Douglas 1-16

Ibane Gaels 2-9

TOM LYONS REPORTS

IGNORE the final scoreline as this was no way a four-point game.

Douglas won because of a powerful surge in the closing minutes when they were able to introduce their ‘bomb squad’ off the bench. In fact, the city side didn’t lead in this high-class county U21A football final in Macroom on Sunday until the 45th minute. They kicked the last five points in the closing eight minutes to surge to glory.

This was a farewell performance from the Ibane U21 side as they will not be allowed to field as an independent team next season under the new county board guidelines. They certainly bowed out with their heads held high in their first-ever U21 county football final, against hot favourites Douglas, double minor champions a few seasons back.

Despite the discrepancy in size, with Douglas fielding a big, physical team, Ibane looked the better team for a lot of this game, playing with real style and abandon. Against the breeze, they shocked Douglas with two goals in the opening quarter to lead by six points. Even though Douglas made a great comeback in the second quarter, it was Ibane in front by a point at half time, with the breeze to their backs in the second half.

Unfortunately for the West Cork champions, a heavy wintry shower killed off the breeze for the second half and when Douglas struck for a goal in the third quarter, signs were ominous for the Ibane lads.

Battling gallantly, Ibane held on tenaciously and led in the 50th minute but Douglas hit their purple patch in the closing ten minutes.

There is honour in defeat and this was certainly an occasion when the losers won everywhere except on the scoreboard, where it matters most. For Ibane, it wasn’t the end that this U21 team wanted.

Ibane Gaels' Mike Collins has his shirt checked for elasticity by Douglas centre-back James Burke. (Photo: Martin Walsh)

‘As regards this being our last game as a team, that’s for another day,’ Ibane boss Danny Murphy reflected.

‘Above in Douglas, they’re facing different challenges than we’re facing and they’re doing their best. We’re the same below in Barryroe and Timoleague, facing challenges and doing our best for the lads. We’ll see if it was the right decision or not. Fellas will fall by the wayside, fellas will go travelling and all that kind of stuff.

‘The goal is to get all these lads to play into their 30s, to have success with their clubs. This is a generational thing, it happens maybe once every ten years. We got a bit of a run but just didn’t win the silverware today.’

Ibane had their stars, with Olan O’Donovan on the forty again leading the way, kicking five points and always being involved. Douglas did well to limit him to a single point in the second half. Wing back Mike Collins also stood out with some superb defending and driving forward from defence – his goal was top-drawer stuff. Big Luke Murphy gave his all in pursuit of victory, while Dara Walsh and Tomás Ó Buachalla impressed all through.

Against the breeze, Ibane hit the ground running, an Olan O’Donovan pointed free being followed by a class goal from Dara Walsh, when he jinked his way through the heart of the opposing defence.

It was seven minutes before Douglas breached the Ibane defence for their first point, from corner back Luis Dwan-Fogarty, to which Olan O’Donovan responded. Outstanding midfielder Jack O’Brien raised a white flag and, again O’Donovan answered from a free.

Seán Coakley (free) had his first point in the 13th minute but Ibane struck another major blow in the 14th minute when wing back Mike Collins cut through the defence and his deflected shot looped over the goalkeeper’s head.

Jack Cunningham, who was to finish with a commendable five points (three from frees), pointed but it was Ibane in the driving seat, 2-3 to 0-4, at the end of the first quarter and their supporters were in full voice.

Danny Murphy was very proud of the Ibane Gaels effort. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Seán Coakley and Dara Walsh swapped points at the start of the second quarter but Douglas were beginning to get a grip at midfield. Showing great battling qualities, they kicked five points in a row to level the game by the 29th minute, including the only two-pointer in the game from Seán Coakley.

Olan O’Donovan had the final say of the half and Ibane were in a good place, a point to the good, 2-5 to 0-10, with the breeze in the second half.

What a battle we had in that second half as the breeze died and both sides went in search of victory. Only four scores were registered in the third quarter as defences got well on top. Kevin Hennessy, Daniel Moloney and Mike Collins impressed for Ibane, while Luis Dwan-Fogarty, James Burke and Ollie Barry stood out for Douglas. O’Donovan (free) and corner back Kevin Hennessy kicked Ibane scores, and Jack Cunningham and Coakley replied. But Coakley’s score in the 45th minute was a delicate side-footed goal, which put Douglas in front for the first time, 1-11 to 2-7, at the start of the last quarter.

Undaunted, back came Ibane with points from Tomás Ó Buachalla and sub Jamie Collins to regain the lead with ten minutes remaining. Were the men from Barryroe/Timoleague about to bow out of existence with a bang? Unfortunately no, as the Douglas bench – five strong subs in the last 20 minutes – began to take effect, especially the tall Ronan Dooley winning possession at midfield. Ibane were not to score again as Douglas struck for home with five unanswered points from Fogarty, Dooley, Cunningham (2) and, finally, Coakley with the insurance point in the 63rd minute.

Heartbreak for gallant Ibane Gaels in their last game together but heads held high after a marvellous effort.

‘The lads have put in a good effort all year. They did themselves proud and proved they are capable of competing with the best,’ Danny Murphy added.

‘We all like to win, disappointed going home, but we were out training for the last couple of weeks, playing here today, we could have been at home sitting on our backsides. Fair play to the lads, they put in a great effort, they deserve a huge amount of credit, we’re proud of them.’

OUR STAR: Olan O’Donovan and Mike Collins stood out for Ibane, as did Jack Cunningham for Douglas but the winners had a class act in full forward, Seán Coakley, whose 1-6 was almost half their total score.

Scorers

Douglas: Seán Coakley 1-6 (2f, 1 2pt); Jack Cunningham 0-5 (2f); Luis Dwan-Fogarty 0-2; Jack O’Brien, Harry Quilligan, Ronan Dooley 0-1 each.

Ibane Gaels: Olan O’Donovan 0-5 (3f); Dara Walsh 1-1; Mike Collins 1-0; Kevin Hennessy, Tomás Ó Buachalla 0-1 each.

Douglas: James O’Flaherty; Donnacha O’Callaghan, James O’Callaghan-Maher, Luis Dwane Fogarty; Colm McPhaidín, James Burke, Ollie Barry; David Buckley, Jack O’Brien; Harry Quilligan, Seán O’Leary, Adam Young; Eoin O’Flynn, Seán Coakley, Jack Cunningham.

Subs: Joe Mouret for A Young (42), Donnacha McPhaidín for C McPhaidín (42), Ronan Dooley for H Quilligan (47), Chris O’Keeffe for E O’Flynn (55), Rob Hanley for J Cunningham (58).

Ibane Gaels: Luke McCarthy; Kevin Hennessy, Aidan Walsh, Daniel Moloney; Mike Collins, Diarmuid McCarthy, Charlie Twomey; Dermot Dineen, Tomás Ó Buachalla; Donagh Flynn, Olan O’Donovan, Jack Twomey; Luke Murphy, James Crowley, Dara Walsh.

Sub: Jamie Collins for J Crowley (46).

Referee: John Ryan (Macroom).