Shimna delight in the wind and rain

Shimna delight in the wind and rain

14 February 2024

IT is doubtful if too many in Cherryvale last Thursday evening really appreciated a late free from Finn Dougan bringing this Dankse Bank Bearnageeha Cup final to extra time. 

The driving rain and sub zero temperatures were not conducive to another half hour for spectators or players – especially when Shimna powered home to a first ever title in emphatic fashion.

The Newcastle school started extra time as they had started the game more than an hour earlier – with a goal from Cameron Eakins that completed his hat-trick. 

This time Shimna closed off St Joseph’s route to goal and went through the whole of extra time without conceding a score while at the other end they equalled their ordinary time total of 2-6 with a further 3-3.

Matthew Rooney and Xavier Rooney were outstanding in the Shimna defence in the absence of centre-half back Nial Quinn who had to retire with an injury before half-time. 

They also lost Callum Simmons-Robb, another experienced club player, and as the second half developed their team-play was quite clearly disrupted.

Nevertheless, Conor O’Hare and Conal King kept Shimna driving forward and they were perhaps unlucky to concede the late goal and point that brought the game to extra time.

However, once Eakins got them ahead at the start of extra time they were back in charge and St Joseph’s, who had lost a player to a second yellow card, visibly tired.

Shimna couldn’t have got a better start to the game with Cameron Eakins bagging not one, but two goals, the first two scores of the game.

Those scores remained the difference between the teams until half time when they led by 2-4 to 0-4. 

Two points each for Marcus Fitzsimons and the ever-dangerous Finn Dougan for St Joseph’s were cancelled out by scores each from Conor O’Hare, Conal King, Callum Simmons-Robb and Gerard Smith.

There were fewer scores to cheer during the second half although a goal from Marcel Cebula and a quite brilliant point from an acute angle from Cillian McNally closed the gap between the teams in the third quarter with just a point from Darragh Smith in reply.

However, when Conor O’Hare made the gap four points and the game was running into the final five minutes, Shimna looked odds on to see it out.

However, St Joseph’s sub Jack Callaghan then took on the Shimna defence and fired to the net. The city school now had the momentum and it was no surprise that they won a late free that Dougan pointed.

A 45 from Conal King early in extra time was palmed to the net by Eakins for his hat-trick and King and Darragh Russell added points to give Shimna a half time lead of five points, 3-8 to 2-5.

This time they weren’t going to let the lead slip and Darragh Russell and Conor O’Hare hit the net early in the second period of extra time to seal the issue to give the Newcastle school their first ever title.

Shimna: Ruairí Smyth, Ben McNerlin, Matthew Turley, Coehan Murphy-McKibben, Jack Erwin, Nial Quinn, Xavier Rooney, Conal King (0-3), Darragh Russell (1-1), Gerald Smyth (0-1), Callum Simmons-Robb (0-1), Conor O’Hare (1-2), Max Kilmurray, Cameron Eakins (3-0), James Cunningham.

Subs used: Tom Heaney-Sloan, Fahlin Murphy-McKibben, Darragh Smith (0-1).

St Joseph’s: Jordan Bowen, Cain Mornin, Siwan Ali, Finn Buckley, Sean Dolan, Rossa Mulhern, Paddy Pillitteri, Marcel Cebula (1-0), Cillian McNally, Calum McNamee (0-1), Marcus Fitzsimons (0-2), Micheal Curran, Beto Unhabo, Fionn Dougan (0-3), Jack Owens.

Subs used: Jack Callaghan (1-0), Conall O’Hagan, Sean Mafumo.