Report by Brendan Hayes
In what was a lively affair James Stephens and Graigue Ballycallan played out a pulsating match in the inaugural Duggan Steel U-13 Roinn A County Final at Bennettsbridge which saw The Kilmanagh men gain revenge for the replayed League final defeat.
Sean Casey got the Village off to a flyer when he caught a side line to turn and point after seconds play. Jeff Neary responded with a point for the League finalists before Stephen Manogue & Aaron McEvoy conveyed a free a-piece. Sean McGrath pulled off a super save from a penalty which saw Graigue work the ball all the way to Ryan Corcoran who duly pointed. The response from James Stephens came in the 17th minute with a Minogue free before Ballycallan again responded with a McEvoy free to level four a-piece. Sean Casey benefited from an Ed McDermott knockdown and the wing forward sent the white flag waving. Corcoran again showed a bit of panache to point. McEvoy put Graigue Ballycallan two in front for the first time in the dying embers of the half when he put over a free to leave it Graigue Ballycallan 0-6 to 0-4 James Stephens.
James Stephens got the second half off to a flyer when Sean Casey’s long range shot landed up in the back of the net prior to Billy Wall adding to this with a super point. Ryan Corcoran responded with a pointed free for Ballycallan. It was Corcoran who was the catalyst for the men in blue and white to go back in front in the 40th minute when he scored a fine goal. Corcoran tagged on a point from a free soon after. James Stephens got their first score in 14 minutes when Manogue pointed a free in what was proving to be a see saw bout but McEvoy hit back with a pointed free of his own. Oisin Bateman got his first point of the afternoon to cut the deficit to two with 8 to go but Corcoran fired over a free soon after which he quickly followed with a pointed ’65. The men from the village were not going to lie down & in a twinkling of an eye Minogue had them back in it when he goaled with a rasper of a shot. As the game entered the last minute or so Neary fired over a point to put Ballycallan two ahead. Despite the valiant efforts of James Stephens it was not meant to be their day.
Full Time Score: Graigue Ballycallan 1-12 James Stephens 2-7
Scorers: Graigue Ballycallan: Ryan Corcoran (1-6, 0-4 frees) Aaron McEvoy (0-4 frees), Jeff Neary (0-2). James Stephens: Stephen Minogue (1-3, 0-3 frees) Sean Casey (1-2), Oisin Bateman & Billy Wall (0-1 each).
James Stephens: Daniel Power, Sean Deely, Noah Manogue, Bill Whelan, Ed Lauhoff, Sean Bergin, Jack Noonan, Billy Wall, Ruairi Harrisson, Sean Casey, Jacob Breslin, Oisin Bateman (c), Stephen Manogue, Ed McDermott, Callum Dooley. Subs: Billy McDermott for Dooley.
Graigue Ballycallan: Sean McGrath, Dean O’Brien, Sean Roberts, Ben Young, Ryan Cody, Billy O’Neill, Pat Purcell, James Casey, Jeff Neary, Elliot Teehan, Aaron McEvoy, Martin Brennan, Jake O’Brien, Ryan Corcoran, Tony Butler.
Ref : Paul Cahill