1996/99
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ULSTER SAYS NO TO CONNAUGHT
GAA
4 February 1998
Railway Cup Semi-final re-play
Ulster 0 - 20 Connaught 1 - 14
From John Melvin in Clones
Pride, passion and good football, attributes not normally associated with the Inter-Provincial Series, were present in abundance in this absorbing Railway Cup semi-final re-play between holders Ulster and Connaught at ice-cold Clones on Sunday.
Those who seek to remedy the poor public image of the much maligned Railway Cup could find ample evidence in this game to suggest all may not be lost and the provincial shirt is still worth fighting for.
Certainly the players on view in Clones wore it with distinction in an absorbing tie that could have gone either way.
Given a decent sponsor, and a higher profile, the competition, which had been dying on it's knees for years, may yet find a reason to stay a live.
Certainly the 2,400 hardy souls who turned out in cold conditions in Clones were happy with the value they got in a open game which yielded high quality scores and play form both teams.
Following the drawn game in Hyde Park, the pendulum had swung very much in favour of an Ulster victory and this belief was reenforced further when the shape of the side had to be altered considerably due to injuries and the unavailability of a number of players.
No explanation was offered for the absence of Kieran McDonald, who also failed to show for Mayo against Tyrone on Saturday; rumours that James Horan, who came on as a sub and was then inexplicably substituted having scored points, had indicated he would not be travelling because of a disagreement with the manager, seem well founded while Maurice Sheridan was called up for the injured Paul Taylor of Sligo; David Heaney (Mayo) also had withdraw having picked up an injury while playing for Mayo in that match against Tyrone; Damian Donlon (Roscommon) filled in for Heaney with James Nallen moving to midfield for David Brady who is also injured while Galway's Damien Mitchell filled in for Nallen at centre-half back.
Whether we had the best players in the province on view is open to argument, but nobody could be faulted for a lack of effort in a game that was always entertaining, close and of a high quality.
Despite a sluggish start, the game moved up a few gears after fifteen minutes, at which stage Ulster had taken a 0-4 lead top scorer, Tony Boyle, making his imprint at an early stage with his trusty right boot which landed 0-12 in all- ten from frees.
Connaught had opened brightly with a point from Leitrim's Adrian Cullen after a fine through ball from Pat Fallon, but three from Boyle (tow frees) and one from Dermot McCabe had Ulster two points clear.
Aiden Rooney and Maurice Sheridan, showing some good form, had matters tied at 0-4 each after 24 minutes and Colm McManamon and Eamon o'Hara, could well have found the net, put Connaught two points clear but Boyle reduced his sides' interval deficit tot eh minimum- 0-6 to 0-5.
Ulster, playing the short passing game to good effect took a firm grip on matters early in the second half Anthony Tohill was beginning to impose himself at midfield and the introduction of substitutes Paul Brewster and Jim McGuinness, was to have a major impact on matters, the latter proving an inspirational figure all over the field.
Boyle, Ger Cavlan and Boyle again saw Ulster go two points clear 0-8 to 0-6, after just five minutes of the second half but by the 43rd minute Connaught had levelled the game at 0-10 each, Fallon, O'Hara and Sheridan hitting three excellent scores from play.
And it was a Mayo combination of McManamon and Fallon that ws involved in the move which ended with a goal, Fallon's effort at a point coming off the upright, and Lorcan Dowd the first to react and bury the ball in the net.
When Sheridan pushed Connaught's lead to four points with a free shortly after the goal, they were looking good for a place in the final against Leinster.
Marvellous Point
But substitute McGuinness hit a marvellous point with his left foot to spark an Ulster revival and three points from Boyle, two from frees had the sides level with three minutes of normal time remaining.
Half-back Noel Hegarty appeared to have settled the argument once and for all when he produced a point from a snap-shot in front of goals but in the last attack in normal time Brian Walsh forced this game into extra time once again.
The hero of that extra-time was very much Tyrone goal keeper Finbar McConnell who produced three stunning saves from Dowd, Walsh and Costello. On each occasion it could be argued they should have taken their points but, in fairness, it ws hard to resist the temptation of goals and only McConnell's brilliance denied Connaught a famous victory.
After the first period of extra time Connaught added just one point-Sheridan the provider from free from the hands, while Ulster had added three points to put them 0-18 to 1-13 ahead.
In the second period a superb point from Colm McManamon brought the gap back to the minimum. Connaught did have that goal chance which was saved and it was Cavlan with a brilliant point from a sideline ball an Boyle who finally sealed it for the Ulster men.
A performance which certainly reflected the rising standards of the game in Connaught in general while Ulster performed as a team that takes all it's football seriously and that includes the Railway Cup which they would appear to be unwilling to give up.
Finbar McConnell, Noel Hegarty, Paul Devlin, Chris Lawn, Henry Downey, Anthony Tohill, Gerard Cavlan, Tony Boyle, Jim McGuinness and Paul Brewster were the ones who contributed most to this win.
Connaught were well served by Peter Burke, who did nothing wrong in goals, Kenneth Mortimer, who had a good game on Peter Canavan, Fergal Costello, Gary Walsh, Damien Donlon, Sean Og de Paor, Pat Fallon, Eamon 0'Hara, Colm McManamon, Lorcan Dowd and Maurice Sheridan.
Ulsters Scorers were Tony Boyle 0-12-10 frees; Gerry Cavan 0-3; J. McGuinness 0-2; D. McCabe 0-1; N. Hegarty 0-1; D. Marsden 0-1;
Connaught: Peter Burke (Mayo), Kenneth Mortimer (Mayo), Gary Fahy (Galway), Fergal Costello (Mayo), Damien Donlon (Roscommon), Damien Mitchell (Galway), Sean de Paor, Pat Fallon (Mayo 0-1); James Nallen (Mayo); Aidan Rooney (Leitrim 0-1); Eamon O'Hara (Sligo- 0-1); Colm McManamon (Mayo 0-2); Lorcan Dowd (1-0- Roscommon) Adrian Cullen (Leitrim 0-2); Maurice Sheridan (Mayo 0-5). Subs: Brian Walsh (Sligo 0-1) for Rooney, Ciaran Murray (Leitrim) for Donlon, B. Kilcoyne (Sligo) for Walsh.
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - February 1998
