1996/99
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Resilient Davitt College stay in pursuit of ultimate goal
GAA
18 March 1998
All-Ireland Vocational School's Semi-Final
Davitt College (Castlebar) 1-10-----------------------Baltinglass (Wicklow) 0-9
John Melvin reports from Athlone
The clouds of doubt which have overshadowed Davitt College's pursuit of All Ireland glory were dispersed in Athlone on Saturday where they withstood the stern challenge of a strong Baltinglass side to clinch a place against Cookstown in the All-Ireland Vocational School's senior football final.
In a semi-final of many twists and turns, including a missed penalty for both sides, it was the Connacht champions who found they had a reserve in the tank when they were forced to dig deep midway through the second half when the Leinster champions were breathing down their necks with the gap back to the minimum.
It was at that point that doubts began to arise about the ability of Davitt College to withstand the pressure which had seen a five point lead almost wiped out as Baltinglass came forward in numbers.
But virtually to a man, Davitt College refused to wilt and not surprisingly, Marty McNicholas, who had produced a goal of stunning proportions in the first half, sign posted the way to victory with a cruel point only to be followed by a superb point from Gary Dillon and yet another from Sean Reilly and yet another from Alan Dillon.
It was sufficient to break the back of the Baltinglass resistance and in the end Davitt College could have won by a more handsome major with the final point form Baltinglass coming deep into injury time.
But up to that flurry in the last seven minutes, this game was wide open but there was no doubt that the better team won in the end.
The Connacht champions could have made life much easier for themselves had they put away a penalty inside the first ten minutes but Harry Flynn's effort was wide of the mark. At that point Baltinglass were a point ahead- Flynn having opened the scoring for Davitt College, but Anthony Furlong (free) John Farrell finding the target.
It was a slick move involving McNicholas, Fergal Hoban and Gary Dillon, with the latter earning the penalty after a crude challenge in the box.
However, Flynn failed to find the target but on the 11th minute Marty McNicholas, exploiting one of his greatest attributes of his pace, curved in from the wing to drill low to the corner of the net on the left peg for a marvellous goal.
It turned out to be the score that separate the sides at the break-1-4 to 0-4. Ciaran Foley pulled the deficit back to one with point form play but a superb pint from Fergal Hoban restored Davitt College's tow point lead before McNicholas stretched the gap to three with another fine finish to a good move which open again involved the creative Gary Dillon.
Davitt College were now beginning to move with a team with purpose and rhythm and it was Gary Dillon, Harry Flynn and Alan Dillon that combined sweeten with the latter finding the target to give his side a four point lead but it was pegged back to three by John Farrell just before the break. Inside eight minutes of the second half Davitt College had added two more points, Fergal Hoban and Sean and Gary Dillon the provider, but in between those two scores Baltinglass were presented with the chance of the goal they needed when john Farrell was hauled to the ground . The penalty was drilled straight at Frank Scully who got down well to stop it and did even better to retrieve the loose ball before penalty taker J.P. Kelly was allowed a second stab at it.
It was a vital save as it turned out. From once Davitt College went 1-6 to 0-4 clear, it was Baltinglass who p applied the pressure with their towering centre forward John Faulkner now operating at midfield.
He provided them with a superb point to kick-start his die into action. J.P. Kelly followed with another , Faulkner struck again and Kelly knocked over free from the hands to break the gap back to just one point with fifteen minutes remaining.
Davitt College were beginning to feel the pressure, but to their credit they regrouped. Sean Reilly and Harry Flynn began ti impose themselves more on the game and some excellent work from the defence in general but from Mark Basquill and Barry Jordan in particular, snuffed out a number of serious threats.
But Davitt College needed a score to end a barn spell of twelve minutes nd it was Marty Mac, who popped up, once again taking on the defence before firing over a crucial point and inside two minutes Gary Dillon picked off another one and it was Basquill who set up the attack which saw Sean Reilly put Davitt College back in command with a four point lead, four minutes form time.
A vital interception from Barry Jordan was the start of the move which saw Hoban put Alan Dillon through for yet another good score as Davitt College now began to buzz, and although they hit a few bad wides and Fergal Hoban had a bl cracker of a shot stopped by the keeper, they were back in command of this match when it mattered most.
For the winners it was a team effort int eh end. The defence looked vulnerable at in the first half particularly hen they lost Brian Ansbro, but when they sleeves had to be rolled up Barry Jordan, Michael Walsh, Mervyn Marley, Karol Jennings and Barry Basquil responded spelndidly.
Sean Reilly and Flynn took it in turns to carry the load at midfield with Reilly making a vital contribution in the second half and Flynn always beavering away.
Up front the Dillon brothers provided the spark which ignited the attack where the contribution of Marty McNicholas and Fergal Hoban cannot be underestimated while ray Walsh and substitutes Ronan Collins and Kieran Moran all made critical contribution in a turbulent second half.
Davitt College: Frank. Scully, Barry. Jordan, Kevin Ansbro, Michael Walsh, Karol. Jennings, Mervyn Marley, B. Basquill, Sean Reilly (0-1); Harry Flynn (0-1); Gary. Dillon (0-2); Con Lydon, Marty McNicholas (1-2); Alan. Dillon (0-1); Ray Walsh, Fergal. Hoban (0-2). Subs: K. Moran for Ansbro; r. Collins for Lydon.
Davitt College: D. Barrett, P. Farrell, B. Daly, C. Foley, E. O'Neill, B. Donegan, L. Leonard C. Foley (0-1); M. Lawlor (0-2); J.P. Kelly (0-2); J. Faulkner (0-2); J. Whelan, K. Prendergast, J. Farrelly (0-2); A. Furlong (09-1). Subs C. Deacy for Furlong.
Ref: B. Crowe (Cavan).
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - March 1998
