O’Hanrahans dethrone champs
O’Hanrahans 2-12 - Eire Og 2-10
THE O’Hanrahans caused a major shock in yesterday’s Carlow SFC final when dethroning Carlow and Leinster football champions Eire Og in one of the best county finals for many years at Dr Cullen Park.
An attendance of 4,500 saw the O’Hanrahans, long the poor relations of Carlow town football, emerged from the shadow of Eire Og to claim their 12th title.
The last time the O’Hanrahans won the championship was in 1961 and in the intervening period Eire Og have been totally dominant in the county, winning five Leinster club championships and contesting two All Ireland club finals.
It was a combination of hunger and youth which won the day for the underdogs. The O’Hanrahans, fielding 11 players from the U 21 grade matched Eire Og in every facet of play.
The game produced bouts of fine football and some great scores, with three superb goals being scored in the space of seven minutes in the opening quarter.
At half time the challengers led 2 6 to 1 6 but things looked bleak for them when Eire Og came out for the second half and scored 1 2 without reply in the opening five minutes.
It was then the character of this O’Hanrahan side, coached by former Laois star Michael Dempsey shone through. They maintained their composure, picked off some wonderful points from play and regained the initiative and the lead.
With two minutes remaining the challengers held a three point lead. Then Colm “Rooster” Hayden got inside his man and had a great chance of a levelling goal for Eire Og. But the burley full forward saw his effort rise high and over the bar.
Shortly after the final whistle went and O’Hanrahan had won their 12th Carlow Senior Football title. They will now represent Carlow for the first time in the Leinster club championship against Sarsfields of Kildare in three weeks time.
Eire Og were reduced to 14 men late in the game when team captain Joe Murphy was sent off.
Scorers O’Hanrahans: A. Kavanagh (1 2), M. Carpenter (1 1), P. Kavanagh (0 3), D. Bermingham, B. Walker (0 2 each), N. English, G. Walker (0 1 each).
Eire Og: A. Keating (2 4), C. Hayden (0 3), P. Kingston, B. Carbery, J. Morrissey (0 1 each).
O’HANRAHANS: T. Brennan, D. Walker, A. Corden, B. English, B. Hannon, N. English, K. Kavanagh, P. Nolan, K. walker, G. Walker, P. Kavanagh, M. Carpenter, D. Bermingham, A. Kavanagh, B. Walker.
EIRE OG: J. Kearns, A. Callinan, A. Corcoran, J. Dooley, B. Hayden, G. Ware, K. Haughney, P. Doyle, P. Kingston, B. Carbery, J. Morrissey, B. Hennessy, J. Murphy, C. Hayden, A. Keating, Subs: W. Quinlan for Haughney, J. Hayden for Doyle, H. Brennan for Ware.
Referee: J. Conway (Laois).
© The Examiner, 1999