The Hertfordshire League final of 2017 opened with a minutes silence. Both teams honoured Billy Munnelly, the former Éire Óg player, selector and Club President.
This game was tense affair between two evenly matched teams. Colin Forde opened the scoring for the Oxford side.Colmcilles replied with a point. Further points Éire Óg from Piers McGlynn and Conor Carr extended the Éire Óg lead. In a defensive game it was 4 points to 1 at half time.
Half Time Éire Óg 0-04 St. Colmcilles 0-01
Colmcilles started better in the second half. Despite some resolute defending from the Oxford side the home team pegged it back to 4 points each. Then a turning point, Brian Phelan was sent off. The influential player from Tipperary was seen striking a player off the ball. The referee had no choice but to issue a red card. Éire Óg got to grips with a great pointed free from Peter O’ Donovan and another score from Piers McGlynn leaving the Oxford side two points ahead. However the home team were not going to give up. In the last 3 minutes of the game St Colmcilles drew a foul and took a quick free and a momentary lapse in concentration from the Éire Óg defence allowed the home side to score a well worked goal. St. Colmcilles tagged on two more points with sexconds remaining o the clock to run out winners in a close, nailbiting game.
Full Time Éire Óg 0-06 St. Colmcilles 1-06
Éire Óg : J Buckley, E Connaughton, N Burke, A Stone, D Behan, C Forde, R Jones, C Dillon, S Mellon, M De Cogan, P McGlynn, JP Doyle, C Carr, C Finnegan, J Flynn. Subs: L Reale for JP Doyle, P O’ Donovan for R Jones, T Gauaghan for J Flynn,, J Mangan for C Carr. E Toomey, T Griffin, J Corrigan, C Twoomey, O McShane.
Management Team: J Gaughan, E Devlin, F Dillon.
Referee: Noel Griffin (St. Josephs)
