St Ciaran"s end nine-year wait

NINE years after they last won a title St Ciaran"s came in from the cold when they defeated Moynalvey in the MFL Div 3B final on Wednesday evening of last week. Both sets of players combined to create a little piece of history as this was probably the latest game ever played at Pairc Tailteann. Because the opening encounter between Ballinabrackey and Rathkenny went to extra-time and various other delays and stoppages this final wasn"t completed until well after 10 o"clock. The boys from St Ciaran"s didn"t appeared too bothered about the late finish as they loudly celebrated their victory. Maybe the lateness of the hour had something to do with a high level of frayed nerves as three players were sent off by referee Jack Gordon in a game that was largely played in a sporting manner. All the dismissals came in the closing stages with St Ciaran"s right-full-back Steen Carpenter first to see red while in the final minutes both Moynalvey"s Feidhlim Cunningham and Niall McDonnell from St Ciaran"s made the long walk following a goalmouth altercation. Cunningham and McDonnell were their respective teams"s topscorers and it was a pity for both players, as it was for Carpenter, that the game should end for them the way it did. It took some time for St Ciaran"s to get going and while they faced a stiff breeze in the opening half they only trailed by 0-3 to 1-4 at the interval. Their hopes ignited early in the second-half when they fired home two goals in quick succession, both netted by McDonnell who looked a threat every time he won possession. He rarely wasted any possession and showed a real goal-poacher"s instincts with his double strike. The first goal arrived on 35 minutes when McDonnell latched onto a long punt forward and neatly tucked the ball to the net. A minute later Damien Smith and Stephen Flattery were involved in creating an opening for McDonnell who made no mistake from close range. Those goals put St Ciaran"s in front, 2-3 to 1-5, for the first time and that"s the way they stayed until the end. McDonnell ended up with an impressive 2-4, one of the points coming from a free near the sideline. Damien Smith and Stephen Flattery also contributed to the winner"s account. Joseph Curley and Richard Mulvey won their share of ball around midfield after the break. Even though they were facing into the breeze in the second-half Moynalvey looked the most likely lads at the break to go on an win. They had a fine first half with Cunningham punishing St Ciaran"s with a series of well executed frees. Willie Mahady, Mark O"Sullivan were dominant forces. Midway through the opening half Cunningham grabbed Moynalvey"s goal for the first score from play. William Harnan delivered the ball from distance and Cunningham stole in behind the defence. St Ciaran"s netminder Cillian Comaskey had no chance. Cunningham could have grabbed a second goal in the frantic closing stages only to be denied by a brilliant save from Comaskey. Sean Burke also went close. O"Sullivan and Mahady continued to feature strongly in the second-half but with only two players managing to get on the scoresheet Moynalvey struggled. The title instead went to St Ciaran"s. St Ciaran"s - C Comaskey; S Carpenter, M Lynch; K Gillic, C Allen, P Farrelly; J Curley, R Mulvey; C Cahill, D Smith (0-1), S Lynch; N McDonnell (2-4), S Flattery (0-1). Sub - C Brogan for Gillic. Moynalvey - G Byrne; S Carroll, S Browne; S Burke, W Mahady, L Duffy; W Harnan, M Munnelly; P Kelly, M O"Sullivan (0-4), D Brennan; S McGann, F Cunningham (1-4). Referee - Jack Gordon (Walterstown).