Leinster Club Football Championship final/St Vincent's 2-8 Tyrrellspass 0-7:It has taken St Vincent's 23 years to win back the Leinster club football title, their fourth since 1973, and this may be the most satisfying so far. The famous Dublin club is naturally steeped in tradition and it seemed several generations of St Vincent's supporters spilled onto Cusack Park afterwards to share in the moment of triumph.
Among them, lurking in the background was former club and county maestro Kevin Heffernan, who had a part to play in this latest victory.
Heffernan persuaded manager Mickey Whelan to stay on for another season following last year's county-final defeat to UCD, a result that left many of those same supporters wondering if the good times would ever roll again.
Well now they are rolling, proven by the fact that this contest was in danger of turning into a Marino waltz. Tyrrellspass, the Westmeath champions, never truly rose to the challenge, and the game was as good as over after just 20 minutes when St Vincent's were up 2-4 to 0-2.
No Westmeath club had ever won this title, however, and to their credit, Tyrrellspass dug deep - limiting St Vincent's to a paltry two points in the second half. But the goal they needed to get back into the game never came, and instead St Vincent's eased home comfortable winners, despite the fact some of their star performers weren't quite on song.
Team captain Tomás Quinn had a relatively quiet afternoon, hitting just two frees and sending several more short, while team prodigy Diarmuid Connolly ended up scoreless. Ger Brennan didn't quite repeat his authority at centre back, and key midfielder Hugh Coghlan was forced off injured after just 14 minutes.
But St Vincent's had the players to fill in. Pat Gilroy was a late addition to the starting line-up, as he was in the semi-final over Portlaoise, and once again he turned back some of his 37 years with some striking football at full forward, topped off by a goal and a point.
Most dazzling of all was wing forward Kevin Golden, who hit 1-3 in total and underlined the meaning of a sweet left foot. Both Gilroy and Golden combined well with centre forward Tiernan Diamond, who also played a big role, as did corner backs Paul Conlon and Hugh Gill.
All this made for a frustrating afternoon for Tyrrellspass. David Glennon miraculously shook of his hamstring injury to share attacking duties with Denis Glennon, and for a while at least they looked a threat.
Denis Glennon hit a typically amazing point after 10 minutes to level the scores at 0-2 apiece, but before long both Glennons were more or less played out of the game.
St Vincent's turned their possession into a full-frontal onslaught, constantly appearing to have men over. Diamond's long pass to Golden on 15 minutes resulted in the first goal, when he caught cleanly over Philip Sheridan, and drove home an unstoppable shot.
The high-ball tactic was a growing problem for Tyrrellspass.
Five minutes later Diamond was involved again, setting up the pass for Pat Kelly, who directed a floating ball in towards Gilroy, who calmly palmed it just under the crossbar.
So ended the competitive element to the game. It was a pity to see a Leinster final develop this way, but neither team could be blamed. St Vincent's were growing in confidence with every game since winning back the Dublin title after an equally long wait, and at no stage did they give Tyrrellspass the real hope of a comeback.
They needed a goal but Gavin Hoey had his effort disallowed for a square ball on 26 minutes. Martin Flanagan at least kept spirits alive with two points before the break, but St Vincent's were still well in control, 2-6 to 0-4.
The second half proved something of an anti-climax. Tyrrellspass centre back Trevor John Gonoud picked up a second yellow card for felling Brennan - rounding off a highly forgettable afternoon for the Westmeath champions.
In accepting the Leinster trophy, Quinn promised a couple of days celebrations, but it won't be too long before their next opponents - the reigning All-Ireland champions Crossmaglen - come into view.
Crossmaglen have to beat the London champions in the meantime, but come next February two of the most famous sides in club football will finally get to meet at something like their peak, and that too should be worth the wait.
ST VINCENT'S: M Savage; P Conlon, E Brady, H Gill; T Doyle, G Brennan, P Kelly; H Coghlan, M O'Shea; K Golden (1-3, one free), T Diamond, D Connolly; B Maloney (0-2), P Gilroy (1-1), T Quinn (0-2, both frees). Subs: C Brady for Coghlan (14 mins, inj); R Trainor for Brady (56 mins).
TYRRELLSPASS: D Quinn; T Newman, B Murphy, T O'Brien; S Arthur, T J Gonoud, P Sheridan; A Corcoran, D Murphy; K Connell (0-1, a free), G Hoey, K Scally; David Glennon (0-2, both frees), M Flanagan (0-3, one free), Denis Glennon (0-1). Subs: C Daly for Corcoran (48 mins); J Corcoran for Arthur (53 mins); R Sheeran for Connell (56 mins); R Dunbar for Scally (60 mins).
Referee: C Reilly (Meath)
