John Moores/Edge Hill Crowned Electric Ireland Corn Na Mac Leinn All Ireland Champions

John Moores/Edge Hill 1-21 v 2-14 New York (After ET)

John Moores/Edge Hill recovered from five points down eight minutes into extra time, to beat an inspired New York team by four points, in a pulsating Corn na Mac Leinn final in Dublin. In doing so, they recorded their fourth success in the competition to go along with wins from 2020 and 2022. Two of those victories came also against New York, but none of these were as close as the game witnessed yesterday.

The game swung throughout: John Moores/Edge Hill in the opening half of normal time seemed as if they were going to run away with it, before New York came into it. When extra-time began, you wouldn’t have taken a free bet on John Moores/Edge Hill, as New York looked superior; before the substitutes for John Moores/Edge Hill made a telling difference to swing the game back in their favour. Full credit must go to the management of John Moores who injected much-needed dynamism in the form of Oisín McCaughey, Sean Kelly, Jack O’Donohue and Luke Brennan, and it was these players who changed the game.

The opening score of the game came whereby of a breech, where Eíre Og clubman, Eoghan O’Hagan pointed from 20 metres out. New York replied with a brace from Shay McElligot. The first came from a free after a fine save by Aaron Smith, before the classy corner forward pointed from a tight angle. O’Hagan got his second placed-ball score, after the referee gave him what seemed like a handy free. After a fine team move, Niall McStravick struck Moore’s first point from play from 30 metres out. McElligot replied from another free, before Moores hit the next six points, two of these being two-pointers. McStravick got his second score of the game, before a couple of two-pointers firmly put the game in the hold of the Liverpool men. After backchat, the referee brought ball forward and goalkeeper, Aaron Smith, pointed with ease. Then a 55 metre effort from Oisín Gorman, bounced over the ball resulting in a surprising two-point score to leave the game 0-08 v 0-03 in favour of John Moores/Edge Hill. O’Hagan then stretched their lead when he hit a delicious effort from a very tight angle. Moores were simply too good for their American opponents all over the field. The midfield were dominating, while Declan Gough was having a fine game on the wing. To their credit however, New York rallied, and it was no surprise it was their top-of-the-left, McElligot who was to the fore. He hit his fourth and fifth points of the game, before their goalkeeper Seán Carty produced a fine save from Oisín McGee as he stormed through on goal. From the resulting rebound, Michael Mulreany waved his wand of a right leg across the size 5, slicing the posts to register John Moore’s third two-pointer for the game to leave six points in the game with a couple of minutes left of the half. New York, sensing the game was slipping away, managed to score the last two points of the half; one a fantastic solo effort from Ian Kavanagh and then a ‘45’ from goalkeeper Seán Carty after a fantastic block from Oisín McGee just before, to leave the half-time score, John Moores/Edge Hill 0-11 v 0-07 New York.

John Moores/Edge Hill were full value for their lead and in fact, would have been slightly bemused that they weren’t that bit further ahead. This would nearly come back to haunt them, as New York looked a team revitalised in the second period.

Within four minutes of the restart, John Moores/Edge Hill lead had evaporated and the game was tied. The first score of a half was a fantastic major by Ryan Scanlon. Scanlon got out in front of Adam Butt, turned him, left him for dead and finished this great solo effort by blasting the ball to the back of the net. Fiacra Mathers then a hit a great effort from distance and suddenly, New York were level. O’Hagan stopped the rot for Moores, when he came on the loop, to put them back ahead, but it was evidently clear that New York had returned a better team. Ronan Melly and team captain, Jack Gleeson, were starting to control midfield with some excellent fielding. One of their moves resulted in a fisted point for rampaging cornerback Jack Donohue, and then in a carbon copy move, again involving Donohue, a goal was thwarted by a fantastic diving block by Castlewellan man, Cormac Barr on an effort from Ryan Scanlon. Then at the opposite end, Moore’s Corey Murphy, had two cases for a penalty turned down. The first for a foot block and secondly for a push; somehow, the referee gave neither. New York managed to edge again, when Carty pointed his second ‘45’ of the day. Moores responded in the 50th minute, when McStravick scored his third point of the day when he took a quick freekick and got the return for an intelligent score. Substitute Jack O’Donohue was getting into the game for John Moores/Edge Hill and team talisman, Johnathan Toye was becoming more influential. The Muff man was lining out in the unfamiliar position of fullback, but was pushing further forward to great effect. McStravick will have nightmares about his missed free from 20 metres out, dead in front of the goals, especially a minute later when Ryan Scanlon put New York ahead with five minutes to go. Other missed goal chances, this time by O’Hagan and then Gorman, only resulted in the anxiousness of the Merseyside men to grow. With 90 seconds to go, John Moores/Edge Hill finally equalised when centreback, Conall Devlin equalised after a fine team move. New York then began to hold possession, winding the clock down, waiting for the moment to hit the winning score. In the third minute of injury time, Gleeson who had a wonderful game, found himself free in front of the goals 20 metres out and he inadvertently, sent it wide. Maybe McStravick made up for his earlier miss, by rushing to put him off before he shot. A ‘sign-of-the-cross’ caught on camera, as the ball went wide by Moore’s Sean Kelly, summed up how lucky they were. New York won possession again from the kickout, but couldn’t capitalise as Devlin and McGee held firm and the game finished 1-11 v 0-14.

