St. Mary's ..............2-16
Dungarvan.............3-10

04-September-1980

FAMED FRAHER FIELD staged two marvellous hurling county finals last Sunday that provided enthralling fare for an attendance that would undoubtedly have been greater but for the petrol supply situation. St. Mary's of Touraneena atoned in full for their defeat in last years intermediate final by taking the title at Dungarvan's expense, while Tallow minor hurlers made it a fabulous senior-minor double with a memorable five point victory over defending champions, Roanmore.

After a tame enough opening half the sparks really flew in the intermediate final after the break, and St. Mary's deserving of their victory though they undoubtedly were, had to hold on by the skin of their teeth for their 2-16 to 3-10 win.

Thriller

In fact, few would have begrudged Dungarvan a second bite at the cherry, and they surely would have salvaged the draw had not their forwards fitted away some golden point scoring chances in the final quarter when they had the new champions fighting a desperate rear-guard battle.
The tension was electric in those hectic closing stages as Dungarvan threw all but the kitchen sink at St. Mary's. Heroically, however, that Touraneena defence held firm and with the left flank of Eamon Power and Tom Condon truly magnificent in the teeth of mounting pressure, they held on for a victory that wad wildly greeted by their huge contingent of supporters.

Well on top

And yet for much of the opening half there was little to suggest that St. Mary's would have to fight as doggedly as they had to for the spoils. With the stiff breeze behind them they were well in command for much of the half although their seven points half time lead was still far from being an unassailable one. And as subsequent events proved that truly was the case.
Within a minute of the throw in St. Mary's in front as Declan White pointed, and four minutes later Declan Fitzpatrick had the first of his twelve points. But in Dungarvan's first real attack of the game full forward Eddie Sheehan gave a glimpse of how dangerous he could be when he snapped up the ball, rounded several defenders and sent it whizzing past goalkeeper Ned Power. It was however, the only time in the final that Dungarvan enjoyed being in the lead.
Fitzpatrick levelled from a free in the 10th minute and two later regained the lead, again from a placed ball. Then in the 14th minute came the first of St. Mary's goals that Dungarvan will rue for a very long time to come. There appeared to be no danger as a high centre was sailing wide but goalkeeper Peter Hayes elected to stop the ball and like a flash Dec White had it in the net. The Dungarvan defenders argued long and long that it was a "square" ball but after consulting with his umpires, referee Eddie Cunningham allowed the score to stand. And as things eventually proved, it was the most crucial score of the entire game.
Martin Sandford replied with a 18th minute Dungarvan point, but the winners stretched into an even more commanding lead when Ger Butler, Albert Burke and Dec White shot points between the 19th and 22nd minutes. Dave Long replied with a brace of Dungarvan minors from frees, but Fitzpatrick had the final say of the half with a point, and St. Mary's led 2-7 to 1-3 at the interval.

The fight back

Although Fitzpatrick stretched St. Marys lead with another pointed free three minutes into the second half, it soon became evident that Dungarvan were all set to make a real battle of it. Long was on target from a 35th minute free, seconds later Liam Simms had one from play and when Eddie Sheehan blocked down goalkeeper Ned Power's 36th minute clearance to whip the ball to the net the gap had narrowed to just three points and we had a battle royal on our hands.
Albert Burke and Pat Terry exchanged great points before the unerring Fitzpatrick lifted the siege with three invaluable points to make it 2-12 to 2-6 entering the final quarter.

Third goal

Dungarvan's third goal in the 47th minute was a real gem, Liam Simms blasting a rocket of a shot past Ned Power, but again Fitzpatrick took St. Mary's out of trouble with another brace of points.
Still Dungarvan refused to yield and when Long (2) and Terry shot points there was only two between the sides, 2-14 to 3-9 with four minutes remaining.
As tension mounted and Dungarvan piled on the pressure looking for a match winning goal there was some hectic action in and around the St. Marys goal. But three times Dungarvan saw great chances of points sailing in the wrong sides of the uprights and Fitzpatrick again put a goal daylight between them in the 57th minute.
But with just one minute remaining. Dungarvan all but saved the day. Eddie Sheehan, now operating on the "forty" sent in a rasper that was a shade too high and it went over instead of under the bar. There was still time for Dungarvan to win it but St. Mary's gallantry was never seen to greater advantage than in those final minutes and as they came out of defence Fitzpatrick settled it with St. Mary's 16th -and his own 12th- point, and with the puck out went the final whistle. St. Mary's were champions and worthy ones to be sure, and the celebrations were at once under way.

Hero's all

This was, without doubt, the greatest ever victory by the Touraneena club and from the supporters point of view it was a case of "Hero's all".
However, while every man on the side gave his all, some were better than others and once again I parade the richly talented Tom Condon as their "Man of the Match".
This truly has been a vintage year for Condon and everything he did last Sunday had a touch of real class about it.
Behind him, at left full back, Eamon Power had one of his best games ever in the club jersey, while John Dalton too was a commanding figure at centre back. But, really, one can pencil in every member of that defence together with goalkeeper Ned Power.
Lar Whelan and Albert Burke played some fine hurling at midfield although they could never really dominate against a superb Dungarvan pairing. Up front the prolific scoring of Declan Fitzpatrick was their key man, with full forward Declan White, too, reaping a handsome dividend, scoring both their goals.
John Fraher, too, was always menacing and indeed there was no failure in the sector on the important score of endeavour.

Lost no caste

Considering how badly hit Dungarvan were - they were short six players who would be regarded as regulars had they made themselves available - their display was a stirring one and they certainly lost no caste whatever in defeat. They come so desperately close in the end to saving the game and had they done so very few indeed could have begrudged them their second bite at the cherry.
Their half back trio of Thomas Duggan, Pa Meehan and Martin Sandford played great hurling with Meehan having a really outstanding game. Midfielders Martin Sandford played great hurling and Pat Terry played themselves to a standstill while in attack Liam Simms had his best game ever in the blue jersey. Eddie Sheehan might have won the game off his own stick with more possession, while Deckie Egan and Dave Long also played some fine hurling.
To victor and vanquished then congratulations on a worthy final. Hurling was perhaps the biggest winner of all, and of course the exemplary sportsmanship of both sides added to a great day.

St. Mary's scorers: Declan Fitzpatrick (0-12), Declan White (2-1), Albert Burke (0-2), Ger Butler (0-1).
Dungarvan scorers: Eddie Sheehan (2-1), L. Simms (1-1), Dave Long (0-5), Pat Terry (0-2), M. Sandford (0-1). (0-1 each).

The line out was:

Subs: Anthony Butler for Paddy Whelan, Patsy Tobin, John-Michael Power, John Whelan, Mike Hearn.

Dungarvan: P. Hayes, D. Crotty, J. Sullivan, T. Lonergan, T. Duggan. P. Meehan, M. Sandford, M. Monaghan, L. Simms, D. Egan, P. Healy, E. Sheehan, D. Long. Subs: J. Healy for Monaghan, S. Flynn for Healy.

Referee: Eddie Cunningham (Tallow).