Kenagh win the Longford U-14 ‘A football championship title for the first time since 1983

St Dominic’s, Kenagh . . . 5-10 Shannon Gaels, Rathcline . . . 3-14

A goal from a rebounded penalty effort by Kieran Cox in the dying seconds of the game saw St. Dominic’s, Kenagh win the U-14 A football championship title for the first time since 1983 in a thrilling final against south Longford rivals Shannon Gaels, Rathcline at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Monday evening. 

 Coming back from two goals down in the final quarter to lead by a point, Shannon Gaels looked like they would get the victory but a well intercepted line ball by the excellent Kenagh attacker Ryan Kenny saw him race towards the goals.
A foul was committed leading to referee Padraig McKenna awarding the penalty for Kenagh and while Cox’s effort came back off the post he reacted quickest and drilled the rebound past goalkeeper Jack Cassidy to shatter the Shannonsiders.
The final score of 5-10 to 3-14 reflected the quality of this fantastic encounter and the way these young players from both teams took their scores was a joy to behold.
St. Dominic’s started the game well and went three points ahead inside three minutes with scores from Kieran Cox (2, 1f) and an Owen Kenny free.

Tim Kenny got Shannon Gaels off the mark with a fine point before Stephen Kelly restored Kenagh’s 3 point advantage. Points from Alfie Murphy (2), Oisin Dillon, Ethan Donnellan (3 wonderful scores) for Shannon Gaels as well as a second point for Kelly and an effort from Ryan Kenny left the Lanesboro outfit with a slender 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.
Five quick fire goals saw an explosive opening to the second half as this already brilliant final took on a new life. Theodore Flower, Stephen Kelly and Ryan Kenny accounted for Kenagh’s 3 majors while Alfie Murphy scored the brace for Rathcline. Alfie was unwell in the days leading to the final and still produced an excellent performance.
The scores kept coming and the Kenny cousins Ryan and Owen added another 0-4 between them for Kenagh while points from Murphy and Josh Curran (2) kept Rathcline in the contest.
When chief tormentor Ryan Kenny secured his second goal to leave the score at 4-10 to 2-10 to Kenagh it looked beyond the Lanesboro lads to recover but they didn’t give up.
Two points from Tim Kenny and an impressive further 1-2 from Josh Curran, including a pressure long range free to give his side the lead seemed enough to seal victory for Rathcline but the penalty incident on the stroke of full-time decided the outcome with a 2 point victory for St. Dominic’s, Kenagh.

St. Dominic’s, Kenagh: Aidan Harris; Matthew Jones, Cian Kenny, Cian Percival; Ethan Jones, Donnacha Gillespie, Dara Kilmurray; Owen Kenny (0-3 1f), Ryan Kenny (2-3); Cathal Horkan, Ben Mclynn, Kieran Cox (1-2, 1f); Cian Treacey, Theodore Flower (1-0), Stephen Kelly (1-2).

Sub used:- Eamon McGinnity for T Flower (58 mins). 

Shannon Gaels, Rathcline: Jack Cassidy; Adam Greally, Darragh Donlon, David Kenny; Tom Hession, Shane Farrell, Donncha Farrell; Tim Kenny (0-3), Oisin Dillon (0-1); Ethan Donnellan (0-3), Josh Curran (1-4, 1f), Kyle Rice; Michael Hogan, Alfie Murphy (2-3), Matthew Murphy. 

Sub used:- Darragh McGloin for M Hogan (50 mins).   

Referee: Padraig McKenna (Killoe).