Courtwood crowned Junior C Champions

Courtwood crowned Junior C Champions

Photos credit Denis Byrne

Courtwood produced a strong second-half display to overcome O’Dempsey’s and secure a 1-11 to 0-9 victory, with their defensive work proving particularly important in preventing their opponents from turning their periods of pressure into scores.

The opening stages were closely contested, with both sides struggling to find their range in difficult, wet and slippery conditions. The first score did not arrive until the eighth minute, following a number of wides at either end.

It was Courtwood who eventually broke the deadlock, with Colm Wilson opening the scoring from play.

O’Dempsey’s responded three minutes later when Eugene Nolan both won and converted a free. Nolan rose highest to cleanly catch a high ball before drawing the foul, then confidently popped over the resulting free to level matters.

O’Dempsey’s began to gain control around midfield, with Brian Behan particularly influential. Behan won a Courtwood kickout and combined excellently with Ciaran McManus, finding Mick Lawlor, who finished from play in the 15th minute following a very good team move.

Nolan added another point from a free in the 16th minute before Mark Kehoe struck from play a minute later, leaving O’Dempsey’s four points clear at 0-4 to 0-1.

Courtwood were being put under serious attacking pressure, but Liam Burke came to the fore in the 20th minute with his second important defensive interception, dispossessing O’Dempsey’s Rian Brereton who was in a dangerous area to prevent another scoring opportunity. This was Burke’s second important interception as he used his pace to be first out to intercept long courtwood balls kicked into the full forward line.

Courtwood began to settle and Andrew Boland produced a lovely curled effort off his left foot from play, shooting from just inside the 45-metre line to reduce the deficit to two points at 0-4 to 0-2 after 22 minutes.

Then came the game’s first goal.

In the 29th minute Rian Graham found the net from play after a combination of passes involving Liam Ward and Rory Doyle set him up. Graham won a high ball in before producing an excellent solo run and a sharp sidestep to evade the O’Dempsey’s defenders and finish to the net.

That put Courtwood one point ahead, 1-2 to 0-4, just before half-time.

Courtwood then extended their advantage further following an O’Dempsey’s breach, with Colm Wilson converting the resulting free to leave them two points ahead at the break.

Courtwood carried that momentum into the second half, immediately extending their lead to three points through a Rory Doyle free.

O’Dempsey’s again won the resulting kickout, with Brian Behan winning the breaking ball and helping to launch another attack. But once again Courtwood’s defence stood firm, with Liam Burke making another important interception.

That turnover led directly to another Courtwood score, with Rory Doyle pointing from play to put Courtwood four points clear after 35 minutes.

O’Dempsey’s reduced the deficit to three in the 38th minute when Rian Brereton fisted a point, but Courtwood remained in control and David Duffy responded with a point from play a minute later.

Behan won yet another Courtwood kickout, his third kickout win of the game, and this attack eventually resulted in a free for Eugene Nolan.

Nolan reduced the deficit to two points with a 45-metre free in the 45th minute.

Courtwood responded strongly, with Andrew Boland pointing from play in the 47th minute to make it 1-7 to 0-7.

Colm Wilson then converted a free in the 50th minute to restore a four-point advantage, before adding another point from play two minutes later to stretch the lead to five.

O’Dempsey’s answered almost immediately through Mick Lawlor, who pointed from play in the 53rd minute.

Nolan added another free shortly afterwards, but O’Dempsey’s could not bring the deficit below four points as Courtwood’s defence stood up superbly during the closing stages.

A major reason for that was the outstanding work of Evan Kelly.

Kelly was central to Courtwood’s ability to withstand O’Dempsey’s pressure in the final ten minutes. He made an important interception from Rian Brereton, cutting out another attacking opportunity, while his work on the short kickouts was equally effective.

Kelly repeatedly showed excellent handling and ball-carrying ability, winning possession from the short kickouts and driving Courtwood forward. His distribution was also particularly effective, with two excellent long, low passes finding Rory Doyle and directly setting up two of Doyle’s second-half points from play.

Earlier in the game, Kelly had already shown his determination and strength in possession, holding off a heavy challenge from two O’Dempsey’s players while still managing to carry the ball forward into attack. In the difficult wet and slippery conditions, he also did brilliantly to keep a long ball from going out of play, showing the control and composure that became such an important feature of his performance.

Courtwood continued to manage the game in the closing stages before David Duffy added the final score of the game from play.

The final whistle confirmed a 1-11 to 0-9 victory for Courtwood.

MAN OF THE MATCH:

EVAN KELLY

(COURTWOOD’S LEFT HALF BACK)

Evan Kelly was the standout performer, with his influence particularly evident in the second half as Courtwood successfully dealt with O’Dempsey’s attempts to fight their way back into the contest.

His defensive contribution was crucial. Kelly made a key interception from Rian Brereton during the final ten minutes when O’Dempsey’s were applying pressure, while his repeated work on the short kickouts helped Courtwood retain possession and escape pressure.

He was excellent in possession throughout, combining strong handling with powerful ball carrying. His distribution in attack was another major feature, particularly his two long, low kick passes straight into Rory Doyle hands, Kelly directly created two of Doyle’s second-half points from play.

Kelly’s impact was not limited to the closing stages either. Earlier, he showed great strength to withstand a heavy challenge from two O’Dempsey’s players and still carry the ball forward, while his ability to keep a difficult long ball in play and prevent it going out for a sideline ball to O’Dempseys in the slippery conditions was another example of his composure and determination, as he flicked the ball with one foot up into his grasp just on the sideline in perfect timing.

With Courtwood leading for much of the second half but facing repeated pressure from an O’Dempsey’s side looking to close the gap, Kelly’s defensive interceptions and dispossessions, kickout work, ball carrying and precise distribution in passes for setting up scores were all central to Courtwood maintaining control and ultimately securing the four-point victory.

SCORERS – Courtwood: Colm Wilson 0-4 (three frees), Rian Graham 1-0, Rory Doyle 0-3 (one free), David Duffy and Andrew Boland 0-2 each O’Dempsey’s: Eugene Nolan 0-5 (three frees, two 45s), Mick Lawlor 0-2, Mark Kehoe and Rian Brereton 0-1 each

COURTWOOD: Luke Doyle; Liam Burke, Will Boland, Andrew Flynn; Liam Ward, Barry Donnelly, Evan Kelly; Rian Graham, David O’Connell; Andrew Boland, Colm Wilson, Rohan O’Toole; Cian Bailey, Sean O’Connell, David Duffy. Subs: Matt Kelly, Neil O’Connell, Rob Boland, Rory Doyle, Corey Kirwan, Fred Kearins, Liam Duffy

O’DEMPSEY’S: Darren Kehoe; William Kavanagh, Sean Keogh, Liam O’Mahony; Richie Whelehan, Daragh Fox, Ciaran McManus; Brian Behan, Odhran Gallagher; Mick Lawlor, Mark Kehoe, Rian Brereton; Tomas Finlay, Eugene Nolan, Pauric Duffy. Subs: JP Kehoe, Culann Kehoe, Josh Suda, Kieran Hyland, Padraic McGrealish.

REFEREE: Brian Moss