​Culloville U21s retain their crown after 80-minute epic encounter against Pearse Ogs

​

It took extra-time, but Culloville U21s retained their hold on the Armagh SFC title with victory over Pearse Ogs in an epic, high-scoring encounter at The Box-It Athletic Grounds.

On a cold and windy Friday night, Culloville were able to defend the crown which they won against Clan na Gael last year, whilst 2024 Intermediate champions Pearse Ogs were hopeful of going one better than they did last year.

Pearse Ogs midfielder Michael McSorley was unlucky not to be on the winning side, as he finished the game with 0-16, but Culloville were boosted by a spread of scorers, including 2-5 for captain Taidgh O’Neill, and 0-4 for each of Eoin Duffy, Ryan Duffy and Aaron Garvey.

The Ogs lead at half-time

Pearse Ogs got the first two scores of the final, with McSorley pointing a free before Josh Hunter found the mark from play, but Culloville replied with Aaron Garvey and Ryan Duffy raising white flags.

Olaf Kurowski put the Armagh City side back into the lead and that was added to by three McSorley points, with one from a free and two from play. Indeed, they very nearly scored a goal but Culloville full back Cathal McEleavey was in the right place at the right time to clear a McSorley shot off the line.

O’Neill opened his account for Culloville and doubled it soon after, but at the other end McSorley continued to showcase his skills, pointing from a free off his left foot one minute and then off his right foot the next.

Charlie Garvey then got his first of the day, finishing off a splendid solo run, before Eoin Duffy also opened his account.

An O’Neill free was the last score of the first half, but Pearse Ogs led 0-10 to 0-7 at the short whistle after another McSorley free and a Dara Harney point.

Level after 60 minutes

The Ogs moved four clear at the start of the second half via a McSorley free, but Culloville were right back in the game after O’Neill was put through on goal by Eoin Duffy, and he kept his composure by slotting low and into the back of the Pearse Ogs net.

The Ogs responded well with Harney pointing, and they almost found the back of the net themselves when a McSorley shot dropped short and was knocked goalwards by Hunter, but his palmed effort was saved by Blues goalkeeper Paddy McCarthy.

Culloville then grabbed the next two points with Eoin Duffy and Aaron Garvey on target, and although McSorley replied from a free, all the momentum was with the south Armagh men.

O’Neill levelled the game up before Ryan Duffy was brought to ground by Dara Gillan inside the penalty area and Culloville were awarded a spot kick. O’Neill took on the responsibility and made no mistake by firing home and putting his side into the lead for the first time in the game on 51 minutes.

When Eoin Duffy split the uprights a moment later it looked as though Culloville were on their way to glory. However, to Pearse Ogs’ credit, they kept battling and rattled off the last four points – through three McSorley frees and a Shane McCleary score – to take the game into extra-time, at 2-11 to 0-17.

Culloville find a third goal

Sometimes the action can cool off in extra-time, but on Friday evening it was the opposite, as both sides continued to go hell for leather. Eoin and Ryan Duffy both added to their accounts for Culloville, but the Ogs went back in front via a McSorley two-point free, followed by a one-point free.

Not for long though, as following a blocked Ryan Duffy shot, the rebound fell for Ciaran Connolly and he drilled home Culloville’s third goal of the night.

Two-point scores make the difference

The Ogs got themselves level once more with points from McSorley (free) and Caoalan McGinley either side of the short half-time break, but then came arguably the two most important scores of the night.

Despite players running on empty all over the field, Culloville somehow managed two heroic two-point scorers in a matter of moments, with Ryan Duffy and Aaron Garvery stepping up for their side to pull four clear.

Callum Hughes and O’Neill then traded points, and although the last two scores of the day were converted by Ogs men Ryan McGahan and McGinley, it wasn’t enough and Culloville held on for the dramatic win, keeping their U21 crown in the process.

MATCH STATS

Culloville scorers: Taidgh O’Neill (2-5, 1f), Ryan Duffy (0-4, 1tp), Eoin Duffy (0-4), Aaron Garvey (0-4, 1tp), Ciaran Connolly (1-0), Charlie Garvey (0-1).

Pearse Ogs scorers: Michael McSorley (0-16, 12f, 1tpf), Dara Harney (0-2), Caolan McGinley (0-2), Josh Hunter (0-1), Olaf Kurowski (0-1),Shane McCleary (0-1), Callum Hughes (0-1), Ryan McGahan (0-1).

Referee: Martin Conroy.