John Lockes Callan GAA

Taken from KKCats website: Thanks to "Arrigle"
JHC Final
Kilkenny: Nowlan Park
October 18, 2009 1.45pm
Blacks and Whites 0-17 John Lockes 2-6

Blacks and Whites took the 2009 County Junior title in emphatic fashion last Sunday afternoon at an overcast Nowlan Park.
If exchanges were fairly tight in the first half, the Skeoughvosteen men certainly showed their superiority after the interval. They overcame a setback early in the new half and strode on in convincing fashion, negating the John Lockes attack and taking their own chances as they arose. A goal in added time by full-forward Simon Burke merely glossed the deficit.
Earlier, the Lockes had enjoyed decent opportunities during the second quarter, when they enjoyed a majority of the possession. But this factor was not translated to the scoreboard. On a day when Blacks and Whites were the better balanced outfit, the Callan side needed to avail of all chances. Eventually, as the opposition defence grew in dominance, they paid the price for not doing so.
The result was not in doubt once the Northern Champions roared into a six-point lead on 53 minutes, 0-14 to 1-5. The key passage came, in hindsight, when Burke scored his first goal on 36 minutes, an intervention that left Blacks and Whites merely a point to the good, 0-9 to 1-5.
The score derived from a failure to clear a long free by Jason Corcoran. Eventually the ball squirted across to the right, where it was gathered neatly by Burke. He burst on and made sure of finding the net.
At only a point up after weathering a minor storm in the second quarter, Blacks and Whites could easily have drooped. To their great credit, the very opposite transpired. A minute later, corner-forward Tom Moloney, who improved all through the hour, ranged out and made a marvellous fetch around the precincts of centre-forward. Following a neat turn, he was fouled. Niall Kennedy made no mistake with the chance.
Shortly afterwards, the puckout having been returned, wing-forward Paul Murphy would have been clear through on goal had he picked at first attempt. As it was, play having developed, the same Kennedy won a ball in traffic, moved to his left and arrowed over brilliantly for 0-11 to 1-5 on 39 minutes. That goal was no longer a thorn in Skeough's side.
Six minutes later, following really committed hurling by both parties, Kennedy slotted another free. At 0-12 to 1-5 on 45 minutes, the speed bump had been negotiated.
The hurling stayed intense and possession rose exponentially in value. Six minutes later, Kennedy took a canny handpass from a colleague bottled up around 45 metres out. Shortening his grip, he found the target with a wristy stroke. He then converted a 20 metre free on 53 minutes, after Michael Ryan had been dragged down by Brendan Grace, for 0-14 to 1-5.
Substitute James Power did halt the rot in the 55th minute with a tremendous point from the left wing. Yet it augured naught. A minute later, Kennedy threw over another 20 metre free after Tom Moloney was hacked down by Bill McCormack. Both these last frees were very near being called a penalty. The Callan defenders were now getting to grips with their opponents in an unhelpful sense.
The leaders proceeded to tack on two points. Kennedy knocked over his third 20 metre free after Paul Murphy was fouled breaking forward (57m). A minute later, Tom Moloney won yet another opportunity for Kennedy, who made it 0-17 to 1-6.
There but remained Burke's goal in added time. The long whistle blew on the puckout and the afternoon turned dayglo for Blacks and Whites.
Appropriately, given what transpired, Niall Kennedy opened the scoring with a free in the first minute. Shortly afterwards, Declan Roche sought a major reply but had his effort smothered by an alert John Murphy. A 65 resulted and Jason Corcoran equalized.
Callan hit the front in the 3rd minute when Simon Burke pointed. Then a Kennedy free squared matters at 0-2 apiece.
There was no further score until the 12th minute but the game lacked nothing in interest. Then Kennedy scored the first of four fine efforts from play after receiving an astute handpass from Michael Ryan. The next minute, Paddy Kennedy, on a lot of ball in the first half, equalized after he had been picked out in space by a lovely ball infield from JP Corcoran.
Midfielder Paul Whelan regranted Blacks and Whites the initiative at 0-4 to 0-3 (15m). The hurling intensified still more, with all out commitment on view. PJ Cody levelled with a free on 20 minutes, as John Lockes started to get on top as the tie.
The Callan men were profligate during this good spell. Aside from their six wides in the first half, I counted six separate occasions during the same period when the ball was driven into the hands of opposition goalkeeper John Murphy. The inevitable result of such thriftlessness is a loss of momentum.
The Northern Champions were far more economical. Wing-back Aidan O'Dowd, a Minor in 2009, gathered the broken puckout after Cody's free and arrowed over in wonderful style from 70 metres.
Immediately afterwards, Shane Bergin drove one of those balls into John Murphy's hand. Kennedy, when the sliotar was delivered back down the field, took his second point from play for 0-6 to 0-4.
Callan's self-belief flagged a little. They missed four clear chances before Michael Ryan was fouled and Kennedy slotted a 20 metre free in added time for a lead of 0-7 to 0-4 at the break. Resumption would see Blacks and Whites prove themselves worthy champions.
They can take great satisfaction from the display. Séan Kealy, captain for the day due to Peter Cleere's unavailability, stressed in his gracious acceptance speech that club had come good at the right time. For the area, the victory was all the more meaningful because it had recently undergone difficult times.
For the Skeoughvosteen men, who blossomed at the optimum point, goalkeeper John Murphy continued his fine form. The full-back line was solid, with the Brennan brothers, Denis and James, producing mighty clearances. Michael Moloney, a sound centre-back who grew more dominant as the hour wore on, was well flanked by Aidan O'Dowd and John Lawlor. Midfielders Jason Foley and Paul Whelan fought hard to break more or less even with a good Callan pairing.
Up front, Niall Kennedy regained the sort of form he showed against St Patrick's in the Northern quarter-final. Wing-forwards Seán Kealy and Paul Murphy battled hard without much reward on the scoreboard. Tom Moloney was excellent in the inside line, with Michael Ryan offering him consistent support. If Tommy Farrell was quiet on the day, he had already earned his keep in the Northern Final.
John Lockes were well served by capable custodian Paul Morrissey. Barry Cahill, Brendan Grace and Robbie Jackman defended trenchantly in front of him. Midfielders Jason Corcoran and JP Corcoran got through a lot of hurling. Up front, Shane Bergin, Paddy Kennedy (first half) and Simon Burke made the most headway.
With a youngish team and very young subs, Callan should be back in this final before too long. That said, with Thomastown now back down Junior, the 2010 Southern Championship will be one to watch.

