Warwickshire 1-15
Scotland 3-5
All-Britain Junior Football Championship
SCOTLAND threatened a surprising comeback against Warwickshire in the first round of the All-Britain Junior Football Championship on Sunday, but the 2015 finalists eventually slipped to defeat at Old Bedians in Manchester.
Warwickshire looked to be cruising as they led 1-12 to 0-2 midway through the second-half, but two quick-fire goals from Conor Higgins and Cian Geoghegan, as well as a free from the latter, reduced the deficit to just six points.
Scotland grabbed another goal two minutes from time but Warwickshire held out for the win.
The second-half resurgence from Scotland was all the more surprising given the ease with which Warwickshire had asserted their authority up until that point.
Both sides were toiling under a punishing sun, but while they may have been feeling the heat, Warwickshire figuratively barely broke a sweat as they controlled the opening half, which finished 0-10 to 0-2 in their favour.
After early points from James Connolly and Brendan Hickey, Scotland replied with a neat score from Higgins after six minutes. However, from then on it was all Warwickshire.
Half-forward James McDowell appeared to be at the heart of Warwickshire’s attacks and it was he who found Brendan Hickey, who impressively slotted over from a tight angle.
Higgins kept Scotland in touch with a free either side of scores from Edward Blake and Patrick Hickey, with the Warwickshire pair both content to take their points rather than test Seamus Daly in the Scotland goal.
Connolly and Ted Duffy then extended Warwickshire’s advantage as they took a 0-7 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes. There was plenty of endeavour from Scotland, with some nice passing in the middle of the park, Stuart McMahon being the creative force from midfield.
However, the Warwickshire half-back line was soaking up all the pressure as easily as the sun was sapping their opponents’ energy, with Scotland reduced to a couple of tame long-range efforts. Warwickshire hit three late points to lead 0-10 to 0-2 at the break.
There was no let up from Warwickshire after the break and after a flurry of early wides they added a goal, Michael Harrigan slotting home from close range.
When Garth Treacy pointed 16 minutes into the half to make it 1-12 to 0-2, it looked like there was no way back for Scotland.
Then came three minutes of magic. First Higgins slotted home after being set up by Charles Gallagher, before the former turned provider. He laid the ball off for Shane Moran, who picked out Geoghegan charging in from the left before rifling past Macauley Felgate. Geoghegan then pointed from a free against a stunned Warwickshire to make it 1-12 to 2-3.
Patrick Hickey and Duffy responded for Warwickshire but Geoghegan added another point before Scotland exposed Warwickshire’s leaky defence once again. A Higgins free was palmed into the path of Gerard Caden, who punched home to make it 1-14 to 3-4.
However, Scotland’s stirring fight-back ultimately proved too little too late at the sides traded points to see out the game. Last year’s finalists now face an uphill task to reach this year’s decider, while Warwickshire’s porous defence will give them cause for concern.
TEAMS & SCORERS
Warwickshire: M Felgate; C Clifford, S Meeney, J Connolly (0-2); G Treacy (0-1), N Gilbride, J Ridley; A Willis, A Cataldo; E Blake (0-2), T Duffy (0-3), J McDowell (0-1); P Hickey (0-4), B Hickey (0-2), M Harrigan (1-0). Subs: M Hartnett for A Cataldo (41mins); C Rowe for J Ridley (59mins).
Scotland: S Daly; E Dennehy, M Leonard, K O’Connor; C Gallagher, E Leonard, B Morton; J Treacy, S McMahon; C Higgins (1-2), S Moran, P Smart; D Kellegher, C Geoghegan (1-3), G Caden (1-0). Subs: A Watt for E Dennehy (21mins)
