Under-21 B Football Championship (Final)
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass v Lamh Dhearg
Wed 19th Dec at Coiste Feriste (8.00pm)

By Geordie McGuckin
With the completion of the A section of the under-21 championship at the week-end in defiance of the weather the last piece in the jigsaw and the end of competition 2018 sees St Ergnat’s Moneyglass, and Lamh Dhearg line out on the illuminated artificial surface at the splendid Coiste Feriste arena on Wednesday evening.
The attendance at Sunday’s decider were treated to an excellent game involving two well matched teams and another sizeable crowd are anticipated with every reason to look forward to more of the same.

Moneyglass started the competition being fancied by more than a few to make an impact as they were able to call upon a good number of their senior squad and an impressive victory secured at Ballymena in their opening game supported that view
They can call on the services of such as Dermot Mc Erlane, Conal Prenter, Sean Kelly, Tiernan Duffin, and the McCormick brothers Pat and Peter, all who have figured prominently in the first team this season, and although they failed to gain another win in the first phase they nonetheless performed well.
A fancied Aghagallon only passed the winning post when a late comeback ensured a two point winning margin and although Dunloy proved too strong in the last game Moneyglass had earlier held the Cuchullian’s to a draw.

Moneyglass did have the luck of the draw in the second phase of the competition and earning a bye into the semi final stages.
They ended up against All Saint’s in their quest to make it into the decider after the Ballymena men had cruised past St Joseph’s in their quarter final test and having earned an away win over this opposition they were fully expected to prevail as they met up again at the Crumlin centre.
In the event the All Saint’s gave a much better showing than in the round-robin section, but a couple of goals from Dermot McErlean and another brace from impressive corner back Peter McCormick saw them gain a final berth at 4-06 to 0-09.

Lamh Dhearg made it all the way to the under-21 decider last year but the Hannahstown men did not register a win in the first phase of the competition this term.
In their opening game against St Gall’s at Woodlands they were over run in the opening half, but they fought back well in the second and there were just six points between the sides at the end. The eventual withdrawal of Ulster bound St Enda’s from the competition meant that a place in the quarter finals would require a play off between Lamh Dhearg and last year’s winners Rossa and it took two meetings to decide who went through.
In the event O’ Donovan Rossa were to prevail winning both games to earn a place in the A section with the Hannahstown lads going on to compete in the B decider by virtue of a 3-07 to 1-09 victory over Glenravel.
Despite losing out to the Shaw’s road side in what were close fought encounters Lamh Dearg did show an improvement in those games and indeed such was to be evident in that victory gained over the South West side.
Eoin Mc Keown being the only regular ‘senior’ employed within the ranks of the under-21s led the way but Cameron Flynn who grabbed a couple of goals in that one and Daire Larkin whose late major much aided the Hannahstown lads winning scoreline of 3-07 to 1-09 and a place in the decider.

Moneyglass will start this one as favourites and although they will certainly not have it all their own way the South West side may well gain the verdict.