Southern California Final and NACB Qualifying play-off, August 6th 2005. Setanta San Diego GFC v Orange County Wild Geese Setanta San Diego and the Orange County Wild Geese locked horns at La Jolla High School to decide the winner of the Chris O’Shea Cup, and determine who would be the Southern California representative in the North American Junior B Championship to be played in Philadelphia over Labor Day weekend. The match was delayed for 45 minutes due to the late arrival of the team from Orange County caused by the all too familiar traffic congestion on the 5’ South freeway. Their traffic travails didn’t appear to affect them as they started the game very brightly and fired over two impressive points to startle a slightly sluggish Setanta. The first score for Setanta came when Conor Smith tapped a free to the overlapping Colm Conneely who laid the ball off to Jason Giles who knocked the ball over the bar. The Wild Geese presented a significant aerial challenge to the Setanta defence as veteran Wild Geese forward, Cathal O’Regan, once again had a fascinating duel with Setanta captain Ray McCormack. McCormack initiated a sweeping move when he gathered a loose ball and fed fullback partner Geoff Barnett, who was sporting a striking new Mohawk hairstyle. Barnett struck an arrowlike pass to Dermot Gilligan who gave the ball to Jason Giles. The stylish Kerryman floated a beautiful pass into the welcoming arms of the goalbound Conor Smith who buried the ball in the back of the net for a sparkling goal worthy of such an elegant passage of play. With Setanta’s midfield of Eoin O’Neill and Vinnie McCarthy competing superbly and a rock solid half-back line of Don Sheridan, Colm Conneely and Barry Caulfield, gradually asserting their superiority, Setanta began to get on top of the Geese. Barry Caulfield who had a storming first half and was instrumental in much of what was best about Setanta’s play, initiated another great move that involved Jason Giles, right-half forward Rory O’Loughlin and Dermot Gilligan but the shooting opportunity wasn’t converted. Colm Conneely, who was an oasis of calm amid the frenzy of some of the exchanges, linked up superbly with Barry Caulfield on more than one occasion. Conneely played the ball into Jason Giles who passed to fellow half-forward Conor Smith. Smith laid the ball off to Anto Carolan who struck an impressive point to restore Setanta’s scoring momentum. Carolan was instrumental in another score when he received a beautiful pass from the scavenging Rory O’Loughlin, who foraged impressively throughout the game. Carolan returned the earlier favour from Conor Smith by this time setting Smith up for another point. Barry Caulfield demonstrated his attacking prowess by combing with fellow half-backs, Conneely and the tireless Don Sheridan, before feeding Rory O’Loughlin who converted another excellent point. The Geese replied with another two points after a number of wides to remind everyone they were still a dangerous threat. Their momentum was brought to a shuddering halt by Setanta’s second goal of the match. In another flowing move, Colm Conneely passed to Anto Carolan who quickly played the ball to fellow full-forward, Gilligan. The effervescent Gilligan released Jason Giles who unleashed another laser-guided pass to Vinnie McCarthy, who finished with great aplomb to hammer the ball to the back of the Orange County net. Another goal chance came soon after but Conor Smith went for glory and put the ball wide when the unmarked Dermot Gilligan was well placed. The Geese scored their fifth point before Setanta got the final score of the half. From a tremendous kickout by Geoff Barnett, Rory O’Loughlin plucked the ball from the air, turned, steadied himself and calmly struck the ball over the bar. Simple. Half-time score: Setanta 2-7 v Wild Geese 0-5 The Geese came out of the blocks quickly at the start of the second half as they knew they needed to get on the scoreboard early to initiate a comeback. They duly scored the first point of the second half. Setanta’s first score of the half came from the trusty boot of Conor Smith who converted a free won by the dangerous Jason Giles. With the rampaging Don Sheridan and Barry Caulfield raiding down the flanks, Setanta kept the pressure on the Wild Geese and Dermot Gilligan was unlucky not to score when he hit the post. Setanta and the Geese exchanged wides as the play became rather scrappy with both sides misplacing passes. Rory O’Loughlin played a nice ball in to Conor Smith who eased his way past his marker and with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel, stroked the ball over the bar from 35 yards out for a clinical finish. Smith’s accuracy was unerring as he scored with another surgical strike after more excellent work from O’Loughlin. The busy Ultan Breslin, on for Dermot Gilligan had an effort at a point drop short while Steven Glynn, who came on at midfield for Vinnie McCarthy, injected fresh vigour into Setanta’s ball winning efforts in this sector. The Setanta fullback line were firmly in control of their area as McCormack and Barnett tidily swept up what came their way. Just as Colm Conneely gave a masterclass in positioning, so Eoin O’Neill produced a superb exhibition of midfield play to negate the effectiveness of his Wild Geese counterparts. The Geese kept trying to eat into Setanta’s lead with some impressive points but Setanta always replied with a score of their own. Setanta nearly scored another sensational goal when O’Loughlin, after another great catch, played in Jason Giles who unleashed a ferocious shot which cannoned off the crossbar. At this stage the Wild Geese needed goals to generate momentum but were prevented from getting any due to some excellent defensive play by Ray McCormack, Geoff Barnett, Don Sheridan and goalkeeper, Adrian Callaghan, who although not called into action often, did what he needed to do when called upon. As tackles flew in fast and furious, Steven Glynn and Jason Giles both took knocks but with freetaker, Conor Smith, in superb form, any indiscretions were punished on the scoreboard and by the excellent San Francisco referee Daire O’Connor who gave a marvelous exhibition of controlled but unobtrusive refereeing. Liam Roberts, who came at the end of the first half for Anto Carolan, started to come into the game more as the second half progressed. He showed great presence of mind to play an excellent pass across the field to Conor Smith who converted the final score of the game to finish with a personal tally of 1-10. An outstanding personal contribution built on a marvelous collective team effort. Setanta held out to win their third consecutive trip to the NACB finals and retain the Chris O’Shea cup after a typically tough competitive game with a gallant Orange County Wild Geese team. The cup was presented to Setanta captain Ray McCormack, who had cared for the cup attentively over the previous year, by Southern California Board Chairman, Kevin McDonnell Final Score: Setanta San Diego 2-15 v Wild Geese 0-12 Scorers: Conor Smith (Dublin) 1-10 Vinny McCarthy (Waterford) 1-0 Rory O'Loughlin (Roscommon) 0-2 Jason Giles(Kerry) 0-1 Dermot Gilligan (Roscommon) 0-1 Anto Carolan (Louth) 0-1 Setanta: Callaghan, Barnett, McCormack, Sheridan, Conneely, B Caulfield, O'Neill, McCarthy, O'Loughlin, Giles, Smith, Gilligan, Carolan Subs: Glynn for McCarthy, Roberts for Carolan, Breslin for Gilligan, Ly for O'Loughlin, Freeman for B Caulfield.