The St Mullins rundown.
By Leo McGough
– ST MULLINS –
KEVIN KEHOE: The goalkeepers puck-outs were involved in the ‘assist’ to 1-3, two ‘short’ deliveries, two, including the goal, via the traditional as far as you can drive it route. Little he could do to prevent either goal.
PAUDIE O’SHEA: Defended with gusto, worked hard, made himself available for short puck-outs and availed of one to launch an attack which yielded a point.
PAUL DOYLE: Started in the last line of defence, appeared to be operating further from goal as the game progressed, defended with his usual iron resolve while also seen to effect in attack when a solo run for a moment looked like leading to a goal. His assist figures reads 0-3, one a long ball, one a well flighted line-ball, the other a handless having lost his stick.
JOHN DORAN: Made one great burst out of defence early on, was called on to try and shackle Eddie Byrne, was unlucky with a few balls that went astray when trying to do the right thing. Was called ashore in the 21st minute when St Mullins manager Tommy Buggy and his selectors made a tactical alteration, bringing on Oisin Ryan in attack and moving Paudie Kehoe to full-back.
PAUDIE KEHOE: Started at right half back, leg heavily strapped, was doing ok there too but it was when he went in as a kind of emergency full-back that Paudie really thrived, the had a mighty battle with Eddie Byrne, a battle you could say Eddie won but without Paudie there Eddie might have wreaked a lot more damage. Kehoe’s assist figures are interesting: 1-1, a measured clearance that led to a point early in the second half, winning the late, late tussle with Byrne and having the composure to lift and and land a long ball down field that led to the equalising goal.
MICHAEL WALSH: Some doubted if, despite his good semi-final showing there, Michael would be tested with the No 6 role. He was and he justified that confidence particularly in the first half when clearing a good bit of ball when holding the centre while his man drifted about a good bit. Holding the centre was important.
GER COADY (Capt): The yellow helmeted skipper had a good solid game all through, was on a fair share of ball early in the game but he really burst to live mid-way through the second half when twice in quick succession his skilful interventions led to two invaluable points, the first a rescue-and-hand-pass, the second calmness under presssure in the right corner before clearing his lines. A captain’s part.
CONOR KEHOE: The fact that he scored just one point from play and the absence of a goal to his name would give the lazy analysts case to say he under-performed but add Conor’s assist total of 0-3 and fouled for a free converted, 0-1, and you get a truer picture of Conor’s contribution, particularly in the second half when most of these figures were compiled.
CIARAN HARRIS: Maybe a surprise choice for midfield, albeit he had hurled well in defence in earlier games, he showed no nerves in his first county final and early on when a lot of his more experienced colleagues were struggling, Ciaran had the audacity to try cut through for a goal, winning a free that Mouse converted and Harris also set up Mouse for a point from play with a clever pass. Unlucky to be called ashore at half-time, making way for Jason O’Neill as the St Mullins mentors implemented further tactical adjustments.
JAMES DOYLE: Six glorious points from play, points from all ranges and angles, points off left and right, his was a truly sensational display. He was also fouled for a free that led to a point and apart altogether from scoring drooped back late in the game and effected a couple of long relieving clearances much tio the delight of the St Mullins supporters.
JACK KAVANAGH: Located the net twice late in the opening half, the two goals that would qualify as the ‘turning point’ of the game as both kept his team afloat. Jack put in his usual hard-working shift, had an assist for a point too but it was those goals that breathed life into the green and white sails.
EAMONN O’SHEA: His sweet cushioning of a dangerously dipping ball from stick to hand in front of the stand late in proceedings was a real crowd pleaser, not only that he used that possession well and worked hard all through, a valuable assist to a point.
MARTY KAVANAGH: From Villian to Hero, that equalising goal was some strike. If it hadn’t gone in and St Mullins had lost his two wides one after the other would have been under the microscope as proof of his not the man he was. Great players are judged by their own high standards and maybe, just maybe in general play ‘Mouse’ didn’t light up proceedings. However he scored 1-2 from play, his two points typical beauties. On the six converted frees he was fouled for one and had the tactical acumen to take the point from another that left just three in it late on. That only leaves Assists. Only? That account for another 1-3, a pass when falling to John Doyle that kept the play alive in the lead up to the brothers first goal while a clever first time flick, a line-ball cut into James Doyle’s hand and a quick cross field free that set up Conor Kehoe. That’s 2-11 that ‘Mouse’ had a hand (and stick and head) in.
JOHN DOYLE: Got through a lot of useful work and made up for spurniung a goal chance of his own with the intelligent two-handed stick-pass that set up Jack Kavanagh for his first goal, also helped create a wonderful team-score point for the ‘Mouse’ in the second half.
15. PADDY BOLAND: Came soaring into the game late on, soaring to the skies to pluck down two long high balls, fouled on both occasions leading to a brace of points from converted frees which kept the scoreboard ticking over down the home straight.
OISIN RYAN: Came on for John Doran in the 21st minute, taking up a forward position, a rib injury forced his removal two minutes from the end of normal time but not before he had a half-chance of a goal and was iinvolved in a few threatening attacks.
JASON O’NEILL: Deeply disappointed to be dropped for the final, he got his chance for atonement at halftime and how he took it, not put off by an early wide, he sniped a point and then held the nerve to, at the second attempt, provide the hand-pass for the late, late equalising goal.
SEAMUS MURPHY: The veteran raider, scorer of 1-8 the previous evening in the Intermediate final win, was brought on for just such a purpose in the dying minutes, contested one dropping ball to no avail but it was well worth the tactical gamble to have his experience and craft in around the house at the death.