The Mac Leinn competition, like the old Sigerson, is played over two days. A big squad is needed. The Liverpool lads had it tight in the semi-final on Friday, when they overcame Cavan Institute on a scoreline of 1-17 v 0-16. The players had to go to the well again in extra-time and they certainly did. With extra-time underway, players were cramping and the rest of the squad players had to stand up to play their part. It seemed however, that this would not be the case in the first period of extra-time.

Lorcan Kennedy scored for New York in their first attack and soon after McElligot reminded everyone how much a classy footballer he is when he won the ball out in front, turned and glided over from 35 metres out. New York were oozing composure by this stage, and were rewarded when they goaled to put them five points ahead. An effort from Geraroid Kennedy fell shot and Ryan Scanlon was onhand to palm it to the net. Aaron Traynor rubbed salt into the wounds after Kavanagh rampaged up the field. Gleeson was ruling the roost by this stage and was growing in stature, while everyone else in a Moore’s shirt was shirking. A six point difference, with only 13 minutes left, surly seemed insurmountable. It was up to the Moores men to stand up; and they did. Most notable was goalkeeper Smith who scored his second two-pointer of the game from a dead ball when McCaughey was fouled, and almost straight away Carty in the New York goals had the same opportunity to stretch the lead back to six points, but he failed. John Moores/Edge Hill sensed a chance. Mulreany scored after fine work by Toye and then Brennan, who brought great energy when introduced, scored and the half-time score suddenly there was only two points in it at the half-way stage.

John Moores/Edge Hill continued their fine form when they goaled upon the resumption. A Mulreaney shot fell short and McGee punched the ball. It looked like it was going into but was expertly cleared off the line by Oisín Foy, the ball was then set upon by Brennan. He bent down to lift it up but was slide-tackled from behind by Foy. It was a clear penalty and McStravick stood up and blasted high and past Carty. Brennan was again to the fore, when he scored in a transition move by the Liverpool men. The score now read 1-19 v 2-14 in favour of the Liverpool men. Missed chances by Kennedy and Carty for New York, seemed to sum up their fall from grace. Late scores by Gorman and Donohue for Moores seen them home on a scoreline of 1-21 to 2-14. A smiling Kelly, who came on and had a blinder, ran off and kicked the ball in delight as the whistle went.

This game showed the character of John Moores. Without doubt, they looked a beaten docket. But they came back and showed what they were made of. They should be immensely proud.

Aaron Smith; Adam Butt, Johnathan Toye, Cormac Barr; Tiernan Quinn, Conall Devlin, Freddie Langwell; Oisín McGee, Michael Mulreaney; Adam Nugent, Oisín Gorman, Declan Gough; Corey Murphy, Eoghan O’Hagan, Niall McStravick

Scorers

Niall McStravick (1-03, 1f), Aaron Smith (0-04, 2tpf), Eoghan O’Hagan (0-04, 1f), Oisín Gorman (0-03, 1tp), Luke Brennan (0-02), Michael Mulreaney (0-02) Conal Devlin (0-01), Jack O’Donohue (0-01)

Shay McElligot (0-06, 3f), Tiarnan McLaughlin (1-00), Ryan Scanlon (1-00), Geraroid Kavanagh (0-02), Ian Kavanagh (0-02), Sean Carty (0-02), Aaron Traynor (0-01), Lorcan Kennedy (0-01), Fiachra Mathers 0-01, Jack O Donohue (0-01)

New York

The midfield diamond of Ronan Melly, Gearoid Kennedy, Ian Kavanagh and Jack Gleeson were outstanding. The latter took around four clean catches. A physically dominant performance. Shay McElligot scored New York’s first five points of the game and was a constant threat. Ryan Scanlon was also to the fore.

John Moores/Edge Hill

Cormac Barr was excellent in defence all day. While his full back partner Johnathan Toye grew into the game as it went on. Conall Devlin held the centre well while Michael Mulreaney and Oisín McGee were very good around the middle. Niall McStravick was involved from start to finish and finshed with 1-03. Goalkeeper Aaron Smith hit two two-pointers while also made a couple of great saves. Eoghan O’Hagan was good when the ball was delivered.

Player of the Match

Luke Brennan

The Salthill man was introduced some point during the second-half, but it was his performance in extra-time which won the game for the Merseysiders. Scored two points and won the all important penalty. Unknown why he didn’t start, but showed how good he was when introduced.