February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
Ulster 1-9, Connacht 0-3
The Railway Cup has had its problems in recent years and a veritable storm that swept over the northwest of Ireland last weekend, all but ruining the football final at Sligo’s Markievicz Park. Still, Ulster coped better with the deplorable conditions to take the title for a record 25th time.
"The curse of Cromwell is upon us," was the verdict of Fr. Liam Devine, Sligo’s PRO, who organized the final, but there was still much to praise about Ulster’s style and confidence despite the swirling gale.
In fact, the wind Sunday seemed to follow Ulster into the second half, at which stage they led by 0-5 to 0-2. Oisin McConville’s early penalty miss at one stage appeared to have been costly. However, Connacht’s goalkeeper, Peter
Burke, was sent off for a deliberate foul on Brendan Devenney in the 50th minute and this time Gregory McCartan made no mistake from the spot to seal Ulster’s win.
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O’Byrne Cup
Longford 2-6, Westmeath 0-7
The O’Byrne Cup is hardly the be-all and end-all of Gaelic football, but try telling that to Longford after last weekend’s historic triumph in Mullingar.
A first piece of silverware since 1968, the first time the country had put four wins together since that time — when stand-in captain Cathal Conefrey grabbed the trophy, it must have felt like the Sam Maguire itself.
This final wasn’t a thing of beauty. There was the usual pulling, dragging and kicking that so often reduces winter football to an ugly morass. Still, nearly 10,000 spectators turned up in a gale force wind to witness the contest.
Referee Gary McCabe succeeded in irritating both teams to such an extent that Westmeath manager Brendan Lowry was banished to the dugout for what we can only presume was one dose too many of sideline invective.
One of his players, John Cooney, was also sent off by McCabe during the first half, while Longford’s captain, Enda Barden, received his marching orders after swinging a needless kick at Rory O’Connell.
With tempers frayed and McCabe struggling to keep control, Longford used the wind effectively to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 at the interval with Niall Sheridan taking the goal chance superbly.
Westmeath battled back as Kenny McKinley, Joe Fallon and Ger Heavin kicked points and with ten minutes left, the deficit was down to two points. But Longford held firm and well struck Trevor Smullen goal killed off the
Westmeath comeback.
"For most people this was just the O’Byrne Cup," said an ecstatic Longford manager, Michael McCormack, "but for us, this was the championship." Nobody was arguing.
Other games
Kilkenny qualified for the final of hurling’s Walsh Cup with a convincing 2-11 to 0-5 victory over Laois at Freshford. If Henry Shefflin top-scored with 1-6, an in-form D.J. Carey was the architect of Kilkenny’s success.
Wexford also booked their place in the decider when they defeated Offaly by 4-10 to 1-12.
Meanwhile, the Kehoe Cup final will pit Carlow, who got the better of Wicklow by 2-10 to 2-4, against Westmeath, 3-8 to 1-9 victors over Meath.