BLACKS AND WHITES 1 John Murphy 2 Charlie Ryan 3 James Brennan 4 Denis Brennan 5 Aidan O'Dowd 0-1 6 Michael Moloney 7 John Lawlor 8 Jason Foley 9 Paul Whelan 0-1 12 Seán Kealy captain 11 Niall Kennedy 0-14 (10f) 10 Paul Murphy 13 Tom Moloney 14 Michael Ryan 0-1 15 Tommy Farrell.
Wides: 3 (2, 1).
Unavailable: 17 James Doran [inj] 33 Peter ‘Chap' Cleere [spd].

JOHN LOCKES 1 Paul Morrissey 2 Barry Cahill 3 Brendan Grace 4 Bill McCormack 5 Adrian O'Sullivan 6 Michael Hartley 7 Robert Jackman vice-captain 8 JP Corcoran 9 Jason Corcoran 0-1 (65) 10 Shane Bergin 11 Paddy Kennedy 0-1 12 Declan Roche 13 PJ Cody 0-2 (f) 14 Simon Burke 2-1 15 Brian Doheny.
Subs: 22 Dan McCormack for Brian Doheny (27m) 26 Ger Shelley for PJ Cody (45m) 20 James Power 0-1 for Paddy Kennedy (54m).
Wides: 10 (6, 4).
Booked: Paul Morrissey (33m), Brendan Grace (53m).
Unavailable: 27 John O'Neill captain [inj].

Referee: Éamonn Mansfield (Cloneen).

Score of the Match Niall Kennedy's point from play in the 39th minute was tremendous in all terms. He showed great determination to win possession, great nous to move into space, and great technique to send over off his left side from a difficult position. This effort also restored that most desirable of situations, a three-point lead, after Blacks and Whites had come under serious pressure.

Man of the Match The champions had quite a few candidates, with James Brennan largely outstanding at full-back. But it is impossible to ignore the claims of Niall Kennedy's 0-14. He really stood up to the pressure and drove on.