Grand Final – De La Salle vs Old Trinity

Match Report

DLS opened strongly with Campbell Bedford contesting strongly. He was smashed by a hit to the guts, clearly after disposal, which should have incurred a 50-meter penalty & shot on goal. A bad umpiring mistake!
OT quickly established control, kicking to the favoured end, although there was little, if any, wind advantage. Surprisingly for the TBO. OT kicked 4 behinds in rushed attempts! Against the flow, Ben Ahearn snapped truly for DLS to tie the scores at quarter time.
DLS 1.1=7. Old Trinity 0.7=7.

OT totally out played DLS in quarter 2. When DLS went forward, the inability of the Ressies marking forwards to hold their marks was disappointing. OT capitalised, moving the ball into good scoring positions. Adding 4.2 for the quarter & establishing a substantial margin at half time of 24 points.
DLS 1.3=9 Old Trinity 4.9=33

DLS played inspired footy in Qtr3. Whatever Jock said at the break had the desired impact. The outcome was the exact transposition of the 2nd Qtr! Goals were secured by Pat Russell, Tom Fogarty to bring the margin back to 12 points. Then a fine running goal to Bedford reduced the margin further!
OT stabilised, with their only goal for the quarter. An Ethan MacBeth goal just on ¾ time reduced the margin to 5 points! The Ressies had gained control adding 4.3 : OT 1.2 in the quarter, despite OT having much of the play.
DLS 5.6=36 Old Trinity 5.11=41.

Not sure of the timing of scores, but DLS’s early misses on goal was frustrating and could proved costly. OT, similarly missed at the South end! Then finally Harry Gustin swooped, gathering a ball off the pack, to snap truly from HFF/CHF to reduce the margin to 1-2 points depending on the timing of behinds kicked. OT, challenged, in the face of the DLS comeback in the 2nd half, relinquished control of the GF.
A steading goal appeared to restore OT’s confidence & they added 2 more to run out winners by 16 points.

Best: Tom Fogarty, Ethan MacBeth, Harry Gustin, Cooper Morris, Campbell Bedford, Nick Jarvis, Pat Russell
Goals: Ben Ahearn, Sam McNidder, Russell, Fogarty, Gustin, MacBeth.