U-15 ACFL Division 2
Lámh Dhearg 1-09 – 9-12 Sarsfields
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Both Lámh Dhearg and Sarsfields were hugely stretched for Thursday nights encounter at Hannahstown and could only field 13-players.
The Paddies were first to register through a Gerard Doherty point after some nice work from Daire Mclaughlin.
Their lead was short-lived though as Sean McCarthy drove forward and slipped the ball into the path of Odhran Lee who levelled.
Lámh Dhearg then hit the front with the first goal of the evening, Matthew Murray threaded the ball into the path of Ronan Webb who finished beyond Fionn Rooney and make it 1-01-0-01.
Doherty replied with a point for Sarsfields from McLaughlin’s second assist and the Stewartstown Park outfit regained the lead shortly after.
Fionn Jemfrey combined with Pauric Maxwell who offloaded a thumping drive past Daniel Burns to give his side a 1-02-1-01 advantage.
Doherty conjured up his third point of the half and the visitors chalked up their second goal through Declan Barr in the aftermath.
Barr followed that up with a point with Ronan Webb on hand to reply at the other end and keep his side in touch.
Sarsfields extended their lead after the water-break with Daire McLaughlin bending a shot over the bar, Rhys McCloskey added his sides third goal and Fionn Jemfrey popped up with a second in close proximity from Declan Barr’s palmed pass.
Odhran Lee steered over his second point before the interval, but Sarsfields claimed their fourth goal of the half before the midway break in proceedings- Gerard Doherty bursted forward and shot past Burns to give the visitors a 5-05-1-03 lead.
Lámh Dhearg hit the first score of the second period through Joseph Cleland, though Fionn Jemfrey responded at the other end and a chance of a fifth goal came calling when the visitors were awarded a penalty.
However, Gerard Doherty put too much power on his effort which went over the bar for a further point with Daire McLaughlin adding his second of the evening in the aftermath.
Odhran Lee swept over his third score, but Fionn Jemfrey took centre-stage with a hat-trick of goals in quick succession.
His first was a powerful effort into the top corner, his second came after Gerard Doherty delicately lifted the ball over into the path of the midfielder who finished to the net and the third was a terrific solo effort to bring his tally to four for the evening.
The Paddies added two scores, Pauric Maxwell started his sides goal glut and ended with a second and Sarsfields ninth and Rhys McCloskey added a point before Matthew Murray kicked a fine score at the other end following a nice link-up with Sean McCarthy.
Sarsfields were home and hosed but Lámh Dhearg battled to the finish and kept parity with the visitors in the final ten minutes.
Declan Barr kicked a 45’ and back-to-back points followed from the lively Ronan Webb in response.
Fionn Jemfrey swung over his second point of the evening with Matthew Murray curling one over at the other end.
The scoring was complete with Luke Campbell hoisting over late-on from Daire McLaughlin’s assist as Sarsfields ran out comfortable winners in the end.
Lámh Dhearg: D Burns, T Lee, S Doran, D Mulholland, E Morrow, C Camlin, S McCarthy, O Lee (0-03), M Murray (0-02), R Webb (1-03), D Fegan, C Tully, J Cleland (0-01).
Sarsfields: F Rooney, F Rodgers, A McStay, J Ward, C McMahon, L Campbell, F Jemfrey (4-02), D Barr (1-02, 0-01 45’), R McCloskey (1-01), G Doherty (1-04, 0-01f), P Maxwell (2-00), L Campbell (0-01), D McLaughlin (0-02).
Referee: Peter-Martin McGuigan
