SW ANTRIM U-14 SHIELD SEMI-FINAL
Moneyglass 2-11 Glenavy 2-6
By Garry Duffin
Moneyglass were aware of the stern task that lay ahead as they hosted Glenavy in the U-14 Shield Semi-Final on Friday night. Glenavy had made short work of the St Ergnats lads when the two teams met in the first round of the Feile but the young Moneyglass men showed tremendous desire and skill to extend their season for one more game and a ‘Final Showdown’.
Moneyglass got off to a blistering start and after a free flowing counter attack Odhran Duffin smashed the ball to the Glenavy net to open the scoring. Callum Murray then knocked over two points to put the Blues five ahead before Glenavy’s James Monaghan tapped over two frees to reduce the margin to three.
Caolan Boyd and Murray again extended the lead to five before James Hingham hit the net for Glenavy and it was game on again.
Moneyglass upped the ante again and two more points from sharp shooter Callum Murray and one from Finn McCloskey left the St Ergnats men leading by five at the interval.
The second half got underway and the Marrion Hill men picked up from where they had left off. Callum Murray got his sixth of the night and Joey Griffin pointed from an acute angle.
Glenavy weren’t done yet however and hit back immediately with a point from Cormac Campbell and a goal from Eugene Mulholland to narrow the margin to three. They then reduced the gap to two when bustling full forward Eoin Byrne pointed and tensions began to rise as the game approached the final quarter.
Moneyglass were playing some excellent football and still looked in control as they worked another point from Murray and a cracking goal from Caolan Boyd.
Glenavy replied with two points from James Monaghan and James Hingham but wee Joey Griffin had the final say with another fine point to send Moneyglass into the final.
Moneyglass had stars in Shea Graffin and Oisin Hamill in defence, Mark and Damien Duffin in midfield and Calum Murray, Caolan Boyd and Joey Griffin up front.
Glenavy were gallant in defeat and had some fine performers in Matthew Nelson, Oisin McArdle and James Monaghan.
Moneyglass Team
- Rory Neeson
- Kalum Graffin
- Shea Graffin
- Oisin Hamill
- Eunan McErlain
- Oisin O’Donnell
- Odhran Duffin (1-0)
- Damien Duffin
- Mark Duffin
- Tadhg McAteer
- Callum Murray (0-7)
- Finn McCloskey (0-1)
- Caolan Boyd (1-1)
- Ewan McGrath
- Joey Griffin (0-2)
Subs Bobby Kennedy
Glenavy Team
1.Collin McKernan
2. Cormac Campbell
3. Darragh Brown
4. Darragh Phillips
5. Michael Campbell
6. Matthew Nelson
7. Eugene Mulholland (1-0)
8. Joe Gilbride
9. Oisin McArdle
10. James Hingham (1-2)
11. Padraig McKevitt
12. James Monaghan (0-3)
13. Leon Laverty
14. Eoin Byrne (0-1)
15. Luca McGoran
