John Lockes Callan GAA

'Boro Pick Lockes for Key Goals
(with thanks to "Arrigle") courtesy of kilkennycats.com

MHC A Final
Kilkenny: Nowlan Park
November 8, 2009 3.00pm
Dicksboro 2-9 John Lockes 2-6

Two goals at the right time lay at the heart of Dicksboro's three-point victory over John Lockes in their refixed Minor A Final last Sunday afternoon in a cold but sporadically sunny Nowlan Park.
While the city side, decided favourites beforehand, ultimately deserved success, it was far from simple. Only a point separated the participants until the dying moments, when Dicksboro raised two white flags in swift succession for a somewhat flattering margin.
Truthfully, this meeting never hit the heights expected of it. While it was close and competitive all through the hour, the standard was often scrappy and sometimes downright poor. The fact that the winners scored but 0-2 from play, with the second point coming from Cillian Buckley in added time at the end, summarizes the game's nature. Nor was there the mitigation of a wind-shaped contest. The breeze had notably calmed before the sliotar was thrown in.
Hindsight would say the 41st minute was a crucial one. Martin Gaffney stood over a free near the right sideline, around 55 metres out. He delivered his usual clean strike and the sliotar somehow went all the way to the Callan net. Now ahead by a point, 2-6 to 2-5, the 'Boro breathed out.
The blow was all the more severe for John Lockes because they had been on an upward curve. It had taken mighty effort on their part and a lot of hurling to carve out the two-point lead negated by that ill conceded goal. Three minutes after resumption, Shane Bergin posted a good point, profiting from an excellent Jason Corcoran clearance. Next minute, Bergin won a free converted by the same Corcoran for 2-5 to 1-5.
Although Gaffney replied with a free on 37 minutes, the Callan side were wresting the upper hand. However, following concession of that major score, they scored just once more. Lee Delaney won a free in the 48th minute and Owen McGrath converted for 2-6 apiece. Chances went abegging before and after this effort, which will be a source of regret.
The city men edged ahead with a Gaffney free on 51 minutes. They had a few dismal wides of their own but still seemed more likely victors. Two minutes later, Dan McCormack did have a sniff of a goal chance. Nothing doing.
Understandably, the hurling was nervy and agitated. Dicksboro had three wides and John Lockes two before Gaffney succeeded with a tricky free in the final minute. Then Cillian Buckley won the puckout, raced forward and swept over for a three-point gap.
A Matthew Holohan run did lead to Callan forcing two sideline cuts in what remained of added time. However, for all the pressing, there was never a clear chance of the requisite goal. The long whistle sounded on the puckout after the Lockes had sent wide. Dicksboro had their compensation for last year's defeat to Erin's Own in this grade and delighted supporters converged on the field.
Maroon & White had scarce little to cheer with seven minutes gone. Behind four points, they had been outhurled during the opening spell. Taking possession from the throw in, Blue & Yellow's Lee Delaney delivered towards goal, where full-forward Cathal Byrne gathered and posted a neat point.
2nd minute, Dan McCormack took a free on the left side around 55 metres out. He did not manage a proper connection and the sliotar went towards goal at head height. The breaking ball was despatched to the net by Graham Bergin.
John Lockes had the start underdogs forever need. If Martin Gaffney got Dicksboro off the mark with a free in the 3rd minute, Dan McCormack swooped for a point four minutes later, capitalizing on a hanging ball sent in by Ryan O'Dwyer
Yet the men in hoops did not carry forward the momentum embodied in a lead of 1-2 to 0-1. Another 17 minutes elapsed before they scored again. Then, Graham Bergin again supplied the finishing touch when a long free by Jason Corcoran was mishandled by goalkeeper Philip Byrne.
Meanwhile their opponents had registered 1-3. The major score came first. On ten minutes, they were awarded a 20 metre free. There was a palpable air of expectation as Gaffney stooped to pick. He did not disappoint, blasting to the net for 1-2 to 1-1.
There were fierce exchanges, including a melee at Old Stand side in the 12th minute, as the game started to tense. Eventually Gaffney slotted a free in the 17th minute. Four minutes later, he repeated the trick.
Seconds later, Cian Tynan was on the mark from play for 1-4 to 1-2. Although merely breaking even overall, Dicksboro had an edge in the scoring stakes.
The 17-minute span between Bergin's two goals had been marred by indifferent hurling, missed chances and wides. The second goal was a terrific fillip. Certainly, the same Bergin took a smart point in the 26th minute for 2-3 to 1-4. The Lockes looked convincing in patches but were being held back by the threadbare return on possession where the scoreboard was concerned.
The 'Boro took a further point before the break. Gathering the puckout, Cillian Buckley, although not in the game a lot, scythed forward on a 50-metre run and squared across the area. Custodian Seán Bryan, in smothering this attack, was adjudged to have ended up lying on the ball.
The 'Boro had another 20 metre free. Another goal? Gaffney calmly tapped over, leaving it a one-point contest at 2-3 to 1-5.
Although two more chances were squandered by both sides, this scoreline endured until the break. Callan came back out and resumed the brighter. But it was not to be.
The winners had a sound defence, one in which captain David Glynn was superb at full-back. His five colleagues all did well and Gary Gaule came far more into matters in the second half. Danny Kenny had a great tussle with Shane Bergin. To be honest, Cillian Buckley and Ollie Walsh, given their ability, were oddly under par at midfield. Martin Gaffney led the attack in sustained style, where he received most assistance from Jessie Watters.
John Lockes could have won this final. At times, once the immediate boost from their two goals subsided, it appeared as if they did not quite have the iron self-belief required to go and take it. Thoughts of how many players will be underage next season can be a distraction to the point of impediment. Seizing the day is everything in sport.
Last Sunday, they were best served by a commanding defence, in which full-back James Power and centre-back Jason Corcoran formed a strong spine. The corner-backs, Jack McDowell and Tony Delaney, and the wing-backs, Alan Bergin and Ryan O'Dwyer, all played a vigorous part in keeping the opposition score so low. U16 Owen McGrath was the best midfielder on view. Up front, Shane Bergin led the way from centre-forward. Two-goal marksman Graham Bergin and Dan McCormack were next most influential.

