ACL Division III

Keady Michael Dwyer’s: 3:12 - Collegelands O’Rahilly’s: 1.06

Having defeated Tullysarran on Thursday night by a score of 3.15 to 0.7 the Dwyer’s travelled to Collegelands looking to wrap up the league campaign and secure the league title with a win over a determined O’Rahilly’s side. Despite finding themselves behind by a point at half time Keady took control of the second half and racked up a twelve point lead to earn the win and bring the ACL Division III cup back to Keady. Goals from Paul McCormack, Ryan McGale and Joseph Burke put the gloss on the result but it was very much a team effort and a range of scorers that saw off the home team.

Played in wet conditions in Collegeland’s pitch this game was far from cohesive and both teams struggled to put together clear attacking moves due to a combination of strong defending and poor handling but it was the home team who put the first score on the board with a scrappy point though a free from Ryan McGale and a fine score from David O’Hea edged the Dwyer’s in front early on. Collegelands soon found themselves back in front, however, as a well worked move from their back line allowed their forward with the time and space to slot the ball past Keady ‘keeper Adam Ashforth with an excellent finish and two further points gave the O’Rahilly’s the early advantage. Another converted free from McGale was followed by two more points for the home team and it looked like the Dwyer’s might have to wait for another week to secure the league title but an excellent Chrissy Woods point reduced the deficit and a Keady goal just before half-time brought Keady back within a point. The well-taken goal came courtesy of a half-volley from Paul McCormack after great interplay between himself and Gerard Enright opened up the defence and McCormack made no mistake in front of goal, leaving the scores at half time at Collegelands 1.05 to Keady’s 1.04.

The second half saw a more determined Keady side emerge and despite losing corner back David Boylan to injury just after the restart the substitution saw a reshuffle and substitute Dean Nugent switched with Chrissy Woods in the forward line. This move proved astute in the end as Woods shored up a defence that limited Collegelands to a single point in the second half and Nugent fired over the first score after the break. Straight from the resulting kickout the ball was caught cleanly by Paul Murray and the ball was worked to Ryan Comiskey who hit a fine score from the left to put Keady back in front. Further scores from McGale, Nugent and O’Hea saw Keady race in front and a Collegeland point was cancelled out by a Barry Toal point after he carved out the opportunity for himself to fist the ball over the bar. The next score of the game proved vital as it killed off the Collegeland fightback and it came as a Conor Nugent ball made its way to Joseph Burke who sold a dummy and sent the Collegeland ‘keeper, and everyone else on the pitch, the wrong way before calmly firing into the net and so ‘The Joby Shuffle’ was born. Burke’s goal was quickly followed by another from McGale after good work from Dean Nugent and scores form McCormack and Comiskey wrapped up the game and the league title for the Dwyer’s.

This game was the culmination of a long, hard and ultimately successful campaign for the Dwyer’s senior team and after the disappointment of defeat in the Intermediate Championship Final the league title and promotion to Division II at the first attempt was at least a reward for all the hard work and dedication put in by the management and the team over the year.

Keady Team: A.Ashforth, D.Boylan (D.Nugent), S.Murray, C.Courtney, B.Toal, R.Mullen, P.Murray, C.Nugent, R.Toal (J.Burke), R.Comiskey, P.McCormack, D.O’Hea (G.Toal), R.McGale, C.Woods, G.Enright

Keady Scorers: R.McGale (1.03), P.McCormack (1.01), J.Burke (1.0), R.Comiskey (0.02), D.Nugent (0.02), D.O’Hea (0.02), B.Toal (0.01), C.Woods (0.01)