PEARSES WIN ANTRIM SENIOR TITLE
taken from the Irish News, 16th September 1968
Pearses 1-6 St Johns 0-4
Two eighteen year old Antrim Football Clubs hit the jackpot yesterday for the first time in their career. Moneyglass lifted the county Junior Football corwn in a dramatic game with city team O'Donnells, while the All-Belfast senior football final also at Casement Park saw North Queen Street club, Pearses, easily defeat favourites St Johns. Playing in their fourth senior final in six years, Pearses at last broke through witha very decisive win over old campaigners St Johns, chasing their eleventh title. Unlike previous finals where the fans had to tolerate dismal weather conditions, the setting yesterday at Casement was perfect although a swirling breeze played tricks with the ball in a game that was by no means a classic. The winners surprised everyone by the fact that they more or less dominated the game right from the start. They seemed much fitter, tackled hard and tossed the ball about with an air of confidence. This determined combination had the hame wrapped up at the interval and had they played with the same zip in the second half they would have won by a wider margin.
LITTLE IN THE CHASE
St Johns, apart from staccato bursts, were never really in the picture. Their defence was a little hesitant, mid-field was out of the hunt and their attack never clicked as a unit. The writing was on the wall at the interval. St Johns were truly up against it as they were outplayed in every department and even with wind advantage they trailed by six points. It was a brilliant move three minutes from half time that sealed the game for Pearses. Earlier, Martin Green was splitting the St Johns defence wide open with spectacular solo runs. Combining with high catching Joe Mulvenna, he set off bearded Vinty Kearney down the right wing. The wing forwards pass found stocky Jimmy Kelly who placed big Pat O'Hara in position on the edge of the square. The burly Pearses captain didn't reckon on heroic Johnnies keaper Henry Gallagher who forced him to return the ball to unmarked Kelly, who sent in a rocket to the roof of the net. Earlier St Johns must have bemoaned two great chances of goals, but Eagleson showed great anticipation when he stopped McGrogan and later a point-blank shot from Andy McCallin.
PEARSES RELAXED
With such a confident lead plus the sun and wind in their backs, Pearses lost their edge. St Johns tried to make a fight of it and the switching of Micky Gallagher and Des Armstrong to centre field gave them more attacking play. This made little difference as the two stars of this win for the North Queen Street club really emerged. Full back Aidan O'Prey, a 21-year-old school teacher and right half-back Jimmy O'Reilly. It was certainly worth flying cherub-faced O'Reilly, a 20-year-old, from Derby where he is a research worker. On the short side for a defender, O'Reilly outjumped the opposing attack to bring off some brilliant catches.
ST JOHN'S SWITCHES
The cool O'Prey cut off many St Johns attempts ... so such so that late in the game the Corrigan Park mentors moved corner back John Maguire, ex-Fermanagh county star, upfield to try his luck on the edge of the square. Maguire did fist a point but he too was outcaught by O'Prey. When Pearses began to lose their dominance on the game mid-way through the seond half, team manager Patsy Burns, a happy man after the game, took off injured Hugh O'Hara, moved back Phelim Green from full forward to centre field and brought on the clubs oldest player, 34-year-old process worker Liam Steele as poacher. This helped to tighten up the slack and the title was clinched. Eagleson played a steady game in gaols, back Etherson, O'Prey and O'Neill were resolute.
O'PREY EXCELLED
O'Prey excelled, while Loughran played it close against Johnnies most dangerous forward, Sean Burns. Mulvenna had a wonderful hour at centre field, where his fielding was perfection and along with hard-working George O'Hara outclassed their opposite numbers in the first half, success that played an important part in the win. Martin Green was the pick of the attack which moved sweetly at times, but their finishing was poor and a few of the players tended to hold onto the ball too long.
LOSERS BEST
For the losers goalie Henry Gallagher did his utmost to save his team but there was too much hesitancy by some of the men in front of him. Eammon Grieve, Artie McGlone and Des Armstrong worked hard, while up front Din Joe McGrogan and Sean Burns looked the only match savers, but here, too, shooting was rather sloppy.
For the teams, click here