Photographs courtesy of Eelco Westerhuis
U15 Football league Cup – Division 3 Final
Cardinal O’Donnell’s 3-15 Naomh Comhghall 2-2
O’Donnell’s clinched the Division 3 title with a dominant display on both side of the ball against a very determined Naomh Comhghall team to bring the title back to the Whiterock Road. O’Donnell’s raced into a 0-7 lead in the first ten minutes of the game as they caught Naomh Comhghall napping. The scoring was started in the second minute with a well worked point by Fionntan McLaughlin. Further points in the opening ten by Matthew Sloan, Fiontann McLaughlin and Conall Carville (0-3f) had O’Donnell’s seemingly comfortable.
Naomh Comhghall then came into the game with two great team goals and the game was evenly balanced going into the first water break at 0-8 to 2-1. The rest of the first half was a dogged affair with both sets of defences coming into the game. The O’Donnell’s half back line made adjustments with captain Sean Loughran and half back Pearse Rice breaking up waves of Naomh Comhghall attacks aided by Sean Lavery in midfield doing a lot of dirty work. The pivotal moment in the game was just before half time when O’Donnell’s were awarded a penalty which was dispatched into the top right hand corner of the Comhghall’s net by Francis Tate. HT 1-8 to 2-1
The second half of the game started just as tight with both team battling for position. Fiontan Quinn with his power running was rewarded for his endeavour during the game with a fine goal from outside the box to enviably seal the game. Naomh Comhghall had to throw caution to the wind to try to find a way back into the game but every time they were pushed back by the Corr Brothers whose dominant displays in the full back line time after time broke up attacks, allowing the opposition only 1 point the second half. With the Comhghall surge this left plenty of space for the O’Donnell’s forward line to keep the score board ticking with points from Michael Og Gaskin and doubles for both Fiontann’s McLaughlin and Quinn.
The league title was sealed by a goal in the dying moments of the game from substitute John Austin who coolly slotted past the Naomh Comhghall Keeper.
