By Mark McGoldrick for The Irish World, at Cotlandswick, St Alban's.
Herdfordshire Senior Football Championship Final
Glen Rovers: 4-10
St Dympnas: 1-5
By Mark McGoldrick, at Cotlandswick, St Alban's.
Last Sunday saw the conclusion of the Herdfordshire Senior Football Championship, as long time rivals
Glen Rovers and St Dympnas faced off against each other for the third time this year.
With one win each in their last two encounters, both sides were eager to triumph in Cotlanswick on
Sunday, but it was ultimately Dave Byrne's Glen Rovers that came out on top, with a decisive win of 4-
10, to St Dympnas score tally of 1-5.
St Dympnas had the first chance of the game, when Cormac Healy was awarded a free from distance,
after just two minutes. The shot didn't have the accuracy needed to open up the score sheet for the
Luton side however, and the sides remained level.
Glen Rovers meanwhile, showed they were not going to relive another Senior Final defeat, after losing
to Eire Og Oxford last year, and went three points up one minute later.
Martin Joyce cut through the St Dympnas defense on the left hand side, after just three minutes, and
rifled a shot passed Jack Cheshire, putting the ball to rest comfortably in the bottom right hand corner of
his net.
Sean McMonagle tried to counter for the Luton side immediately after Byrne's blistering finish, but was
brought down by Eoin Callaghen, drawing a foul.
St Dympnas, again, had a chance to go on the score board, after Noel Griffin awarded a free to the Luton
men for the previous foul, but the resulting free ricocheted off the upright and out of play.
However, St Dympnas luck eventually turned, after Kevin Killian had a great run in midfield, laying the
ball off to Ciaran Gallen, who slid the ball passed Peter Beehan, to get his side's only goal of the game.
Glen Rovers weren't put off by this though as, after a few unsuccessful attempts, Byrne again scored
from play; this time scoring a point through traffic, putting his side in front for the second time in twelve
minutes.
After a slight lull in play, and a few points scored from frees, Gary Connally seized on a gap in midfield,
with ten minutes to go, and after a great run and a scramble in front of Cheshire's net, Rovers were
awarded a point for their efforts.
Mark Keyes and Gallen must have sensed an opportunity for St Dympnas, because after some great one
two play down the right hand side, Gallen added another point to his sides score tally.
Rovers captain, Seamus Hayes, immediately answered for his Watford team mates one minute later
however, shooting from distance to guide the ball between the posts.
Glen Rovers weren't done with their old rivals yet though. With three minutes to go in the half, Seamus
Hayes, Niall O'Reilly and Byrne strung some well placed passes together, with Byrne eventually finding
O'Reilly in space, allowing the Rovers captain to take his shot against Cheshire and score Rovers second
goal of the game.
Denis Twoomey finished off the half for Rovers by fisting the ball over the bar, so at the half Glen Rovers
led St Dympnas 2-5 to 1-2, with it being obvious that the Watford men did not intend for this to be a
repeat of last year's final.
It was Fiacra Landers who drew first blood in the second half for Rovers, after shooting a superb,
accurate shot from distance after just two minutes.
St Dympnas would have to wait for the 35 minute mark to get on the board, when Kevin Killian
accurately shot between the posts, from a free awarded by Griffin.
There was another great goal chance for Rovers, three minutes later, when Connally and Byrne found
themselves in front of Cheshire's net, however the St Dympnas' keeper wasn't going to be beaten on
this occasion and pulled off a great save to keep his side in the game.
Connally didn't have to wait long to get the goal he was searching for however when, with just ten
minutes gone in the half, Hayes gave the ball to his team mate, who guided the ball into Cheshire's
bottom left corner.
With fifteen minutes gone in the second half, McMonegle had a great goal chance for St Dympnas.
Unfortunately for the Luton man, the shot went through a number of defenders and out of play.
Connally showed McMoneagle how it was done, one minute later however, when he got his second goal
of the game for Rovers, with some assistance from Byrne much to the delight of assembled Rovers fans.
The next six minutes were all Rovers, as added pressure on St Dympnas resulted in a few wades for the
Luton side and an extra point for Rovers from Joyce.
St Dympnas added two more points to their tally in the closing seven minutes from frees, but never got
the goal their side badly needed. Glen Rovers defensive line was just too strong for their old Luton rivals
on this occasion and the game finished Glen Rovers 4-10 St Dympnas 1-5.
Glen Rovers: Peter Beehan, Brian Coyle, Ken Hayes, Denis Twoomey, Gary Connally(2-0), Jake O'Shea (0-
1), Eoin Callaghen, Seamus Hayes, Martin Calvey, Donald McGee, Niall O'Reilly(0-1), Simon Donnellan(0-
4), Conor Byrne(1-1), Martin Joyce(1-1), Fiacra Landers(0-1). Subs: Byrne for McNamara, Coyle for
Hayes, Cox for Joyce, O'Leary for Twoomney, O'Conor for Byrne.
St Dympnas: Jack Cheshire, Norman Prenderghast, Andrew Kelley, Michael Nevin, Aaron Jarvis(0-1),
Sean McMonegle(0-1), Brendan O'Leary, Richard McKenzie(0-1), Mark Keyes, Aidrian Brady, Steven
Laffrey(0-1), Patrick McNamara(1-0), Cormac Healy (0-1), Kevin Killian. Subs: Gormley for Prendergast,
Kileen for Gallen, Brady for Maloney, McKenzie for Gallen.
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