The match began after a minutes silence for Ciarán Ó Conceanainn. Twenty seven year old Ciarán from Sail a’Thona, An Spideáil, had won the coveted Seán Uí Ríada Corn in Oireachtás just last November for his sean-nós singing. Not only was he recognised as a lovely singer for his tender age but he also had a love of his native Irish language and its culture. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Conditions were good for Football. There was a small wind coming in from the West but was not really strong enough to give any team an advantage but St. James'' had the bit that was. Cumann Peile Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir were first off the mark with a point from play after eight minutes. Straight afterwards Leitir Móir conceded a free which St. James' Paul Conroy put over the bar. Soon after Conroy was on the score sheet again knocking up 2 more points. At this stage Leitir Móir had 3 players on Black Books when the referee judged that the Leitir Móir Goalkeeper fouled Eoin Concannon in the box; a penalty that Eoin stuck into the net. 3 minutes later and and Eoin Concannon free from about 30 metres fell through the Goalkeepers hands and ended in the back of the net. At this stage the St. James' club were up 2-3 to 0-1; a lead they knew they would need to try and keep. However Leitir Móir had a different agenda and pulled back within 4 points in a row; 3 of them from David McDonagh. Conroy finished the half with a point that just went over the bar. The score was thought to be Leitir Móir 0-5; St. James'' 2-4 but referee; Alan Carr instructed the people looking after the scoreboard to change it to: Leitir Móir 0-6; St. James'' 2-4 so somewhere along the line this obviously biased reporter missed a score along with nearly everybody else watching the game but there was an attempt on a point near the start of the game that was one of those shots were the ball went right over the upright post and would have been hard to judge. Maybe that was it. The St. James' fans were hoping that this point would not come back to haunt them.

The second half went as long as the first half without a score. A Leitir Móir free was put over the bar. All of a sudden there was only a goal in it. 10 minutes into the second half a long ball in from Leitir Móir was met with the fist of one of the forwards and he scored a goal. The sides were level!!! The match was always physical the only thing was most of that was coming from the home side. Conroy pointed a free to put James' back in front. In the space of the next 2 minutes 4 players got Yellow Cards and another player got a Black Book. Leitir Móir responded with a point from play to leave the sides level again. Leitir Móir went into the lead. Points were exchanged by both sides with St. James' a point down with a minute to go in normal time. A minute into injury time and a Paul Conroy free left the side level. The sides finished level after normal time Leitir Móir 1-10, St. James' 2-7.

Between the two teams only 5 players had scored in the match so far; St. James'; Conroy, Concannon, and Leitir Móir's; Eamon Lynch, David McDonagh & Eanna Kane. 5 seems like a small "Scoring Party". Extra time was on the cards. 10 minutes a side. A new game. All yellow cards and black books were forgotten about. St. James' won the toss and opted to play into the wind. A decision that most supporters agreed on. Eoin Concannon scored a point from play. Leitir Móir then pulled away with 2 points and a goal from a 45 kick. The goal was much the same as Concannon''s second one. A crowded goal mouth with pressure on the goal keeper saw the ball end up in the back of the net. Leitir Móir were now 4 points up with 3 minutes of the first half left. Concannon scored a point from a free and St. James' Michael Elwood became the 6th member of the "Scoring Party" with a point on the stroke of half time. The score was Leitir Móir 2-12, St. James'' 2-10.

The second half started at 4:14pm. A point each from Paul Conroy and substitute Andrew Burke put the sides level with 7 minutes left. With 2 minutes to go Paul Conroy stood over a free outside the 45 in front of goal. The supports yelled "Over the bar" "Put it dead". Conroy struck the ball but disaster; he slipped in the process; but the ball just went over the cross bar. James' were a point up with two minutes to go. Leitir Móir responded with a point to put the sides level. At this stage the St. James' fans wanted to hear the final whistle going on the theory we would beat them at home in the replay. Despite 4 goals in the game none of them were the result of an attack directly from play with an advancing forward carrying the ball and neither Goal Keeper had to pull off any big saves but at 4:24pm Ronan O'Connell found him self at the end of a long ball right in front of goal with loads of room and nobody to beat but the keeper. There hadn't been a chance like it for any team throughout the 100 minutes of football. Ronan took the right decision and fisted the ball over the bar to put St. James' a point up with only injury time remaining. Leitir Móir went straight on the attack and their superior physical strength showed as they went through the St. James' field in seconds until they were hit with a wall about 30 metres out. Several blocks and shoulders were given but James' could not get the ball but it eventually broke and was booted out. James'' managed to keep possession until the final whistle.

St. James' managed to keep on target to retain their U21A West Board Title. While all players for both teams gave it everything a few names have to be mentioned; Eamon Lynch, David McDonagh & Eanna Kane for Leitir Móir were outstanding. Paul Conroy, Eoin Concannon & Ryan Mangan dug deep for St. James'. St. James' now go on to face Killanin in two weeks time. The venue is rumored to be Mervue but I''m not 100% sure. Killanin ran out strong winners over Oranmore/Maree. The Killanin Management were in Leitir Móir on Sunday so might have some homework done but they will be no strangers to this team.

St. James' - David Curran, Alan Deacy, Jonathan Duane, Shane Coughlin, Ger Long, Jamie Burke, Ryan Mangan, Paul Conroy, Rory McCann, Martin Long, Mike Elwood, Shane Maher, Eoin Concannon, Ronan O''Connell, Alan Hanley. Subs Used: Colm Hickey for J. Duane (inj), Eoin McGrath for S. Maher, A. Burke for Martin Long