Oranmore/Maree power to U21 B football title

Killanin 1-8

ORANMORE/Maree were crowned U21 ‘B’ county champions after they had eight points to spare over Killanin in Sunday final. While the gap does a slight disservice to a resilient Killanin side, the better team won on the day and the result rarely looked in doubt.

A run of seven unanswered-points midway through the first half was enough to give Oranmore/Maree a significant cushion for much of the game, and while an early second half goal from Killanin hinted at a comeback, the revival never really materialised.

The eventual winners signalled their intent from the opening minute as Eoghan Stenson set up Conor Tarpey to fire over the game’s first score. A free from Enda Kelly brought Killanin level but Oranmore/Maree soon took control of the match with a ten minute spell that included some scintillating football.

Eoghan Stenson got the ball rolling with two superb scores to edge his side into the lead. Points from Jonathan Keliher and Sean McInerney extended Oranmore/Maree’s lead to four by the 20 minute mark, 0-5 to 0-1. By this stage, Sean Greene’s men were in top gear and continued to pull away from Killanin. A super catch from wing-forward Brian Tarpey allowed him to set up the onrushing Nicholas Sheehan for the next score as his side continued to gain momentum.

Enda Walsh was also excelling for Oranmore/Maree at this point and the tall midfielder caught the resulting kickout before releasing Brian Tarpey to open his account. There were signs throughout the first half that this was to be Oranmore/Maree’s day. Killanin’s Edwin Murray, a member of the county U21 team, went off injured early on while captain Niall Acton was also forced to limp out later in the half.

Even when things went wrong for Oranmore/Maree, they seemed to work out in the end. When Jonathan Keliher miss-hit a long-range free, his high, looping kick dropped right into the arms of Nicholas Sheehan to notch his second point of the game. Centre-forward Johnny Heaney injected some much-needed life into Killanin soon after as he finished off a fine solo run with his side’s first score for nearly 20 minutes.

Full report in this week's Connacht Tribune.