Gabriel Rangers 0-13

Carbery Rangers 1-7

TOM LYONS REPORTS

THE pain of losing last year’s final by a single point after extra time was enough to drive Gabriel Rangers across the line in this exciting Bandon Co-op junior C football final in the Marsh, Skibbereen, on Saturday.

Just when it appeared Gabriels might emerge clearcut winners, they were put to the pin of the collar to survive a last-quarter surge from the Rosscarbery men.

It was Gabriels’ second team against the third team from Ross, and the winners’ bench definitely had a big say in the outcome of this final. A two-point lead at half time, having played against the strong breeze, definitely had Gabriels in control, but as the breeze lessened and the weather improved in the second half, so did the Ross performance.

The lead was up to five at the start of the last quarter but it was then we saw the best of Ross – a goal in the 49th minute cut the lead to a single point with eight minutes remaining. It was then the fresh legs from the Gabriels’ bench took effect and a run of three points, despite missing a penalty, saw them heading home with the Dullea Cup safely secured.

‘We deliberately played against the breeze in the first half because we knew we had a very strong bench, four or five who would be starting only for injury or missing matches,’ said manager and club chairman Mark Cronin.

‘The plan was to be close at half time and, as it was, we were two up. We were in a good place but then they got a good goal and we were a bit worried at that stage. We missed a lot of chances, including a penalty, but the bench worked and we came well at the end.’

Gabriel Rangers' Oisín Barrett is challenged by Carbery Rangers' Olan Murphy. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Only three scores were registered in the opening quarter as defences ruled – the first a superb two-point free against the breeze by Ciarán McCarthy for Gabriels. Top Ross scorer David O’Donovan, who was to kick 1-5, opened their scoring but man-of-the-match, young Gearóid Coughlan, replied to make it 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.

There was nothing between the sides in the second quarter. They split six points but that suited the Schull/Ballydehob men against the breeze. Points from the lively Olan Murphy and Matthew Fitzpatrick levelled the scores before Gabriels kicked three points in a row from impressive sub Lorcan O’Brien, Coughlan and Ryan O’Neill. It was looking good for the winners at that stage even though O’Donovan pointed another Ross free to cut the gap to two at the break, 0-6 to 0-4.

Although Ross made a good start to the second half and Seán O’Neill saw his well-struck shot brilliantly saved by Gabriels’ goalkeeper Ryan O’Neill, it was the westerners who got on the scoreboard first with points from Ryan O’Neill and Finian Hogan to double the lead to four. O’Donovan and McCarthy swapped frees and it was 0-9 to 0-5 at the end of a lively third quarter.

When Lorcan O’Brien stretched the lead to five starting the last quarter, Ross looked in serious trouble but digging deep they began to fight back. O’Donovan kicked a good point and followed up with a goal in the 49th minute to cut the lead to a single point.

Carbery Rangers' Seamus Lane goes past Gabriel Rangers' Patrick Hodnett. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Now it was Gabriels’ turn to look troubled and worried, but with Ross relying too much on O’Donovan for scores and with Gabriel subs – Lorcan O’Brien, Oisín Barrett and, especially, Dylan Greene – making an impact, the winners steadied the ship.

However, when Ciarán McCarthy’s penalty shot rebounded off the butt of the post, after the hard-working Gearóid Coughlan had been fouled in the square, Ross had their tails up. But it was Coughlan who took the game by the scruff of the neck – he kicked a brace of points followed by a good point from sub Dylan Greene. There was daylight between the sides again.

Ross didn’t throw in the towel as O’Donovan pointed a free on 60 minutes and they went in search of an equalising goal in injury time. Gabriels had learned from last year’s final and they weren’t going to be caught this time. They put up the shutters and held their lead to the final whistle.

There was great delight as the Dullea Cup was presented to Gabriels’ captain Eric O’Brien by treasurer of the Carbery Board, Pat Joe Connolly.

Pat Joe Connolly presents the cup to Gabriel Rangers captain Eric O'Brien. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘Winning championships like this is vital to any club, especially for Gabriels,’ Mark Cronin explained.

‘We’ve lost five finals in recent years, in league and intermediate and in this final last season. They’ve all been by a kick of a ball. My sole aim this season was to get this team over the line.

‘Our numbers are massive at present – we had 29 lads today, with six missing. We need to get this team up to junior B where they would be playing regular games, to ease the step up to intermediate. This bunch is unbelievable. We have about four minors who would walk onto any team and we have seven or eight who should be playing intermediate but for various reasons, injuries and so on, they didn’t quite make it.

‘We need to build momentum, a winning attitude. It might be junior C but it’s a massive win for us as a club.’

OUR STAR: Special mention for David O’Donovan, Carbery Rangers, who kicked 1-5, but Gabriel Rangers centre forward, young Gearóid Coughlan, was a class act for the winners, working so hard and kicking four crucial points.

Scorers

Gabriel Rangers: Gearóid Coughlan 0-4 (1f); Ciarán McCarthy 0-3 (1f, 2ptf); Ryan O’Neill, Lorcan O’Brien 0-2 each; Finian Hogan, Dylan Greene 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: David O’Donovan 1-5 (5f); Matthew Fitzpatrick, Olan Murphy 0-1 each.

Gabriel Rangers: Ryan O’Neill; Paddy Hodnett, Dave Roycroft, Jamie O’Brien; Finian Hogan, Liam Hodnett, Tadhg McCarthy; Fintan O’Brien, Tom Ryan-Purcell; Eric O’Brien, Luke Nolan, Gearóid Coughlan; Seán Evans, Ryan O’Neill, Ciarán McCarthy.

Subs: Lorcan O’Brien for S Evans (15), Dylan Greene for L Nolan (38), Oisín Barrett for T McCarthy (41), Seán O’Sullivan for E O’Brien (48), Keith O’Sullivan for R O’Neill (60).

Carbery Rangers: Darragh Twomey; Conor O’Rourke, Mícheál O’Donovan, Bobby Kelly; Dylan Scannell, Terry O’Donovan, Colm O’Mahony; Darragh Callanan, Dara O’Mahony; Matt Fitzpatrick, Cathal Buchanan, Olan Murphy; David O’Donovan, Seán O’Neill, Séamus Lane.

Subs: Ryan Fitzpatrick for Dara O’Mahony (24), Cormac Cuinnea for C O’Rourke (27).

Referee: Fachtna McCarthy (Dohenys).