Oughterard 2-14 An Cheathrú Rua 1-04

FROM an early stage at Pearse Stadium on Saturday afternoon it was apparent that Oughterard held all the aces and they cruised to a West Board Minor B final win that was every bit as emphatic as the score line suggests.

An Cheathrú Rua did battle bravely until the bitter end, but Oughterard were never seriously troubled having done most of the spadework in the opening period when playing into the teeth of the usual Salthill breeze. After the restart Oughterard were sufficiently comfortable and composed to deal with the occasional An Cheathrú Rua with the margin of victory the only thing that needed to be determined.

The football was lively at the start featuring chances at both ends with neither outfit particularly clinical. Still it was Oughterard who were doing more of the probing and though Wayne O’Flatharta had knocked over a third minute point for An Cheathrú Rua they leaked a goal in the sixth minute.

It was a smashing strike created by Niall Lee’s vision as the full forward intelligently flicked the ball for Colin Conroy to provide an opportunistic finish. Conroy drilled confidently into the bottom corner of the An Cheathrú Rua net and Oughterard took plenty of confidence from the fact that they had an important major while playing against the wind.

An Cheathrú Rua’s team was loaded with physical footballers and they sought to defiantly find a route into the contest outscoring Oughterard by three points to one over the next 18 minutes. Oisin O’Griofa and Patrick Walsh traded points before Ciaran O’Conaire and Mairtin O’Suilleabhain split the uprights to narrow the deficit to the minimum.

It should really have been level, but An Cheathrú Rua’s shot selection was poor and as the interval edged closer Oughterard seemed content. Then Oughterard added another goal in the 28th minute with Lee again supplying a splendid pass for Conroy, who converted expertly.

Midfielder Myles Upton banged over a free from 35 yards extending Oughterard’s half-time advantage to 2-3 to 0-4 and it was a healthy buffer when the greasy conditions were taken into account.

An Cheathrú Rua needed to stitch a sequence of scores together, but it was Oughterard who did exactly that in the third quarter. Reeling off five points on the spin Oughterard scorched 10 clear and An Cheathrú Rua couldn’t cope as Oughterard attacked from every angle with Lee the orchestrator inside.

During this burst of supremacy Upton (2), Lee (2), and adventurous wing back Ciaran Noone got in on the act as An Cheathrú were overran. The Gaeltacht club did have one brief moment of joy with 10 minutes remaining when substitute Coilin O’Domhnaill strucsk a blistering goal, but it was merely a consolation, and Oughterard were soon back inflicting further damage.

Ending the hour with a real flourish Oughteard hit six points in quick succession courtesy of Colin McMahon, Lee (2), Upton, Noone, and Walsh to seal a convincing success that will leave them hopeful and heartened ahead of their County decider.

An Cheathrú Rua, operating off a small pick of players, were enthusiastic with Roibeard O’Flatharta, Daithi O’Conghaile, Caoimhin O’Gionnain, and Oisin O’Griofa performing with bustling aggression.

Oughterard possessed a little bit of extra class especially in attack and will be striving to build on this encouraging triumph. Eanna Malone, Enda Tierney, Noone, Upton, Walsh, and Lee could all have significant roles in Oughterard’s future.

Oughterard: C Forde; M McDonagh, E Malone, N Gibbons; P Gibbons, E Tierney, C Noone (0-2); M Upton (0-4, 0-3 frees), A O’Toole; C McMahon (0-1), P Walsh (0-2), J Edwards; C Harte, N Lee (0-5, 2fs), C Conroy (2-0). Subs: P Murray for Harte (40 mins), P Fleming for P Gibbons (56 mins), B Carey for N Gibbons (56 mins), S Higgins for McMahon (58 mins), S Gibbons for Edwards (58 mins).

An Cheathrú Rua: D MacDonnacha; D O’Cuin, T MacDonnacha, P O’Conaire; C O’Lorcain, R O’Flatharta, Daithi O’Conghaile; L MacDonnacha, C O’Gionnain; W O’Flatharta (0-1), C O’Conaire (0-1), O O’Griofa (0-1); S MacDonnacha, B O’Conghaile, M O’Suilleabhain (0-1). Subs: C O’Domhnaill (1-0) for S MacDonnacha (37 mins), Diarmuid O’Conghaile for Daithi O’Conghaile (58 mins), A O’Conaire for B O’Conghaile (58 mins), K Breathnach for O’Suilleabhain (58 mins).

Referee: T O’Fatharta.