Cahill strikes late to end Éire Óg famine
Éire Óg captain Colm Lavin accepts the Jamesie Murray Cup from Roscommon GAA Chairperson Thomas Murray. Picture: Éire Óg GAA Club.
Ronan Cahill’s 60th minute goal helped Éire Óg end their 33 year wait for the Jamesie Murray Cup.
After losing three finals in the past four years, Éire Óg secured the sweetest of triumphs as they overcame Tulsk in a tense affair. It won’t go down as a classic county final but Éire Óg produced a thrilling finish to ensure they will play senior football next year.
Éire Óg appeared on the backfoot after only leading 1-3 to 0-4 at half time after playing with a strong, swirling breeze in the opening half. Conor Cox got his side up and running with a free and an effort from play but Tulsk’s slow attacks were effective in not allowing their opponents build up any momentum.
A Thomas O’Rourke score after 13 minutes got Tulsk off the mark but Cox struck a decisive blow when he netted two minutes later following excellent work by James McGreal and Brian Greene in the build up. Even though Cox slotted a free afterwards, Éire Óg missed all six of their two-point attempts while kicking a half dozen wides in the opening period.
Tulsk continued to frustrate their opponents as Ryan Larkin, Daniel Connolly and Ross Flynn ensured Éire Óg only led 1-3 to 0-4 at half time.
When Thomas O’Rourke tied the contest with a two-point free, Tulsk appeared set to power to victory. But, Éire Óg began to gain control in midfield they sticihed together 0-4 without reply, as Player of the Match Brian Greene kicked a pair while Cox arrowed over a two-point free.
Éire Óg were held scoreless for the next 22 minutes as Tulsk kicked the next 0-5 including a Callum Fahey two-pointer. Niall McNamara inched his side in front and when Thomas O’Rourke tapped over a 13m free after an Éire Óg breach, Liam McNeill’s side appeared poised for victory.
But, Éire Óg stitched together a move of real quality as Brian Greene and Joe Hester, who did a terrific marking job on Thomas O’Rourke, set Ronan Cahill away before the midfielder blasted to the net.
A tense finale saw Tulsk drop their final three efforts short as Éire Óg held on for the sweetest of triumphs.
