Late Berry goal sinks Moate as St Mary's prevail in thriller

St Mary's Rochfortbridge 5-10 Moate All Whites 5-8

In a titanic battle played in beautiful sunshine, a late penalty by Ciaran Berry saw St Mary’s Rochfortbridge defeat Moate All Whites in the Westmeath U14 Division 2 Shield final at Shandonagh last Sunday.

This game had more twists and turns than the Athlone to Mullingar road. Rochfortbridge were nine points in the ascendancy in the first quarter. Moate had clawed it back to be just the bare minimum behind at half-time, 3-5 to 3-4.

The All Whites appeared to have the game won when leading 4-8 to 3-7 close to the end. Then the madness started. Rochfortbridge scored 1-3 without reply and they seemed to have it won. The outstanding Aodhan Cullen responded with a brilliant individual goal and Moate had one hand on the shield.

But there was still time for yet another twist. St Mary’s substitute Daibhin Mitchell was fouled and the referee waved for a penalty.

Moate switched John Mitchell into goal and he did save Ciaran Berry’s spot kick, but Berry collected the rebound and rattled the Moate net. The final whistle quickly followed to confirm victory for St Mary’s.

This crazy, exciting and thrilling show started off in whirlwind fashion. Both teams had individuals that could carry the ball considerable distances and score. Possibly there is something to be said for a rule of two plays of the ball at this age group. It would take away from players individually trying to beat the opposing team on their own and refusing to pass the ball. But other than that, this game was exciting.

Moate’s John Mitchell opened the scoring in the first minute but Niall O’Byrne Cleary had the ball in the Moate net moments later at the other end. Cleary carried the ball some 50 metres before finding the corner of Oliver Browne’s net for a superb individual goal.

Cleary scored his second goal in the 10th minute. Again, he carried possession past a number of players and with one intention on his mind - to score a goal. Daniel Healy scored their third goal in the 20th minute and Rochfortbridge had a 3-3 to 0-4 lead.

Moate got a badly needed goal themselves in the 20th minute, Eoin Nulty the scorer. St Mary’s were 3-5 to 2-4 in the ascendancy when Cullen took on a number of opponents before dispatching the ball in the net past Ryan Kelly Milligan. At half-time, the Rochfortbridge boys held a slender one-point lead.

After the turnaround, Moate took over. They were putting together better combination plays and Billy Malone had an excellent third quarter at wing forward. Matthew Heduvan scored Moate’s fourth goal in the 47th minute. Moate were leading 4-8 to 3-7 and looking the better team, but the excitement was only beginning.

Berry scored a 58th-minute goal for Rochfortbridge and Michael McDonagh kicked a brace of points. They had a 4-9 to 4-8 lead with the clock about to go red. McDonagh kicked another free for Rochfortbridge, who led 4-10 to 4-8 in added time.

Then Cullen wrestled back the ascendancy, the Moate midfielder beating a number of opponents before placing the ball in the corner of the net for his third goal.

But there was one more twist.

Rochfortbridge, to their credit, brought the ball up the length of the field, before Mitchell was impeded and a penalty awarded. Berry’s penalty was poorly struck but he had the wherewithal to collect the rebound and score the winning goal.

Overall, Moate were probably slightly the better team in general play. But Rochfortbridge seemed more capable of executing scores with less possession in what was an exciting final that had a thrilling last ten minutes.

*Player of the match

Niall O’Byrne Cleary (St Mary’s Rochfortbridge). Cleary contributed the crucial scores at crucial times and was involved in most of the Rochfortbridge scores. Ciaran Berry and Michael McDonagh played crucial roles. For Moate, Aodhan Cullen and Jack Malone played prominent roles.

Scorers - St Mary’s: N O’Byrne Cleary (0-1f) and C Berry (0-2f) 2-2 each; D Healy 1-1; M McDonagh 0-4 (2f); Liam Brogan 0-1. Moate: A Cullen 3-2 (0-2f); M Horan, M Heduvan 1-0 each; J Mitchell, J Malone 0-2 each; Conor Delaney, W O’Brien 0-1 each.

St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge: Ryan Kelly Milligan; Aodán Berry, Seán Gavin, Darragh Tone; Tom Moore, Ross Daly, Stephen Clarke; Ciaran Berry, Liam Brogan; Kaylem Carroll, Michael McDonagh, Cameron Groves; Fionn Bradley, Niall O’Byrne Cleary, Daniel Healy. Subs: Stephen Gorry for Moore (46 mins), Daibhin Mitchell for Carroll (51), James Geraghty for Healy (53), Aidan Clarke for Groves (55), Darragh Fitzsimons for A Berry (58).

Moate All Whites: Oliver Browne; Rhys Guilfoyle, Kody Coyne, Kris Buckley; Joshua Yorke, Darragh Gilroy, Connor Cunniffe; John Mitchell, Aodhan Cullen; Jack Malone, Will O’Brien, Cian Browne; Eoin Nulty, Matthew Heduvan, Mickey Horan. Subs: Evan Costello for Horan (53 mins).

Referee Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).