Minors win Back to Back Titles
The clubs minor team have again done the town of Callan proud with another great County Final victory. After success in the 2007 League Final, the Callan lads proved that was no fluke by putting back to backcounty titles together with an excellent win over Young Irelands
Well done to the all the players and management on another great victory. The photo gallery will be updated with pictures of the victorious team in the coming week.
John Lockes 4-10 Young Irelands 2-10
In a repeat of last years Roinn C decider John Lockes and Young Irelands stepped up a grade and as a measure of both clubs improvementthey qualified for this years Roinn B final. The match was played in heavy underfoot condititions in Ballyhale last week withthe Callan boys starting the brighter registering the first four scores, points from Dan Doheny,Matthew Holohan and a free from Shane Bergin before Dan Mc Cormack crashed home a goal past Gowran keeper Niall Walsh following good approach work from Niall Hennessy and JJ O'Keefe. Shane Bergin stretched the lead to seven points before Young Irelands awoke and found their form. Wing forward Paul Holdenpointed three frees and midfielder J.J. Lennon added one from play before Holden again raised a white flag to leave just two points between the sides j.l. 1-4 Y.i. 0-5. The Lockes were awarded a 21 yard free in the 25th minute and centreback Jason Corcoran stepped up and crashed the ball to the net to put his side five points up. Shane Bergin added another point for Callan before J.J.O'Keefe added a three pointer after his initial shot was blocked by his marker Patrick Lennon. Paul Kehoe and Jason Corcoran exchanged points again to leave the Lockes with a comfortable half time cushion of three goals 3-5 to 0-5.
Backboned by county minor player Michael Walsh and club senior playersJ.J.Lennon and the Kehoe brothersSean and Paul , Young Irelands clawed their way back into the game. Centre forward Chris Nolan goaled in the 45 th minute after both sides had traded points to leave six between them. The Lockes mentors moved Matthew Holohan to full forward and he immediately pointed before Irelands replied with minor scores from the two Pauls Holden and Kehoe to leave five points in it 3-8 to 1-9. Richie O'Connell shot a great point from long distance for Callanand almost immediatelythe Gowran side got an unexpected lifeline when a high lob from Chris Nolan deceived Lockes keeper Luke Burke to leave just a goal between the teams. Callan finished the stronger with resolute defending from James Power who was superb at full back and Tony Delaney and young Owen Mc Grathat wing back. Lennon andNiall Hennessy traded freesbefore Matthew Holohan set up the match winning score, when his goal bound shot was saved by Walsh in the Irelandsnet ,only for Dan MC Cormack to tap home the rebound. The Lockes were home and dry and deserving of their first B league title in eleven years.
JOHN LOCKES:LUKE BURKE, EMMET NOLAN, JAMES POWER, TONY DELANEY, RYAN O;DWYER, JASON CORCORAN(1-1) ,OWEN MCGRATH, ALAN BERGIN,MATTHEW HOLOHAN(0-2) , RICHIEO'CONNELL(0-1) , NIALL HENNESSY(0-2), SHANE BERGIN(0-3), DAN DOHENY(0-1) , DAN MC CORMACK(2-0) ,J.J.O'KEEFE(1-0).
YOUNG IRELANDS: NIALL WALSH, EMMET BYRNE, PATRICK LENNON, JACK GLENNON, COLM DREELING, MICHAEL WALSH,SEAN KEHOE, J.J. LENNON(0-2), MARK DARGAN, PAUL HOLDEN(0-6), CHRIS NOLAN(2-0), SEAN DIREEN ,JOHN MORRIS, PAUL KEHOE(0-2), EOIN WALSH.
Referee: Paschal Connolly.