Late scores from Moate topple Tubberclair to seal final place

Moate All Whites 1-16 Tubberclair 2-10

By Ronan Fagan

In a final four fixture which enthralled over its duration, Moate All Whites sealed a berth in this year’s Westmeath U20 Division 1 football final when they defeated Tubberclair on Sunday last.

Played before a sizeable gathering at Páirc Chiaráin Athlone, the game was dotted with scores of the highest calibre throughout, a closing quartet of points from the victors ensuring their place in the final.

On a pristinely presented surface which enabled free flowing football from both teams, it was Tubberclair who seized the early scoring initiative, a brace of points from centre forward Kealan Connell placing the green and gold clad team into the ascendancy.

Moate replied with a converted free from Eoin Bracken on six minutes and were to the scoring fore one minute later, Hagan Niall netting when placed by Daragh Madden.

The goal set the tone for a flurry of points from the All Whites, Aodhan Curran pointing majestically from distance on eight minutes, prior to full forward Tobby Conteh opening his scoring on ten minutes when he pointed a placed ball. Conteh hit his second score of the contest two minutes later when scoring from an acute angle to put five points between the teams.

Tubberclair corner forward Finn Duffy raised a white flag for his team on 13 minutes following a penetrating run. All Whites midfielder Bracken responded on 16 minutes to leave his side with a five-point lead at the end of the game’s opening quarter.

The impressive Conteh extended Moate’s lead on 21 minutes when pointing on the turn as the All Whites continued to exert possession dominance. But Tubberclair were soon back in the contest when, on 25 minutes, Duffy fortuitously netted from distance, Moate custodian Sean Furey losing his footing at the most inopportune time.

It was a much-needed score for Tubberclair, but Moate were swift to respond, centre forward Sam Fannin pointing on 26 minutes. Within one minute the deficit was reduced when Tubberclair forward Daire O’Connor scored from distance, but it was the All Whites who cemented their first half superiority with the final point of the opening moiety, Conteh raising his fourth white flag of the contest.

Conteh was instantly to the fore as the second half started when scoring his fifth point of the game. But just as it seemed Moate would continue their dominance of proceedings, Tubberclair rallied, O’Connor placing Taylor Slevin in the clear and the wing forward fired to the net to reduce the scoring deficit to two points.

O’Connor reduced the scoreboard to the minimum when pointing a free on 34 minutes, prior to Niall replying with a point for Moate two minutes later. The game was now at its free flowing peak, O’Connor pointing for Tubberclair on 41 minutes, before Conteh pointed a placed ball for the All Whites as the third quarter approached its conclusion.

Daragh Lowry, who impressed throughout from his centre-back berth, popped over a fine point on the run on 45 minutes to restore Moate’s three-point lead. Tubberclair’s Duffy impacted the scoreboard one minute later with a point from distance as a number of All White defenders attempted to close down his shot.

The pacy Slevin further reduced the scoring arrears on 47 minutes and when Duffy levelled proceedings within 60 seconds it appeared that Tubberclair, the team now in the ascendancy, would positively close out this contest.

This view was further cemented on 51 minutes when Slevin pointed a ‘45’ to put his charges into the lead, but it proved to be Tubberclair’s final score of this gripping fixture as Moate found inner resolve to regain supremacy in the closing moments.

Points from Bracken (two frees) and a brace from Conteh, one a placed ball, ensured a place in the Under-20 Westmeath football championship final (against either Tyrrellspass or St Loman’s, Mullingar) was achieved.

Player of the match: Daragh Lowry (Moate All Whites). Finn Duffy, Taylor Slevin and Daire O’Connor impressed for Tubberclair, while impressive Moate All Whites full forward Tobby Conteh, with a contribution of eight points, was his team’s scorer in chief over the duration. However, the accolade is awarded to Lowry, whose penetrating runs deep into his opposing defence proved continuously problematic for Tubberclair, the centre-back’s telepathic understanding with Conteh the basis for two crucial points as Moate sealed their place in the showpiece fixture at this grade.

Moate All Whites: Sean Furey; Tadhg Heavin, Cian Whitney, James Murray; Tom Gorman, Daragh Lowry (0-1), Ronan Murray; Tobby Conteh (0-8, 3 frees), Eoin Bracken (0-4, 4f); Hagan Niall (1-1), Sam Fannin (0-1), Aodhan Curran (0-1); Daragh Madden, James Mitchell, Jack Lappin. Sub used: Dean O’Neill for Lappin.

Tubberclair: Louis Clayburn; Daire Burke, Kevin Blessing, Joseph Martin; Kyle Fagan, Peadar Dolan, Eoghan Irwin; Conor Reid, Kevin Claffey; Taylor Slevin (1-2, 0-1 ‘45’), Kealan Connell (0-2), Tom Bourke; Finn Duffy (1-3), Shane Harrington, Daire O’Connor (0-3, 0-1f). Subs: Danny Reid for Harrington; Cian Kenny for Irwin.

Referee: Enda Kelly (Castledaly).