breathnachs, who had battled back impressively from a deficit of six, were desperate for a goal and carved out a glorious chance for Eanna Griallais which looked set to provide such a score. Walsh had other ideas, though, diving to his right to repel the shot, and from there the winners never looked back, breaking the Inverin side’s stubborn resistance with a flurry of scores.
Ronan O’Connell, captain and one of five on the team who were part of the 2007 winning side, was influential throughout and part of a two-man full forward line alongside Philip Ryan which accounted for ten of St. James’ scores. Shane Coughlan, named in the forward line, also fulfilled a vital role as a sweeper between the half and full back lines.
Most importantly, though, St. James’ re-crafted midfield partnership of Johnny Duane and Mike Elwood curbed the influence of Fiontáin Ó Curraoin and Diarmuid Ó Feinneadha which had been such a key factor in Micheál Breathnachs’ success in the first encounter. Duane also provided accuracy from long distance, kicking three vital frees, all from at least 45 metres out.
Duane’s first score came from play, though, on five minutes when O’Connell, who had opened the scoring with a free, spotted him in space and took a short free. Sean Glynn quickly added another for James’ after good work from Aaron Connolly before Micheál Breathnach’s Fiach Ó Bearra curled over a fantastic point in reply.
Breathnachs then had a let off when O’Connell got clear but was denied by a good save from Caoimhín Ó Conghaile, only for the ball to ricochet off Éanna Ó Conghaile and onto the post. Luckily for them, Diarmuid Ó Maoileoin was on hand to clear the danger.
Peadar Óg Ó Griofa finally got his hands on the ball in the 15th minute and scored a delighful point off his left foot and while Éanna Ó Conghaile did draw the sides level, the Breathnachs forwards were being drip-fed possession due to St. James’ competitiveness in midfield and Coughlan’s mastery of the sweeper role.
St. James’, though, needed to turn their superiority into scores and they did so in the final seven minutes of the half through Duane (two frees), O’Connell, and the impressive Ryan. O’Connell could also have added a goal in the 25th minute, but was again denied by a smart save from Ó Conghaile and the city side went in with a 0-7 to 0-3 advantage.
Ciaran Breathnach performed the required surgery on his troops at half time, aware that changes were needed to stem the St. James’ dominance. Fiach Ó Bearra, who was being tigerishly marked by Michael Fahy, was moved back to midfield, Ó Griofa came out to the ’40, while Fiontáin Ó Curraoin went to full forward.
The changes took ten minutes to really take effect, by which stage St. James’ had increased their lead to six thanks to two points from Ryan and another from O’Connell. Ó Griofa replied with a free, but the first real sign of improvement came when Micky O Conaire finished off a flowing move involving Ó Feinneadha, Ó Maoileoin, and Tomas Ó Conghaile.
Three quick points in succession from the 44th minute by Ó Griofa (two) and Iaos Howlen narrowed the gap further as Fiach Ó Bearra began to get a grip on the game. Crucially, though, Duane steadied the nerves for James’ when he drilled over a 50th minute free. Ó Griofa calmly pointed another free but James’ answered with a good score from O’Connell after fine work by the livewire Lee Vahey.
The tension increased as Breathnachs pressed, but once Walsh had come to the rescue to deny Eanna Griallais, the winners’ calmly worked the ball downfield and engineered a free which O’Connell converted to stretch the lead to four. As the seconds ticked away, St. James’ quashed any thoughts of further drama by adding three points from Ryan, Sean Glynn, and fittingly the captain had the last word as O’Connell nonchalantly swung over the final score of the contest.
Never led, St. James’ just had that little bit extra on the day. Adam Lee, Michael Fahy, Shane Coughlan, and Andrew Burke defended stoutly; Mike Elwood and Johnny Duane got through a mountain of work in midfield, while Ronan O’Connell, Philip Ryan, Sean Glynn, and Lee Vahey produced the goods in attack. These standards, though, will have to be maintained, and maybe exceeded, when they meet Corofin in the county final.
Best for a Micheál Breathnach side littered with talented footballers were Colm Ó Cuív, Diarmuid Ó Maoileoin, Tomas Ó Conghaile, Fiach Ó Bearra, and their top scorer Peadar Óg Ó Griofa.