Blackwater boys seal the double
Blackwater 4-9 Tintern 2-3
The pressure was well and truly on for the Blackwater boys in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Roinn ‘C’ County Football Final in St. Patrick’s Park last Thursday after they had just seen their female counterparts clinch their own county title. Standing in their way was a tough Tintern team who had come through a semi-final replay earlier in the week when they beat Kilanerin convincingly.
Early on in play it became clear that this was a game that you could not take your eyes off. Both teams displayed movement, creativity and clinical finishing that was top class. Tintern rattled Blackwater early when they quickly went 1-1 up through a Colin Walshe free and a close range Mark Flynn punched goal. Blackwater shook themselves however and got a goal of their own when Tomas Murphy kicked in a low and hard delivery that was deflected into the Tintern net. Shane Cahill then slotted over a free to bring the scores level and Craig O’Reilly put Blackwater into the lead with a point from out on the wing.
The game followed a distinct pattern for the next fifteen minutes of the half where Blackwater appeared to be a far better team through general play but were in big trouble anytime Tintern sent high ball into their backs from defensive clearances or long range frees. It was in this manner that Blackwater pulled further ahead with two well taken Shane Cahill frees and a point from hardworking centre forward Aaron Culleton but then lost some of that lead when Tintern got another goal and point when Evan Kiely reacted well on two occasions when long ball was sent into the Tintern forwards. Just before halftime, Aaron Culleton scored another good point for Blackwater to bring the scores to 2-7 to 2-2.
The second half saw both teams have their own periods of dominance but ultimately only one team using these chances effectively. Tintern forwards impressed early in the half with their constant tackling and hassling and looked to be getting back into the game when Colin Walshe pointed to put four points between the sides.
Blackwater then began to win the defensive battle with Tomas Murphy and John O’Toole playing very well and they used any chance that they created much better to edge away with points from Craig O’Reilly and Shane Cahill. The killer blow came in the 17th minute when Shane Cahill grabbed a rebound from the crossbar, produced a smart turn and shot into the bottom left corner of the Tintern goal.
Tintern had no answer for this newfound Blackwater energy and their frustration was evident when they had a player sent off for a late challenge.
Blackwater wrapped up proceedings in style when Craig O’Reilly beautifully came onto a breaking ball late in the game and finished with a cool soccer style finish that any Premiership striker would be proud of. The final whistle saw joyous celebrations that concluded a good day at the office for both Blackwater teams.
Blackwater: Ian O’Reilly, Feidhlim Roche, Jake Nobbs, Bryan Mooney, Ben Cullen, Tomas Murphy, John O’Toole, Jack White, Shane Cahill, Craig O’Reilly, Aaron Culleton, Patrick O’Connor, Conor Byrne, Josh Culleton, Kealan Fikenscher, Don Redmond, Shean Corrigan, Adam Murphy, Aidan McDonnell, Ross Berry, Daraagh Murphy, Caolan O’Reilly, Josh Lawlor, James Cullen, Jason Wallace, Cillian Wallace
Tintern: Jacob Ferguson, Dylan Ryan, Tommy Ryan, Daniel Flynn, Michael Hennessy, Eoin Ryan, Aaron Whelan, Eoin Codd, Mark Kehoe, Evan Kiely, Colin Walshe, Joseph Astley, Jack Delahunt, Mark Flynn, Jamie Sheehan, Eric Egan, Evan Cahill, Jack Holden, Sean Maher, Adam Byrne, Lucan Werner, Filip Niewodowski, Daryl Power
~Seán Óg Whelan