In a hard-fought final, Western Gaels, captained by former Kerry-great Jason Cronin, produced their best form of the season to capture the 2005 Blue Bison Gaelic Football League title against hot favourites Wolfe Tones, captained by Stephen Bernard .
The Ladies title was captured by Buffers Alley who defeated Christine Rigby’s Oliver Plunketts in what was undoubtedly the tightest game of the season.
Blue Bison Ladies Final: Buffers Alley 0-2 Oliver Plunketts 0-2
The ladies final produced an exciting and well-contested affair in wet and overcast conditions at the rugby club on Saturday afternoon.
Despite losing Emma Ward and Deirdre McSweeney for the finals, Buffers Alley played a strong, final game. Nicola Hanrahan took the pitch by storm as a midfielder by scoring two points for Buffers Alley early on in the game, receiving support from teammate Linda Colgan.
The low scoring game was attribute to strong defence, particularly from Martina Nelson, Sharon Bernard and Roxane Caciuc of Oliver Plunketts. The focus on defence did not stop Martina Nelson from soloing down the pitch in the second half to score the first point for Oliver Plunketts.
Christine Rigby and Shari Das played hard as the Oliver Plunkett midfielders to set up their forwards, Emma Newball and Tracey Lees, with scoring opportunities but Buffers Alley maintained a solid defence line in the form of Laura Scanlan and Twyla Southwick preventing the forwards from scoring. The defence was not strong enough to prevent Emma Newball scoring a second point for Oliver Plunketts making the scores even. Until the final whistle, the Buffer Alley forwards, Malaqui Awe and Olive MacDonagh continued to attack in an effort to score the winning point but the two teams were level at full time.
Scoring opportunities were at a premium given the wet conditions and these two sides could still not be separated after extra time. In an unprecedented and unsanctioned finale the teams decided to shoot penalties to decide the outcome.
Teams started off even as both Shari Das and Martina Nelson scored penalties for Oliver Plunketts while Olive MacDonagh and Nicola Hanrahan scored for Buffers Alley. Howard ‘the Cat’ Byrne was in nets but could not stop Malaqui Awe from Buffers Alley scoring the winning penalty to secure the title for Buffers Alley. Credit must be given to all participants for producing an exciting game as the weather conditions were far from ideal.
Buffers Alley: Nicola Hanrahan 0-2.
Oliver Plunketts: Martina Nelson 0-1, Emma Newball 0-1.
Blue Bison Men’s Final: Western Gaels 3-15 Wolfe Tones 2-8
Inclement weather conditions prior to the throw-in made for treacherous underfoot conditions at the Rugby Club on Saturday. Western Gaels adapted to the wet ball better than their opponents and dashed into a four point lead with scores coming from Eamon Brady, Mark Murphy and Jason Cronin.
Wolfe Tones replied with points from Stephen Bernard and an opportunist goal instigated by Brian Lally who was deputizing for Roger Casey up front. At half time the sides were level at nine points each. The crowd at South Sound were anticipating a rip roaring second half as both teams were eager to capture the ultimate GAA prize in the Caribbean.
Wolfe Tones started the second half with a well worked move involving Ger Finnegan, Gavin Tobin and Ray Murphy to put them ahead. It was at this point that Western Gaels upped their performance particularly at midfield where Mike Hughes, Jason Cronin, Karl O’ Reilly and Darren O’ Neill were dominant. Unanswered scores from Mark Murphy, Padraig Hoare, Jason Cronin and goals from Brady and Paul Deegan cemented Western Gaels dominant position.
Some solid defending by Craig ‘Bulldog’ Manley for Wolfe Tones ably assisted by Viv Morahan stopped a number of promising attacks from Western Gaels. It was then that captain Stephen Bernard rallied his Wolfe Tone brigade and they began to find their feet in the middle of the second half. It was in this period that Bernard scored two goals and John ‘Digicel’ Byrne tacked on a point to make a significant indent on Western Gaels lead. However, the rotating substitutions from Western Gaels appeared to give them the extra legs when needed particularly Edward Asare Quansah and Francisco Vicente Coelho who were sprung from the bench and inspired the team to victory. Referee Alan Kelly blew for full time and the Western Gaels were crowned champions for 2005.
Western Gaels: Eamon Brady 2-8, Paul Deegan 1-3, Mark Murphy 0-2, Jason Cronin 0-1, Padraig Hoare 0-1
Wolfe Tones: Stephen Bernard 2-1, Gavin Tobin 1-1, Ger Finnegan 0-1, Brian Lally 0-1, John Byrne 0-1
Annual Awards
The Annual GAA awards and raffle was held at a well attended function in DJ’s Cantina on Saturday night. The top prize in the raffle was two tickets including flights to Dublin to attend the All-Ireland Football final. The winner this year is Mark Murphy and he is no doubt looking forward to the trip in September and hoping against hope itself that he will get to see his team, Dublin in the final. Special mention was given to members leaving the island particularly Emma Newball who was presented with a small memento of her time in Cayman. The main award winners were as follows
Ladies
Player of the Year – Emma Newball
Best Newcomer – Tracey Lees
Most Improved – Laura Scanlan
Men
Player of the Year – Eamon Brady
Best New Comer – Mike Hughes
Most Improved – Craig Manley
The night ended with Howard Byrne thanking all participants and in particular the sponsors Blue Bison for their continued support especially given the difficult circumstances post Ivan.
League organisers thanked everyone who has contributed in the year, particularly the chairman, Roger Casey.
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