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Classy London book final berth  By
David Thorpe
The early stages of this game offered hope of a thriller but a pair of
controversial refereeing decisions proved the main talking point as London
progressed to the Provincial Junior final.
Warwickshire had stars all over the field on Sunday, among them Leo Scanlon
who levelled matters for the Midlanders after a Fergus McMahon score had
opened London’s account in the first minute.
The excellent Billy O’Mahony pushed London into the lead again before
the best player on view, Dominic Walsh, scored a point good enough to
grace better games than this and level matters for Warwickshire.
Points from McMahon and Mike McGill handed the lead back to London midway
through the first quarter.
However the visitors upped the ante before half-time when Eamon Hanlon
converted a penalty after being fouled to leave the Midlanders deservedly
leading by 1-2 to 0-4.
The sides traded points until the midway point with Warwickshire leading
by 1-3 to 0-5 at the interval and looking the stronger of the two teams.
After a brace of controversial decisions in the second-half referee Willie
Joyce will be remembered in the Midlands for all the wrong reasons.
Both sides were on the wrong end of some dubious calls but it was Warwickshire
who suffered the most.
London goaled and changed the complexion of the game when a slightly-dubious
free was awarded to them five minutes into the second-half.
A cleverly-angled ball was fielded expertly by McGill who finished to
the net in style, much to the delight of the home supporters.
James Mulcahy pointed for Warwickshire but the men in white were starting
to fade.
The sides swapped points but there was a definite authority about London
which was absent from the visitor’s game.
Against the run of play Warwickshire were awarded another penalty but
apparently took too long over the kick and referee Joyce bizarrely ordered
a hop-ball instead.
Michael Hayden hit a point but Warwickshire were starting to feel it wasn’t
their day.
London senior hurler McMahon showed his skills extend to football with
some fine fielding and Kevin Kelly’s men battled hard for every
ball around the middle third and crucially took the chances that came
their way.
Warwickshire were over-elaborate in front of goal and looked drained of
confidence, a situation not helped by Scanlon hitting a post then being
the victim of another questionable refereeing decision.
An apparent foot-block on Scanlon took place inside the penalty area
whether it was a foot-block is debatable but the foul was definitely committed
inside the penalty area and so should have been a penalty.
A free was given instead and it was converted by Warwickshire’s
Joey Dowling.
The visitors embarked on a mini-revival at this stage and Hayden and Dowling
reduced the arrears to two points but it was too little too late.
Three excellently-taken points by London substitute John McShane sealed
his side’s place in the provincial final.
However as evening fell over Greenford it was refereeing decisions rather
than football that was the talk of the crowd. |
