Wolfe Tones claim Keegan Cup glory

Early on there was a sense that Wolfe Tones meant business and from that bright start they never trailed as they claimed just their second Keegan Cup with a 1-9 to 0-9 SFC final victory over disappointing Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Wolfe Tones were buzzing, their intensity was fever pitch, but it boiled over too and as early as the fourth minute they lost Padraic Diamond to a black card for an impeding challenge on Ronan Jones.

However, despite being to 14 men Wolfe Tones did relent. They were guilty of dropping efforts short from Saran O Fionnagain and Oisin Martin, but in a show of strength Stephen Sheppard shrugged off the challenge of David McEntee and fed O Fionnagain who shimmied his way into a bit of space before firing to the net from close range to open the scoring.

Dunboyne's response was swift and impressive as points from a fisted Stuart Lowndes effort and a converted Donal Lenihan free closed the deficit to one within two minutes, but then they struggled to create more chances.

Another six minutes elapsed before Craig Lowndes restored parity and after Thomas O'Reilly and Lenihan (free) traded scores the team remained deadlocked at the water break, 0-4 to 1-1.

After taking their time to exploit the wind advantage Wolfe Tones upped their success rate when play resumed and they tore Dunboyne apart with O Fionnagain, Cian Ward (free), Thomas O'Reilly and a superb score from Diamond boosted them to that four-point interval lead, 1-5 to 0-5.

As was expected with the wind at their backs Dunboyne burst from the traps after the break and within four minutes they were back to within a point as two scores from Lenihan (one free) and one from Conor Doran made it 0-7 to 1-5.

There looked like only one winner at that stage and even though Wolfe Tones settled with scores from O Fionnagain and Niall O'Reilly either side of another Lenihan free it appeared Dunboyne were set to hit another gear.

However Wolfe Tones renewed their resolve after the second water break. They shut up shop superbly and drew fouls on the counter which were punished by Cian Ward in the 54th minute and by Caolan Ward in the 59th minute.

With that four-point cushion restored Wolfe Tones had two things on their minds - concede no goal and the Keegan Cup.

One would inevitably lead to the other and try as they might Dunboyne struggled to create any clear-cut goal chance.

Lenihan opted to tap over his fifth free of the afternoon to leave it a one score game with 30 seconds remaining, but that desperate goal chance never materialised and it was Wolfe Tones who held on for a merited victory and their second Keegan Cup triumph.

SCORERS

Wolfe Tones - Saran O Fionnagain 1-2; Cian Ward 0-2 frees; Thomas O'Reilly 0-2; Niall O'Reilly 0-1; Padraic Diamond 0-1; Caolan Ward 0-1 free.

Dunboyne - Donal Lenihan 0-6 five frees; Stuart Lowndes 0-1; Craig Lowndes 0-1; Conor Doran 0-1.

TEAMS

Wolfe Tones - Cian Farnan; Robert White, Adam O'Neill, Conor Sheppard; Niall O'Reilly, Shane Glynn, Dan O'Neill; Padraic Diamond, Alan Callaghan; Stephen Sheppard, Cian Ward, Thomas O'Reilly; Oisin Martin, Cian O'Neill, Saran O Fionnagain. Subs - Caolan Ward for Martin 46 mins, Fiachra Ward for C O'Neill 51m, Brughach O Fionnagain for D O'Neill 56m, Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch for White 60m.

Dunboyne - Cian Flynn; Seamus Lavin, Gavin McCoy, Jordan McLoughlin; Sean Ryan, Craig Lowndes, Shane McEntee; Jack Donnelly, Ronan Jones; Stuart Lowndes, Cathal Finn, Conor Doran; David McEntee, Conor Bradley, Donal Lenihan. Subs - Liam Byrne for Donnelly 28 mins, Cathal Lacey for Finn half-time, Michael Murphy for D McEntee 44m, Jack Scannell for Ryan 46m, Niall Jones for Bradley 53m.

Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha); linesmen - David Gough (Slane), Sean Gahan (Ratoath).