McDonnell the hero as St Joseph’s claim league title

Westmeath ACFL Div. 4 Final: St Joseph's 1-14 Tyrrellspass 1-10

By Seamus Dunne

St Joseph’s captured the Division 4 title with a four-point victory over Tyrrellspass in TEG Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.

Joseph’s had the better of the first half, leading by four points at the break, with Tyrrellspass fighting back gallantly in the second period.

Going into injury time there was just one point separating the sides, Joseph’s sealing the win with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot when man of the match Jordan McDonnell finished to the net.

On a warm Sunday afternoon, Tyrrellspass’ Tommy Ryan raised the first white flag, pouncing on a ball in from Peter Pierson. Joseph’s responded immediately, Dean Slevin driving down the end line and fisting over the bar. Tyrrellspass took the lead when a ‘45’ from the boot of Tommy Ryan dropped short, Cathal Dunne snatched up the breaking ball and fired over the bar.

Joseph’s brought the scores level at 0-2 apiece, with Mikey Lynam finding space and placing the ball right over the black spot. Jordan McDonnell then pointed excellently, after a good pass from Mikey Lynam, before he got an even better score immediately after from all of 35 yards out.

Tyrrellspass fired back when Peter Pierson released Evan Connell and he chose to take his point, fisting over the bar. Joseph’s Jordan McDonnell had his third point of the final when he claimed a mark and duly pointed, with Tyrrellspass reducing the lead back to one shortly after, through a free from Tommy Ryan. With ten minutes to go in the half, and Joseph's leading, 0-5 to 0-4, the lads in green went up the gears, with three unanswered points.

Jordan McDonnell, Mikey Lynam, and Andy Conway all placed between the posts, leaving it 0-8 to 0-4 at the break in favour of Joseph’s.

RYAN GOAL

Tyrrellspass made several changes at the break and they started the second half on the front foot. Peter Pierson and Evan Connell exchanging passes, with Pierson firing over to reduce the deficit to three. The Tyrrellspass spirits were further lifted when key Joseph’s forward Jordan McDonnell was shown a black card, and they reduced the lead to two minutes later through a Tommy Ryan free.

Joseph’s responded when Dylan McDonnell’s effort dropped short but was parried over the bar by tidy town keeper Joe Hyland. Tyrrellspass got themselves right back into the game on 45 minutes with the final’s first goal: substitute Brian Slevin fed Tommy Ryan, who blasted into the top corner from an angle to bring the sides level, 0-9 to 1-6.

Joseph’s settled the nerves and retook the lead with a brilliantly taken point from distance from the boot of Ben McDonnell. The action was end to end as we headed towards an exciting finish. Tyrrellspass’ Tommy Ryan converted a ‘45’ before Joseph’s Jordan McDonnell, who was now back on the pitch, got his fifth of the day from a free: 0-11 to 1-7.

Tyrrellspass’ Evan Connell brought the sides level once more when he emphatically fired over under pressure, with Joseph’s responding through a close-range point from substitute Joe Cusack. Tyrrellspass forward Tommy Ryan hit some brilliant scores throughout, but also will feel disappointed that several scoreable frees went unconverted in both halves, with the clock winding down, two crucial frees missed the target.

Heading into injury time, Joseph’s substitute Alan Conlon found space and split the posts, before Tyrrellspass fired back with a curled point from Peter Pierson: 0-13 to 1-9 to Joseph’s. Substitute Alan Conlon again had an impact when he assisted Dean Slevin to get a point that looked to have clinched the victory.

A horrible side-line ball turnover from Joseph’s presented a chance to Tommy Ryan to reduce the deficit back down to one with a free and he showed great composure, converting off the ground.

It was now all down to who won the last kickout. Both sides desperately fought for possession, with the Joseph’s midfield getting their hands on the ball. With the last kick of the game they got themselves a penalty, which Jordan McDonnell finished to the net to secure the division 4 title for St Joseph’s.

Scorers - St Joseph’s: Jordan McDonnell 1-5 (0-1f; 1-0 pen.), Mikey Lynam 0-2 (1 “45”), Dean Slevin 0-2, Andy Conway 0-1, Ben McDonnell 0-1, Dylan McDonnell 0-1, Joe Cusack 0-1, Alan Conlon 0-1. Tyrrellspass: Tommy Ryan 1-5 (0-3f, 0-1 “45”), Evan Connell 0-2, Peter Person 0-2, Cathal Dunne 0-1.

St Joseph’s: James Kenny, Eoin Kelly, Alan Farrell, Andy Conway, Pearse Weir Norris, Daniel Keegan, Brian Keegan, Mikey Lynam, Ross Elliffe, Jordan McDonnell, Dylan McDonnell, Jake Gannon, Ben McDonnell, Niall Moran, Dean Slevin. Subs: Joe Cusack for Niall Moran (40 mins), Brian Fitzgerald for Dylan McDonnell (48 mins), Alan Conlon for Pearse Weir Norris (53 mins), Josh Gannon for Dean Slevin (61 mins).

Tyrrellspass: Joe Hyland, Conor Gavigan, Eoghan O’Neill, Ciaran Corcoran, James McGivern, Seanie Bagnall, Chris Daly, Daire Early, Cathal Dunne, Keith Hamilton, Peter Pierson, Conall Dunne, Tommy Ryan, Ger O’Toole, Evan Connell. Subs: Sean Deegan for James McGivern (h/t), Brian Slevin for Ger O’Toole (h/t), Cormac Monaghan for Daire Early (h/t), David Glennon for Ciaran Corcoran (40 mins), Phelim Brady for Chris Daly (58 mins).

Ref: Alfie Devine (C-F/C/W).