Tom Goulding and the post deny Modeligo an All-Ireland Semi final spot.

Modeligo’s dream of becoming the first Waterford Club to win the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship ended last weekend when they went under to a strong Fullen Gael’s team from Manchester at Pairc na hEireann in Birmingham.

Modeligo knew heading into the game to win would not be an easy task. They will have been disappointed with the final result, but they will be far more disappointed with other factors that happened over the weekend.

I must point out that I was not at the game. I must also say that I am not one to give out about referees and their performances. I am one that usually says that a referee goes out to do his best, but like players and coaches, he and his officials make mistakes and that in general these mistakes should be accepted.

However, there can be no disputing from talking and reading about this game from those at the game, Modeligo can feel very hard done by, by the referee and to a lesser degree by the organisers of the game, which I am taking to be a sub-committee within Croke Park.

For a referee to show up at a game of this standard without his full quota of officials is simply not good enough.

It is important that all that play a part in a game of this standard that everyone is used to playing as a team. The players on both sides were more than used of playing together as a team and so too should be the officials.

For the best part of a decade in the late 90’s and into the last decade many will be aware I was involved with Bord na nÓg at Divisional and County level.

In that time I and others tried to and improve ways things were done. Some of what was tried work, others might not have worked.

I would love to be able to make claim to one of the best things that happened in Bord na nÓg while I was involved but cant.

During my term involved in Bord na nÓg a suggestion was made that on days three county finals were to be played, three referee’s would be appointed to work on the day. Each referee would referee one game and for the other two games they would run the line. It was suggested that between the three referees’s they would have four umpires to work on the three games. Sometimes it was not always possible to have four umpires present and from time to time to ensure there was a full quota of officials present, one of the officers who would pull on the white coat and stand behind one of the goalposts.

Every effort was made to ensure that games were played at county grounds (Walsh Park or Fraher Field) and that at the ground, the public relations system was in working order and was used.

For an All-Ireland final to be played where the referee did not have a full quota of officials, where there was no fourth official to indicate what players were to be substituted and to let the sizeable attendance know what time would be added at the end of each half is not good enough. For no Public Address System to be working at the ground on the day is not acceptable. A large amount of people from Modeligo made their way to Birmingham for the game. Many more because of the weather could not make it on the day. Many Waterford people living in different parts of the UK made their way to Birmingham on the day to support the team. They deserved better than what they got. If the organisers came out of this game with any saving grace, admission to the game was free, so well done on that.

And so to the on field action.

There is an old adage that goals win games and that was never truer than in this game, where Modeligo despite hitting more scores over the course of the hour still ended up on the wrong end of the final result.

Vincent Morrissey proved to be the hero of the afternoon for the exiles as he stuck both of their goals, one in each half.

It was the exiles that were quickest off the mark in this game with a point from Colm O’Callaghan on two minutes, but Modeligo responded with points from Patrick O’Donovan after he was set up by younger brother Seanie, and Patrick then went from scorer to provider when he helped set up Kieran McCarthy on ten minutes to give his side a 0-2 to 0-1 lead.

Colm O’Callaghan levelled matters once more on the quarter of an hour mark, but points from Kieran McCarthy and Tom Devine quickly followed to give Modeligo a two point lead.

On eighteen minutes the first of two major scores in this game arrived. A James Garry free found its way to Vincent Morrissey who beat Donal O’Keeffe with a ground strike to give his side a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

Four minutes from the break, disaster struck for Modeligo.

Before the game they were forced to line out without Jamie Troy who was instrumental throughout 2014 because of Injury.

Pa Walsh was another key players to Modeligo’s hopes. After Tom Devine was struck, he got involved in an incident and was dismissed by the Wexford referee on a straight red card as was Nathan Unwin, but from talking to those at the game, it appears that there was a case of mistaken identity as it should be a different player was ordered off. Maybe working with officials he was used to, maybe the referee may with their assistance could have picked out the correct player.

Colm O’Callaghan and Paddy Duggan followed up with points for the exiles by the 29^th minute to give them a three point lead on a none existing functioning score board.

However there was time for further scores to be registered as Colm O’Callaghan either side of efforts from Kieran McCarthy and Tom Devine helped the exiles to a 1-5 to 0-6 lead at the break.

The second half started well for Modeligo.

Pat Fitzgerald and Reamonn McEnetee traded early scores after which Tom Devine converted a free to leave just one between the sides.

Eighteen minutes from time, Fullen Gaels hit their last score of the game, but it was a crucial one.

Liam Knocker picked out Vincent Morrissey who was free in front of goal who made no mistake hitting his second score of the game to give his side a 2-6 to 0-8 lead.

In the build-up to the goal being scored the linesman brought to the attention of the referee that Shane Troy had been fouled but the Wexford official failed to take account of what he was told and allowed the goal to stand.

Kieran McCarthy pulled a point back to Modeligo to leave three between the sides with seven minutes to play.

Three minutes later Seanie O’Donovan decided to test Tom Goulding in the Fullen Gael’s goal, but the Knockanore native pulled off an excellent save to deny the young Modeligo man.

Modeligo continued to go in search of the score that would get them something from the game.

With time almost up, a roar went up from the assembled Modeligo supporters when it appeared the ball crossed the Fullen Gaels goal line, but the game was called up and Modeligo were awarded a twenty metre free which Patrick Donovan put between the uprights.

With two between the sides, Modeligo continued to pile on the pressure. Jamie Troy sent on for the closing minutes despite his injury struck the crossbar from a free and when Patrick O’Donovan latched onto the resulting rebound he hit the post.

The final whistle followed soon afterwards. Modeligo lost out by two points. The dream of becoming the first Waterford club to win the title was over. No doubt after the game, a lot of what ifs were flowing through the Modeligo players and supporters.

While Modeligo will be disappointed with the result, they will be the first to admit that the side that took their chances on the day were the deserved winners.

The Modeligo players however can take great pride in what they achieved in 2014, winning the Western, County and Munster Finals, repeating what Ballysaggart did twelve months earlier.

The pressure now must surely be on whoever wins the junior hurling county final to repeat what Ballysaggart and Modeligo did.

Modeligo: Donal O’Keeffe; Robbie Buckley, Brian McCarthy, Sean O’ Donovan; John McGrath, Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy; Pa Walsh, Thomas Walsh; Nicky O’ Donovan, Pa O’ Donovan, Kieran McCarthy; Michael Troy, Tom Devine, Rian Reddy. Subs: Louis Queally for Nicky O’ Donovan (halftime), Jamie Troy for Rian Reddy (54 mins), JP Ryan for Michael Troy (57 mins).

Scorers: Kieran McCarthy 0-4 (1f), Tom Devine 0-3 (2f), Pa O’Donovan 0-2, Pat Fitzgerald 0-1.

Fullen Gaels: Tom Goulding; Simon Wallace, Liam Knocker, Conall Maskey; Alan Morrissey, Shane Garry, Nathan Unwin; James O’Shaugnessy, Reamonn McEntee; Vincent Faherty, Greg Jacob, Alan O’ Neill; Colm O’ Callaghan, Paddy Duggan, Vincent Morrissey. Sub: Damien O’ Grady for Paddy Duggan (40 mins).

Scorers: Vincent Morrissey 2-0, Colm O’Callaghan 0-4 (3F), Reamonn McEntee, Paddy Duggan 0-1 each.

Referee: Gearoid McGrath (Wexford).