Inter title for Jude’s reflects culture shift
By Hayden Moore
ST JUDES Intermediate Football team captain Joey Donnelly has cited a culture shift in the club over the last few years as the primary factor behind the club’s first men’s championship title.
After their 1-11 to 0-13 victory over St Vincent’s in the Dublin Intermediate All-County Final, Donnelly said: “For some of the older lads we have a bit of a monkey on our back from always getting to the semi-final or final and losing.
Joey Donnelly (left) has pointed to a fresh winning mentality as the reason behind St Jude's Intermediate Football success
“But these young lads coming through are a different breed because they are used to winning at underage level.
“We have a culture of winning in the club now and the women paved the way for us this year winning the camogie, so it was only right that we followed suit after our seniors lost a few weeks ago.
“For us all to be able to bring it home for Jude’s, is a very special honour.”
With both sides deadlocked on 13 points apiece, the prospect of extra-time time loomed large until Diarmuid McLoughlin served up a massive point deep into added-time.
Despite a surge from the Marino men after the interval that brought the sides level, it was the Templeogue side who shot out of the blocks with two points from stalwart freekick taker Darren Gallagher.
Vinnies chalked up some points of their own down the other end, until Shamrock Rovers prospect Richie English dropped a speculative ball on top of the keeper and it made its way over the line.
English off his right and Gallagher off his left continued to swing points over from frees and with a score from wing-back Ciaran Mangan, they shot into a 1-7 to 0-4 lead by half-time.
It was a different story after the break as Vinnies hit three unanswered points before Diarmuid McLoughlin pulled one back from a free and senior panellist Brendan Lynskey slotted over.
With the wind at their back, Vincent’s continued to turn up the heat and narrowed it to a three-point game before half-forward Donnelly settled his side’s nerves with an elegant point off his right boot.
Jude’s seemed to be letting it slip as Vincent’s kept their opponents on the backfoot firing four points over to bring parity on 63 minutes.
Diarmuid Mangan was found from the resulting kickout and he located McLoughlin just outside the 21, who whirled past three defenders and fired Jude’s to their first ever men’s championship title.
Donnelly said after the clash: “It feels very good to be able to win it after 17 years at Senior level because I am in the twilight of my career now at 35 and it’s so special.
“A few of the lads were asking if I’m finished now, but somebody once told me that you let the game give you up, don’t give up on the game so I’ve no plans to stop playing,” he said.
