In a repeat of the 2017 championship final, Éire Óg renewed rivalries with St. Colmcilles of St Albans. Both teams contested all finals in the Hertfordshire county in 2017 with the St. Albans club achieving a clean sweep.
Éire Óg opened the game with a solid point from Piers McGlynn, Colmcilles replied and equalised through their full forward. A point from from Dave Hudson and another point from McGlynn followed. Colmcilles rallied and responded with two more points from Brendan Jordan to draw the game. The Oxford men then attacked from deep, in a lovely move that saw Conor Carr through on goal. The St. Colmcilles defender had no option but to drag the Donegal man down and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Piers McGlynn and stuck the ball in the back of the the net. St. Colmcilles rallied again, adding three more points, two from frees and one from Brendan Jordan. With the game even, Adam Ferry won a breaking ball and kicked over a lovely point before half time to leave the Oxford side one point up at the break.
Half Time: Éire Óg 1-04 St. Colmcilles 0-06
The second half picked up where the first left off. Both sides trading points twice. A nasty injury to the Colmcilles full forward stopped play for a couple of minutes. On resumption Éire Óg captain Noel “Peter Canavan” Burke re-entered the fray and the Oxford defence got on top of the game. With Burke sweeping and Kevin Morrissey pulling off some fantastic saves (enough to earn him the much coveted Man of the Match award!) The St. Albans side had goal chances, one from Chris Griffin and one from Conor Carney, but these were heroically defended by Burke, Morrissey and Éanna Connaughton. Colin Forde and Conor Dillon imposed themselves in the middle of the field and more scores were converted by the Oxford side, through Ruairí Boyle, Colin Forde and Piers McGlynn. Conor “Get Over” Carr got the insurance score to leave six points in it. Deep into injury time Mick McCarey blew the whistle as Oxford celebrated their third ever championship win (in addition to 1991 and 2014) in an almost sixty year history.
Full Time: Éire Óg 1-11 St. Colmcilles 0-08
Sunday 7th October
Venue Radlett Road Watford
Referee: Mick McCarey
Team: Kevin Morrissey, Éanna Connaughton, Joe Mangan, Noel Burke (captain), Dan Fahy, Ruairí Boyle, Shane Hasson, Colin Forde, Conor Dillon, John Corrigan, Dave Hudson, Declan Wade, Conor Carr, Piers McGlynn, Adam Ferry. Subs: Maurice Fallon for Noel Burke, Odran McShane for Declan Wade, Marcus De Cogan for Joe Mangan, Noel Burke for John Corrigan. Stevie Mellon, Dave Behan, Tomas McDonagh, John O’ Driscoll, Ciaràn Weir, Tommy Griffin, Thomas Gaughan, Colum O’ Leary, Harrison Davies
Management Team: John Gaughan, Eamon Devlin, Frank Dillon.
St Colmcille’s: Gary McGwyne, Alan Finn, Damian McKenna, Shane Gill, Mark Hayes, Paul Anderson, Brian Phelan, Nathan Hannon, Joe McGualey, Chris Griffin, Gavin Walsh, Matthew Doocey, Donal Farrelly, Brendan Jordan, Conor Carney
Management Team: Kevin Devlin, Aaron O’ Byrne
Man of the Match: Kevin Morrissey
Sponsors: The Black Swan, South Moreton Boxing Club, Dev Oil.
