Limerick Leader Saturday, December 8th, 2001

Monagea 1-10
Ahane 0-10

In what was a thrilling Junior A football final last Sunday in Askeaton, Ahane's poor shooting in front of goals cost them a possible junior football title.
Monagea played against the elements in the first half and they opened their account inside a minute with a point from Liam Murphy after good work by William Keane and John Hough. Ahane responded with a Brian Healy point before Monagea hit a purple patch with points from Cathal O'Sullivan, Liam Murphy and John Hough with John Flavin the playmaker of all these scores.
Robbie Hammond and Cathal O'Sullivan traded points with O'Sullivan's a brilliant point from forty metres. Monagea were now dominant and they struck for a brilliant goal as good as seen all year when William Keane let fly from twenty metres and Dermot Clune could only watch as the ball nested in the top left hand corner to give Monagea a six point lead with twenty minutes played.
Ahane finished this first half the stronger and points by Brian Meskell and Niall
Moran left only four between them at the interval. Ahane made a positive start to the second half and only a brilliant save by Pat King the Monagea net minder from substitute Seanie O'Connor, denied them a certain goal inside the first minute. Monagea who were more economical over the hour raced in to a six point lead once more with a pointed free by Liam Murphy and a gem of a point from wing back John Dore. However, Ahane responded with some brilliant football over the next ten minutes, kicking five points in a row with John Meskell finding the target on three occasions and a point a piece from Dave Lang and Nial Moran putting the game really back in the melting pot.
Liam Murphy then kicked a vital point for Monagea after great work by D. J. Corbett at midfield. Sean Carey, who was having a stormer for Ahane, set Niall Moran up for a point to leave only the minimum between the teams with five minutes left. To Monagea's credit, they didn't panic and when a D. J. Corbett sideline ball hopped over the bar you could sense it was going to be their day and Liam Murphy sealed the victory with a pointed free in the last minute in a game that could have gone either way but Monagea took their chances when presented, kicking only four wides over the hour, compared to Ahane's total of nine which proved costly for them in the end. This was a very hard fought contest played in a very sporting manner in front of a very large crowd who certainly enjoyed it. The foundation for this victory for Monagea was laid by their hard working defence of Joseph, Conor and John Murphy and the hard tackling trio of Kevin Hogan, Trevor Sexton and John Dore, D. J. Corbett and William Keane, certainly held their own at midfield with the forward line of Liam Murphy, John Hough, Cathal O'Sullivan and John Flavin all outstanding over the hour and Pat King two brilliant saves in goals proved so vital in the end. Ahane had good performances from Robbie Hammond, Niall Moran, John Meskell, Ollie Moran and Sean Carey, Billy Aherne. County Football Board Chairman presented the cup to William Murphy, captain of Monagea, and thanked both teams for a fine sporting game.
Monagea team: Pat King, Joseph Murphy, Conor Murphy, Kevin Hogan, Trevor Sexton, John Murphy, John Dore 0-1, William Keane 1-0, D. J. Corbett 0-1, William Murphy, Declan Sheehy, John Hough 0-1, Liam Murphy 0-5 (0-3 frees), John Flavin, Cathal O'Sullivan 0-2.
Ahane team: Dermot Clune, Phil Condon, Willie O'Brien, Tony Cross, Paul 'Tierney, Sean Carey, Tony Ryan, Ollie Moran, Robbie Hammond 0-1, Brian Healy 0-1, Brian Meskell 0-1, Niall Moran 0-3, John Meskell 0-3 (0-2 frees), Doug Ling 0-1, Paudie Ryan.
Referee: Paudie Ryan, Askeaton.

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