North Board Championship final

Glinsk 1.11 , Loughrea 0.12

Glinsk are North Board Champions after an enthralling game of football on Friday night under lights in Milltown. After losing the last two finals in a row the outpouring of emotion was clear to see when the final whistle blew. Players, management, family members and supporters all gathered on the pitch to share this special moment, this one was a win for the entire community.

The game itself was as tense as it was exciting with both teams giving their all to try to win the trophy. The pace of the game was frantic with good open football on show. Loughrea started the game at a much better level and caused Glinsk big problems with their direct running and pace. Loughrea scored 1st with a fine long-range point from their midfielder. Glinsk struck back from a free from Cathal Dowd after The flying Gavin Hegarty had been hauled down. Loughrea then scored the next two points again from very accurate long-range kicks from the ground. Soon after Glinsk needed their goalkeeper Aiden Brennan to produce a point blank save as the Loughrea corner forward raced through on goal. This would prove to be the warning shot we needed as our players upped their levels from that point on. We blocked up space and started playing our own game. Damien Mannion, Kevin Kilcommins and Kaelan Gunning became more prominent in defence with James Connaughton and Fergal Dowd getting to grips with the midfield area. Up front Jason Fannon, and Eamon Trayers caused plenty of problems with Cathal Dowd accurate when the ball came to him. The remainder of the 1st half was score for score. Jason Connelly scored a nice point after trojan work by James Connaughton in midfield, Fergal Dowd added another soon after. Loughrea still held a big scoring threat and Cormac Trayers and David Swift had their work cut out but both men stood up to their task with tigerish tight marking. Half time score Glinsk 0.6 Loughrea 0.6.

The second half began in the same vain as the first with Loughrea starting the brighter, Glinsk needed the hardworking Eoin Brennan and the excellent Eddie Kilheeney to do the dirty work they have been doing all year , tracking runs and breaking up play. The Game continued in a similar pattern to the first… you score,,, we score and the very large crowd responded to the action on the field to add to the atmosphere. Glinsk sprung the bench early with Morgan Neary making an immediate impact after he was introduced. The Morgan brothers Dermot and Kevin added valuable experience to the defence and Mikey Connelly added his strong running to the team. They say goals win games and this was very much the case on Friday night. Cormac Trayers threw off the shackles of defence and raced up the pitch , received a pass on the halfway line and stuck on the after burners, his powerful run was only stopped when his goal bound effort was blocked by the leg of the Loughrea defender. Penalty to Glinsk……up steps Cathal Dowd…… Goal . Glinsk then gathered the next Loughrea kickout and Jason Connelly scored a fantastic point from a very tight angle to send the Glinsk support into a frenzy. Back came Loughrea who worked a free but as they were two points down, they needed to work a goal, the entire Glinsk team lined the goal and when Damien Mannion came away with the ball the game was done and Glinsk had won. Cue….. wild celebrations. The lads had finally done it and won the trophy they craved. Final score Glinsk 1.11 Loughrea 0.12

Loughrea put up a fantastic fight and on another occasion could have won the game themselves , they have a fantastic team and no shortage of quality, they will be back 

After the game, the Glinsk Community spilled out onto the pitch to join in the celebrations. Eamon Trayers won a deserved man of the match and captain Jason Fannon gave an eloquent speech before hoisting the trophy aloft. Photos were taken and memories were made, Glinsk 2024 Junior A North Board Champions. 

Team

A Brennan

D Swift, C Trayers, D Mannion

K Kilcommins, k Gunning, G Hegarty

J Connaughton, F Dowd (0.2)

E Brennan, J Fannon, E Kilheeney

C Dowd (1.4) E Trayers (0.2) J Connelly (0.2)

Subs used – K Morgan, M Neary (0.1) , D Morgan, M Connelly.

Squad – A Connelly, P Lohan, A Coyne, L Reddin, S Giblin, J Collins

Injured , R Coyne , P o Boyle.

A massive thanks to our management team of Stephen Brennan, Tom Dowd, and Gordon Sirr

Logistics Alan Barlow

Physio Colin Whelan

And to the fantastic committee in Glinsk Gaa that go beyond and above to help us achieve our goals. A massive thank you.

To our wonderful sponsors, Mervyn Feeney Plant Hire , Central Switchgear , ECC Timber, Stephen Brennan electrical. Thanks for the continued and valued support.

A final word as always to the supporters, the family’s, wives, and partners. Thank you , this one was for you all.