Oileáin Arann footballers now take Connacht by storm

Oileáin Arann 0-16

Achill 0-8

IT was Galway champions Oileáin Árann who came out on top of this so-called ‘All-Island’ final to claim the Connacht Junior football crown for the first time in their history. The victors were made to work hard for their win as Achill put it up to them, only to fall away in the final third.

Just two points separated the sides heading into the 40th minute but a run of seven scores in a row for Árainn saw them cruise past the finishing post. The Galway side looked in control for much of the game and the chatter about any potential All-Ireland success only grew stronger amongst the sizeable crowd in Tuam Stadium.

Ciarán Foley’s side have a strength in depth that the islanders have lacked in previous years and their options have only increased with a crop of talented youngsters, such as centre-back Colm Ó Breannáin, and the return of the likes of Aonghus Ó hIarnáin from long-term injury.

Árainn got off to a fantastic start when a well taken point by Stiofán Ó hIarnáin had them ahead inside 20 seconds. By the fourth minute, they were 0-3 to 0-0 in front, wing-forward Eoghan Póill dispatching two close-range frees.

Johanathan Fadian, the 19 year old who was Achill’s hero in their semi-final win over Roscommon’s Michael Glavey’s, registered the Mayo side’s first point with five minutes on the clock. Achill settled into the contest at this juncture, but the points were still coming easier to the team from Galway Bay.

Aonghus Ó hIarnáin stretched the lead to three again, fisting over after creating space for himself with a neat turn and Árainn had a chance of a goal when Peadar Éinne Seoighe’s shot fell short of the posts but full-forward Máirtín ‘Maggie’ Seoighe could only fist the dropping ball over the bar.

For their part, Achill were showing some patient attacking play but Árainn’s backs were denying them the space needed to find a score. Achill shots were twice blocked down in quick succession in the 10th minute and while Pee Sweeney did fire over the resulting ’45, the Mayomen’s inside line were being well marshalled by Ciarán Ó Domhnaill and his two corner-backs.

With five minutes to go until half-time, Eoghan Póill and Pee Sweeeny traded frees to make it 0-7 to 0-4. As the clock ticked into injury time, Árainn midfielder Peadar Éinne Seoighe, who had been as influentiual as usual but had yet to make his mark on the scoreboard, found himself in space 45m out and effortlessy stroked over a fine score to give his side a four point cushion at the break, 0-8 to 0-4.