Scoil Uí Chonaill Claim 2023 Go-Ahead Intermediate Football Title with Extra Time win over Parnells

SCOIL UÍ CHONAILL 0-14

PARNELL’S 0-13 AET

A last-gasp extra-time point from corner-back Paudí Conlon proved pivotal as Scoil Uí Chonaill pipped Parnell’s by the smallest of margins in their thrilling Go Ahead Dublin Intermediate Club Football Championship final at Parnell Park on Monday afternoon.

The contest looked destined for penalty kicks as Cillian Hunt converted a free deep into extra-time to level matters but Scoil responded with a move of great patience and accuracy to leave Conlon with the task of firing over from close range.

On a night when scores proved elusive, the contribution of Emmet Rogan was key for Scoil with his eight frees going a long way to deciding the outcome in his team’s favour.

Despite falling behind to a 3^rd minute free from Rogan, it was Parnell’s that settled the quicker and after recording two early wides, they eventually levelled as full-forward Cillian Hunt jinked clear before tapping over the crossbar.

A Hunt free edged the Coolock side a point clear by the 8^th minute and he added his third of the hour from a counter-attack after Craig Nolan had made a fine block on Scoil’s Rob Kennedy at the opposite end.

Scoil’s attacking was far too patient at this point, allowing their opponents time to retreat into their own half and a more direct Parnell’s moved three points clear by the 12^th minute as Hunt converted from a ‘mark’.

The contest seemed to be getting away from Scoil Uí Chonaill as corner-back David Corbett kicked an excellent point towards the end of the first-quarter but from a position of control, Parnell’s lost a degree of accuracy in their play, allowing their opponents a route back into the contest.

Scoil’s mini-comeback was kickstarted by a cracking Rogan point from play in the 18^th minute and that accurate left boot was in evidence a minute later as he slotted over a forty-metre free with a minimum of fuss.

The Clontarf Road side dominated the remainder of the half but their sole reward was a free from goalkeeper Andy Bunyan, as they entered the break trailing by the slimmest of margins (0-5 to 0-4).

Parnell’s looked like a team that needed half-time and they appeared far sharper in the initial stages of the second-half with Conor McGrath doubling their advantage within twenty seconds of the resumption.

They could well have netted two minutes later but Sean McHugh fired over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy following smart work from wing-back Alex Hutton.

The Parnell’s momentum was maintained from the resultant kick-out with Stephen Duffy the beneficiary on this occasion and from a position of uncertainty at the break, they were now leading by double scores.

An excellent Rogan free stemmed the Scoil bleeding in the 37^th minute and while Duffy tapped over another point by way of riposte, their opponents kept on their heels thanks to Brendan Murray’s well-taken score.

Another Rogan free brought Scoil’s deficit down to two points by the start of the final quarter but crucially, Hunt and Jamie Sammon kicked sumptuous scores at the opposite end to restore their team’s control on the scoreboard.

That control briefed all too brief as Parnells’ play was punctuated by errors in the closing stages with a Conor Coady point and two frees by Rogan leaving the bare minimum between the teams deep into injury time.

Another mistake in possession saw Scoil regain the ball with Rob Kennedy coolly popping over off his left boot to ensure the sides finished deadlocked at 0-11 apiece, with extra-time now on the agenda.

With both sides struggling with cramp, the extra-time lacked cohesion but more than made up for it in terms of bravery and honest endeavour with Rogan’s two frees handing Scoil a decisive edge at the turnaround.

When Eoin Brunton crashed his shot off the crossbar in the 76^th minute, it appeared Parnell’s had spurned a golden opportunity to spare them their fate but Hunt showed his class with two late frees, points that would have been sufficient but for Conlon’s late and dramatic intervention.

Scorers – Scoil Uí Chonaill: E Rogan 0-9 (8f), A Bunyan (f), B Murray, R Kennedy, C Coady, P Conlon 0-1 apiece. Parnell’s: C Hunt 0-7 (3f, 1 ‘mark’), S Duffy 0-2, D Corbett, C McGrath, Jamie Sammon, S McHugh 0-1 apiece.

Scoil Uí Chonaill: A Bunyan; A Wilson, M Tierney, P Conlon; A McCrea, B Fleming, S Costello; E Doyle, N Doherty; E Rogan, R Keane, B Murray; C Dixon, N O’Flynn, R Kennedy. Subs: C Geraghty for Keane (38), C Coady for O’Flynn (38), S O’Flaherty for Dixon (50), K Cagney for Doherty (50), J Loughran for McCrea (56), P Naughton for Wilson (74).

Parnell’s: C Quinn; D Corbett, C Nolan, R O’Shea; A Hutton, G George, S McGrath; A Myler, A Doyle; C McGrath, T Davis, Jamie Sammon; S Duffy, C Hunt, S McHugh. Subs: H Gardner for McHugh (40), E Brunton for Duffy (52), John Sammon for Doyle (56), B O’Sullivan for Nolan (60+1), M Scullion for Corbett (62), Doyle for Jamie Sammon (66), Duffy for C McGrath (71).

Referee: Liam Aherne Clarke (Ballyboughal)