St Patrick's Cullyhanna players celebrate with the cup after the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final match between Cill na Martra of Cork and St Patrick's Cullyhanna of Armagh at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Final
ST. PATRICK'S CULLYHANNA 1-8 CILL NA MARTRA 0-7
By Steve Malone at Croke Park
St. Pat's, Cullyhanna are Intermediate All-Ireland Club champions and are the first team from Armagh to do so after holding out Cill na Marta in Croke Park.
Aidan Nugent's first half goal gave the south Armagh the breathing space they needed with a four-point half-time lead and even though Cill na Martra were in control for most of the second half their 16 wides tells its own tale.
Antóin Ó Cuana opened Cill na Martra’s account, but Gary Mackin who was a late replacement for Barry McConville hit back. Daniel Ó Duinnín edged the Munster men ahead but captain Pearse Casey pointed at the Hill 16 side, a shot out of nothing and then Armagh captain Aidan Nugent looked up and stroked over with 15 minutes gone.
Cill na Martra started to pack their defence, but Cullyhanna teased them out and with 20 minutes gone Micheal Murray’s shot was parried by keeper Pádraig Ó Críodán, young Neil McCreesh got a hand on the rebound and he guided it into the direction of Nugent who buried his shot into the net.
Ciarán Ó Duinnín and Nugent (free) traded points before Nugent’s third point after Jason Duffy was fouled gave the south Armagh men a four-point lead at the break - Cullyhanna 1-05 Cill na Martra 0-04.
The second half Cullyhanna were composed throughout with their defence working hard against the busy Cork champions but scores were hard to come by.
Colm Mac Lochlainn the only scorer in the first ten minutes of the second half then on 42 minutes Cullyhanna corner-back Gavan Duffy restored the lead and Shea Hoey stroked over as the Armagh champions were doing enough.
Colm Mac Lochlainn swung over his third point of the afternoon as the Cork men tried to get reward for their second half dominance but when Jason Duffy floated over a point on third minute of additional time there was no way back for Cill na Martra, although Cullyhanna keeper Jame Carragher denied Daniel Ó Duinnín's last gasp shot for goal and tapped it over the bar as the south Armagh men held on to clinch the All-Ireland title.
Scorers for St. Patrick's Cullyhanna: Aidan Nugent 1-3 (2f), Gavan Duffy, Gary Mackin, Pearse Casey, Jason Duffy, Shea Hoey all 0-1.
Scorers for Cill Na Marta: Colm Mac Lochlainn 0-3, Ciarán Ó Duinnín 0-2, Antóin Ó Cuana 0-1, Daniel Ó Duinnín 0-1.
CULLYHANNA: James Carragher, Sean Og Irwin, Sean Connell, Gavan Duffy (0-01), Neil McCreesh, Michael Murray, Gary Mackin, Pearse Casey, Jason Duffy, Caolan Reavey, Shea Hoey, Ross McQuillan, Kieran McCooey, Tony Donnelly, Aidan Nugent.. Subs used: Barry McConville for N McCreesh (57’), Phelim Savage for C Reavey (63’).
CILL NA MARTRA: Pádraig Ó Críodán, Colm Mac Lochlainn, Tadgh Ó Corcora, Finén Ó Faoláin, Graham Ó Fórréigh, Cianie Ó Fórréigh, Antóin Ó Cuana, Gearóid Ó Goillidhe, Daniel Ó Duinnín, Ciarán Ó Duinnín, Damien Ó hurdail, Maidhcí Ó Duinnín, Micheál Ó Deasúna, Fionbarra Ó héalaithe. Subs: Danny Ó Conaill for M Ó Deasúna, Shane Ó Duinnín for D Ó hurdail, Eoin Ó Conaill for M Ó Duinnín, Daire Mac Lochlainn for F Ó héalaithe.
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).