DICKSBORO 1 Philip Byrne 2 Mikey Hayes 3 David Glynn captain 4 Conor Maharaj 18 Jamie Lynch 6 Danny Kenny 7 Gary Gaule 8 Ollie Walsh 9 Cillian Buckley 0-1 12 Jessie Waters 11 Kevin Nolan 14 Martin Gaffney 2-7 (f) 13 Éamon Campion 10 Evan Guilfoyle 15 Cian Tynan 0-1.
Subs: 22 Stephen Glynn for Éamon Campion (51m) 21 Darragh Buggy for Cian Tynan (58m).
Frees conceded: 11 (6, 5).
Wides: 10 (5, 5).

JOHN LOCKES 1 Seán Bryan 2 Jack McDowell 3 James Power captain 4 Tony Delaney 7 Ryan O'Dwyer 6 Jason Corcoran 0-1 (f) 5 Alan Bergin 8 Owen McGrath 0-1 (f) 9 Matthew Holohan 10 Graham Bergin 2-1 11 Shane Bergin 0-1 12 Lee Delaney 13 Dan McCormack 0-1 14 Cathal Byrne 0-1 15 DJ Bergin.
Frees conceded: 17, (9, 8).
Wides: 12 (6, 6).

Referee: John Guinan (St Lachtain's).

Score of the Match Notably, there were only 19 scores over the hour, with just 2-6 coming from play. Quality wise, there were not a lot of candidates. Martin Gaffney's fortunate goal from a distance free in the 41st minute was very influential. However, it was Gaffney's dynamite strike for a goal from a 20 metre free on ten minutes that had a real touch of class.
Man of the Match Martin Gaffney has to be mentioned, if only for his 2-7 tally. He was also on the ball a lot. Centre-back Jason Corcoran was very consistent for John Lockes. All that said, victorious captain David Glynn deserves the distinction. He kept upping his performance over the hour and was tremendously to the fore in repulsing Callan attacks during the second half.

PM O'Sullivan
www.kilkennycats.com
November 10, 2009