Disappointment for St Jude’s minor footballers in showdown

THERE was disappointment for St Jude’s minor footballers who suffered defeat in the Division Two League final 0-12 to 0-10 against Raheny in O’Toole Park on Sunday

The decider was contested between the division’s two unbeaten sides, as Jude’s had prevailed in the southern conference, while Round Towers too had won seven from seven in the northern conference.

Jude’s came into the game having progressed past Whitehall Colmcille by 1-15 to 0-12 in the play-off semi-final earlier this month, while Towers delivered a comprehensive 12-point margin of victory over Clontarf to seal their place in the final.

Jude’s, playing with the wind at their backs, had the better of a nip-and-tuck first half, as scores from corner forwards Dylan Ryan and Alan Connolly helped them to a 0-8 to 0-6 lead at half-time, while Towers goalkeeper Rory O’Brien also made two crucial saves to deny the Tymon Park side, who arguably should have been further in front.

They began brightly once more after the break with a wonderful left-footed score from Connolly, while captain Ciarán McLoughlin continued to impress in his centre back role throughout, before Towers began to claw their way back into the game.

Half-backs David Moore and Donal Clarke and half-forward Kyle Connell had all notched one first-half score each for Towers, while forwards Luke White and Darragh Kiernan contributed five further points between them.

However it was captain Jack Hussey who was the talisman for the Lusk side with an impressive four-point haul, including the two deciding points in the final moments of the game to see his side emerge as league champions.

Jude’s manager Eamonn Walsh said that he was “happy with the team’s performance, in a game played at a very high standard,” but noted that “it was very disappointing for the players to have the result snatched away right at the death.”