Cu Chulainns H&F Club Notes

Cu Chulainns 1-11 (14)

Harlesden Harps 0-12 (12)

VGC Group Intermediate Football Championship Final

Eoin Scully at McGovern Park, Ruislip

Cu Chulainns created history at the headquarters of London GAA on Sunday with a dramatic two-point victory over a gallant Harlesden Harps team. Cu Chulainns marked their 85th anniversary by returning to senior ranks following a late match-winning goal. In a game dominated by place kicking, Harlesden’s Padraig McGoldrick and Cu Chulainns’ Fiachra McArdle traded scores all afternoon.   

The first half wasn’t an advertisement for free-flowing football with two McGoldrick frees midway through the opening period putting Harlesden three points ahead 0-5 to 0-2.  Cu Chulainns responded with a free from McArdle and a fine point from midfielder Ger Byrne. Harlesden kicked on at the end of the half with scores from Ashley O’Halloran and a McGoldrick free. This left them ahead by double sores at the break, 0-08 to 0-04.

Cu Chulainns were fast out of the blocks on the restart with a point from Darren Mc Manus and two McArdle frees. Following a placed ball from McGoldrick, McArdle kicked a lovely score from play to leave a point between the sides. Cu Chulainns were then dealt a hammer blow when barnstorming wing-back Sean Dirrane was given a second yellow card following an innocuous tangle with his marker.

A second score from midfielder O’Halloran pushed Harlesden two points clear and they appeared in the ascendancy given their numerical advantage. But Cu Chulainns were spurred into action with half-time substitutes Pod Biggane and London hurler Oisin Gately exerting their athleticism around midfield. Cu Chulainns hunger was typified by two outstanding Cianan Byrne Blocks under the Tony McGovern stand.

Following two McArdle frees, the sides were level again. McGoldrick then pushed Harlesden back in front from a free on 52 mins before the game’s real turning point. A well worked moved by Cu Chulainns culminated in wing-back Conan O’Brien being played in on goal by Gately. O’Brien’s soccer style shot was blocked by the feet of the onrushing Eamon Mylotte and referee John Doyle showed no hesitation in awarding a penalty. McArdle remained cool and expertly dispatched his strike, leaving Cu Chulainns ahead by the minimum.

McArdle tacked on another free as the game entered stoppage time.  A late scramble in the Cu Chulainns goalmouth looked to have resulted in the ball crossing the line for a Harlesden goal. But after consulting his umpires, John Doyle confirmed his initial decision to award a free out for a challenge on goalkeeper Sean Moloney.

The final whistle sounded seconds later, confirming Tony Faynes’ charges sealed a return to the top flight and a first ever final victory in the intermediate grade.

Cu Chulainns: Sean Maloney; Conor Harrington, Gary Walsh, Camillus Donnelly, Sean Dirrane, Ciaran Boyle, Conan O’Brien; Gerard Byrne (0-2), Cianan Byrne; Anthony Tighe, Darren McManus (0-1), Conor Donnellan; Kyle Feehily, Brendan Breen, Fiachra McArdle (1-8, 0-6f, 1-0 pen).

SUBS: Christopher Teague for Donnelly; Oisin Gately for Feehily; Padraig Biggane for Tighe; Paddy Glennon for Donnellan; Brian White for Boyle (Black Card)

Harlesden Harps: Eamon Mylotte; James Mannion; James Minehan; Andrew McWeeney; Anthony Donnellan; Rob Reid; Peter Raftery; Ashley O’Halloran (0-2); Ben O’Mahoney; John Raftery; Daniel Somers; Tadhg Downey; Darren Murphy; Padraig McGoldrick(0-9); Sean O’Halloran(0-1).

Referee: John Doyle (Fulham Irish)