05-10-2002
Saints are favourites for third title
Question - Give the name and the year, a Mountmellick man won an All-Ireland hurling medal. The same year the father of a future All-Ireland senior medallist helped the town win their only Laois intermediate football title. The team also included a player who would play in the Ulster senior football championships. Answer later on.
On Saturday, next Mountmellick will be hoping to make it third time lucky in ten years. Ten years ago a goal divided them and Barrowhouse in the Laois intermediate football final. Two years later they were hot favourites to make amends when they clashed with Harps who had shocked the Rock in the semi final with a late Tony Dunne goal. Mountmellick had easily defeated Portarlington in the other semi final but a late goal by Albert Townsend gave Harps the title.
On Saturday they return to another final meeting, this time with neighbours Clonaslee / St. Manman's. In a unique decider, Mountmellick will enter the contest as rank outsiders although they have been so far unbeaten in the league or championship. Once again, the competition has been prolonged, it's almost five months since they drew with Courtwood in the semi final, and the replay only took place on Sunday last.
Earlier in the championship Mountmellick accounted for Ballyfin, Abbleyleix and last years beaten finalists Annanough.
In the drawn semi final they looked dead and buried but a late rally saw Aiden Challoner snatch a late draw. For various reasons the replay was deferred until Sunday last. The lay off benefited neither side, but newcomer Tom Minahan scored a goal in each half to clinch a first semi final victory in eight years.
They will look to players like inter county senior panellist Donal O'Mahony, Ken Young, who played in the last two losing finals, Darren Young, Michael and Gordon Lalor, Shane Conlon, Mark Rockford, Aiden and Jarleth Challoner and last weeks two goal hero Tom Minahan. Captained by Willie Whelan from midfield back in the ranks are Willie Flanagan who could play a vital role. The Saints will be hoping to win their third title in the grade.
They lost a final to Barrowhouse in 1980 but a year later returned to defeat Park / Ratheniska in a replay after extra time.
Their first year in senior was twenty years ago when they met a star studded Portlaoise side. Only two points separated the sides and later Portlaoise went on to win county provincial and All-Ireland titles. They regraded to intermediate ad eventually junior. They regained intermediate status when they defeated Mountrath in '97, a year after Rosenallis beat them in a thrilling final. They reached the intermediate final in '98 with a surprise victory over Courtwood in the semi-final.
The final in late November saw them cause a major upset. They faced a fancied Arles team. From the throw Shay Fitzgerald scored a wonder goal. Then Chris Conway faced up to a penalty and Padraig Hogan made a wonderful save a minute into injury time in the first half. Fitzgerald scored his second goal and the Saints led 2-2 to 0-3.
A minute in the second half Sean Flynn scored their last point but it proved to be a winner. Arles fought back but were a point short at the long whistle. Can the Saints do it again. Well they have prepared well. They beat Killeshin and drew with Courtwood, received a walk over from Harps and Ratheniska and defeated finalists for the last two years Annanough in the semi final.
They will look to Darren and Captain Mark Rooney, Tom Tynan, Pat and Michael O'Brien, Shane Molloy, Shay Fitzgerald, Jimmy Dunne, Keith and Darren Hogan, Laois minor Conor Gorman, Trevor Snell. They are coached by former Gracefield star Kieran Dunne. A good omen for them was that another former Gracefield great Martin Murphy last Saturday guided Daingean to win the Offaly intermediate title - it should be close. Last year Mountmellick bridged a forty year gap to win the junior hurling title. Now they can bridge a thirty four year gap to win football. It could all happen at McCann Park on Saturday next.
Mountmellick's last final appearance 1994 lost to Harps 3-8 to 3-3. Last title in 1968 beat Mental Hospital 3-7 to 2-3. All three goals came in the second quarter from Padraig and Tom Lalor, in between PJ Payne shot a brilliant goal. Saturday's Captain: Willie Whelan.
Saint Manman's last victory 1998. Final score St. Manman's 2-3, Arles 0-8. Captain: Mark Rooney.
First title 1981, beat Ratheniska 0-8 to 1-4. After extra time drew 1-6 a piece. Captain: Patsy Rigney Captain for 2002: Mark Rooney. Coach: Kieran Dunne.
Final Facts
St. Manman's were founded in 1971 and reached the final only to lose to Portlaoise 0-10 to 1-04. A year later they won the junior title at the expense of the Rock on a score line of 1-09 to 0-10. The side included three McCroghans, Seamus, Michael and Patsy. They lost their first intermediate final two years later on a score line of Barrowhouse 2-10 to St. Manman's 1-06. In 1973, Mountmellick played Ballylinan in the intermediate final. Their side included Tom, Mick, Larry and Declan O'Loughlin as well as Clonaslee players Fran Bates, Denis, Richie and Ciaran O'Keefe, Moling Morrissey. Ballylinan won on a score line of 4-8 to 0-8.
In '72 Mountmellick and Ballinakilll drew in the junior final 0-10 to 1-7 but in the replay Mountmellick won 7-10 to 1-10.
In '67 Mountmellick and Arles finished level in the intermediate final, Arles 2-8, Mountmellick 3-5 but Arles won the reply 3-7 to 2-3. Mountmellick have a poor in football finals. They lost to Killeshin 0-10 to 0-4 in JFA in '57, minor in '74 to Portlaoise, 1-8 to 0-7, minor in '75 after a reply to Portlaoise junior B in '76 to Timahoe 3-6 to 1-6. On u 21they lost three in a row to Portlaoise '76, '77, '78, minor in a reply to O'Dempsey's in '80, minor in '82 to Portarlington 1-8 to 1-7.
When Mountmellick defeated Kilcaven 3-5 to 0-2in the junior final Mick O'Loughlin lined out at half time for Kilcaven.
Answer to question at the beginning of preview:
Dickie Dunne won an All-Ireland junior medal with Warwickshire in the 1968 junior final. The father of a future All-Ireland medallist was Ray Rochford who lined out a full forward in '68 when Mountmellick won their only previous title. His son Bernard was sub goalie when Cork beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland of two years ago and the player who went on to Play Ulster senior football was the late Des Houlihan who lined out with Donegal along with his late brother helped Mountmellick in the final of '68.
