Nugent fires Cullyhanna to All-Ireland glory as rueful Cill na Martra fall short
COUNTY NOUS: Jason Duffy of St Patrick's Cullyhanna in action against Séan Ó Fórréidh of Cill na Martra. Pic: Ben McShane, Sportsfile
Before this afternoon, an Armagh team had never won the All-Ireland intermediate club football championship and John Evans had never lost a final at Croke Park.
At 4.53pm, both those stats went tumbling.
Cullyhanna celebrated history and All-Ireland honours. Evans and Cill na Martra, meanwhile, rued a staggering wides total of 16.
Those 16 misses were shared evenly across the two halves, the Cork and Munster champions leaving a gear bag stuffed full with scores behind them. They’ll leave Croke Park stuffed full of regret.
Cullyhanna assumed the lead on 17 minutes when Armagh ace Aiden Nugent kicked his opener. A Nugent goal stretched it to four three minutes later.
Cill na Martra could only get as close as three thereafter. They had their chances, of course. A Daniel Ó Duinnín run-of-the-mill free kicked wide towards the end of the third quarter summed up a most frustrating afternoon for Evans’ side.
Shea Hoey’s point on 52 minutes was only Cullyhanna’s second of the half. But it served to send them five in front.
Colm Mac Lochlainn’s third white flag brought their opponents back within four. But Cill na Martra required a green flag. The closest they came was a Daniel Ó Duinnín fisted effort saved by James Carragher.
Jason Duffy sealed a first Armagh victory at this level in injury-time. He and Pearse Casey were outstanding at midfield, as was Gavan Duffy and Kieran McCooey carrying from deep.
Aident Nugent was an anonymous figure for the opening 17 minutes of this All-Ireland club final. Tadhg Ó Corcora, as expected, was given the brief of standing beside the Armagh forward. Ó Corcora did his job superbly in the opening 17 minutes.
On one occasion, he cut out a Kieran McCooey delivery intended for Nugent. On another, he stripped possession right out of Nugent’s grasp.
But the worth of having an inter-county forward at this level is that they can go from anonymous to awesome in mere seconds. From peripheral to principal scorer.
Nugent kicked his opening point on 17 minutes. It was his first meaningful involvement. He’d finish the half with 1-3 next to his name. His team would finish the half 1-5 to 0-4 in front.
His goal was well finished, albeit its creation was somewhat fortunate.
A point attempt dropped short was gathered by Jason Duffy. He offloaded to Nugent. Goal.
The 20th minute green flag propelled the Armagh and Ulster champions 1-3 to 0-2 in front.
Ciarán Ó Duinnín posted the Cill na Martra reply. It was their first score in 12 minutes.
John Evans’ men had begun brightly and intently. There was a raft of turnovers executed by the aforementioned Ó Corcora, Ó Duinnín, Antóin Ó Cuana, and Séan Ó Fórréidh.
Problem was, there was also a raft of wides. Cill na Martra finished the half with eight wides. Their opponents, by contrast, had only one.
The Cill na Martra wides continued to mount upon the resumption. From a total of 29 shots, they mined just 0-7.
A Nugent (1-3, 0-2 frees); G Duffy, P Casey, S Hoey, J Mackin, J Duffy (0-1 each).
C Mac Lochlainn (0-3); C Ó Duinnín (0-2); A Ó Cuana, D Ó Duinnín (0-1 each).
J Carragher; S Óg Irwin, S Connell, N McCreesh; G Duffy, M Murray, G Mackin; P Casey, J Duffy; C Reavey, T Donnelly, R McQuillan; K McCooey, S Hoey, A Nugent.
B McConville for McCreesh (58); P Savage for Reavey (65).
P Ó Críodáin; T Ó Corcora, G Ó Mocháin, F Ó Faoláin; C Mac Lochlainn, S Ó Fórréidh, C Ó Fórréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe; F Ó hÉalaithe, D Ó hUrdail, C Ó Duinnín; M Ó Deasúna, D Ó Duinnín, M Ó Duinnín.
D Ó Conaill for Ó Cuana (temporary, 29-30); D Ó Conaill for Ó Deasúna (HT); S Ó Duinnín for Ó hUrdail (43); E Ó Conaill for M Ó Duinnín (54); D Mac Lochlainn for Ó hÉalaithe (58).
L Devenney (Mayo)
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