Super sub Moffat breaks final duck for Neasden
Tipperary Cup final
By Tony Tighe, Irish Post
Neasden Gaels finally got one over their great rivals on Saturday evening,
putting paid to Tir Chonaill Gaels’ aspirations of a clean sweep of silverware
by deservedly capturing the Tipperary Cup.
Despite looking dead and buried at the interval, having managed just two
points while playing with the advantage of a strong wind, Neasden rallied with
substitute Ger Moffat netting with his first touch.
Moffat’s maximum put Neasden in front for the first time, and they held out to
exact some revenge for their back-to-back Championship final defeats to TCG
and boost confidence ahead of Saturday’s SFC opener against Tara.
Tony Gaughan was solid for the victors at centre back, with Paul Geraghty
influential when moved from full-forward to midfield for the second half. The
returning Peadar Friel also made a decent contribution before he was forced
off through injury. Friel now faces a race against time to be fit for this
weekend, and TCG are sweating over the fitness of three key players.
Liam Gavaghan was withdrawn at half-time after taking a heavy blow to his
back, while Martin Sweeney and Keith Morrow had to be carried to the
dressing rooms at full-time.
Injuries aside, TCG have much to mull over. They looked to have another
trophy in the bag during the first half as they hit six points without reply and
were full value for their 0-7 to 0-2 half-time lead. But they imploded in the
second period, managing just one point and firing seven wides as well as
making a host of unforced errors.
This defeat will hurt TCG but perhaps it will give them a beneficial reality
check. They have been kings of London for the last three years and are odds
on for the four-in-a-row, but this will serve as a stark reminder that if they fail
to spark there are teams capable of turning them over.
It looked like more of the same in the opening half. Neasden’s route one tactic
of bombing ball on top of Geraghty wasn’t paying off, TCG captain Paddy
Callaghan superbly marshalling the London star.
Neasden’s wide count was on a steady rise, and indiscipline in defence saw
them punished by Kevin Downes and Sweeney, the former knocking over
three frees in six minutes midway through the half.
Despite the strong gale in their favour, Neasden’s first score didn’t arrive until
the last minute of the half when centre back Gaughan pointed, quickly
followed by an effort from substitute Adrian Dunne.
A Sweeney free in the third minute of injury-time gave TCG a five-point
advantage at the change of ends, and you fancied them to push on from
there. Similar to their Conway Cup final victory, they made three substitutions
at the break, but this time it didn’t have the desired effect.
The influence of Stephen Boyle was sorely missed in the second half as
Neasden began to get on top. Geraghty picked out William Comer with a
stunning crossfield pass from which the wing-back pointed, and two further
scores had TCG on the ropes.
Things got even better on 41 minutes when Conor McGoldrick flicked the ball
into the path of the onrushing Moffat, who made a dream introduction by
rattling the TCG net.
John Raftery extended Neasden’s lead but their defence then gave away a
criminal score, Gary Kane gratefully converting a misplaced pass on 55
minutes to grab TCG’s only score of the second half.
While the Neasden bench lost their cool at a number of refereeing decisions,
the players didn’t and late scores from Danny O’Connor and Raftery secured
a famous win for the north Londoners.
With the Championship upon us, celebrations will be cut short, but by
defeating TCG in a final they will feel they have overcome a psychological
hurdle.
Neasden Gaels: C McGann; C O’Flynn, K Geraghty, B Burns; B McDonagh, T
Gaughan (0-2, 1f), W Comer (01); A Flanagan, C McGoldrick; S Donnellan, J
Raftery (0-2), M Duffy; D O’Connor (0-2, 1f), P Geraghty, P Friel.
Subs: A Dunne (0-1) for Duffy (24); G Moffat (1-0) for Friel (40); F
Cunningham for McGoldrick (55).
Tir Chonaill Gaels: G McEvoy; D Donnellan, P Callaghan, H Cunningham; S
Boyle, A Concannon, S Campbell; K Morrow, B Friel; D Houston, M Sweeney
(0-2f), D McGreevy; L Gavaghan (0-1), K Downes (0-4, 3f), G Kane (0-1).
Subs: C Boyd for Friel (ht); P Gill for Boyle (ht); S Owens for Gavaghan (ht);
Friel for Morrow (44).
Referee: B Collins
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