Dasey’s Midnight Runners took this year’s Summer Gaelic Football in style when proving too much for pre-Christmas tournament champs’, The Garage on Sunday at Ian Galloway. The ‘Runners went unbeaten throughout the competition and Wellington GAA President, Donal Kavanagh gives us this report on Finals Day from the land of the Kiwi.
Semi 1: Daseys Midnight Runners [14] 2-8 Hankey St Bears [10] 1-7
A great first semi, played in very good conditions at Ian Galloway Park. Daseys Midnight Runners got off to a flying start, leading by 1-2 to no score after 5 minutes. The Runners form all year has been built on strong defence and they were no different on Sunday. Hankey Street Bears got back in the game when scoring the next 2 points to leave a goal between the sides at half time. Again it was the Runners who started the stronger in the 2nd half scoring 4 unanswered points, through Matt Fontanessi, Alana Geering, Ciaran Tully & Lorcan Mitchell. This left the Runners 7 points clear, but it was Hankey St who scored the next goal. This was a great individual effort from Daithi O’ Connor, who won the ball out the field and beat 3 players before a great shot into the top corner. Again the Runners replied with 2 points from Joe Bateman, leaving the scores at 1-8 to 1-2 heading into the final quarter. Hankey Street then tagged a further 2 points from Sean S. Cronin to leave 4 points in it. However a great goal from the ‘Runners, Sinead Kelly, sealed their place in the final.
Semi 2: The Garage [26] 6-8 Cu Chullainn Hounds [17] 4-5
The second semi-final was a real goal fest!
The Garage got off to a flier scoring a goal from the throw-in through Peadar Carr. Peadar was having a great game inside corner forward and went on to score a hat trick of goals in the first half. The Garage policy of kicking high ball into Big 6ft5in Larry Coen was working a treat, with wee Peader feeding off the big man. The ‘Hounds were shell shocked into action and kicked 3 late goals to bring them right back into contention to leave it all-square 4-2 each at the break. The 2nd half went point for point in the opening period. Eimear Murphy & Gary Dillon kicked great scores for The Garage with Aisling O Hagan & Ross Syder replying for the Hounds. This game was eventually decided in the last 2 minutes with 2 goals scored by Maggie Buttle & Colin O’Conghaille to see The Garage running out 9 point victors over a never say die Cu Chullainn Hounds. outfit.
Final: Daseys Midnight Runners [25] 4-13 The Garage [6] 1-3
It was an awesome display by the team of the tournament in the final. The ‘Runners exploded out of the traps and never once took their foot off the pedal! The Garage can have no qualms with this result, as they were comprehensively beaten right through the park.
The Runners were 2-4 to no score ahead early in this game. Ciaran Tully and Paraic Aherne were in total control around the middle of the park, with Joe Bateman & Lorcan Mitchell tormenting the Garages defence. Sinead Kelly & Alan O’ Shea were having great games at the back, and The Garage were finding it very hard to break through. The Garage did score 2 late points in that first half through Peter Cody and Big Larry Coen. The Runners, Oliver Conway, was doing a very good man marking job on Big Larry.
Again the Runners started very strongly in the 2nd half, scoring a further 1-4. The goal was a great effort by Matt Fontanessi, with points from Alana Geering, Joe Bateman and Ciaran Tully. The Garage did score a consolation goal late on through their captain Eoin Farrell. Best for The Garage were Eimear Murphy, Elaine Harrington & Jenn Chowaniec who never gave up, in a game where they were being put under severe pressure right through. The Runners were superb in this final and it was a complete team effort. Captain Joe Bateman was delighted to accept the Cup on behalf of his troops with Player of the Match going to Ciaran Tully from the ‘Runners.
