U-17 ACFL Division 3 League semi-final
Lámh Dhearg 2-13-3-05 St Brigid’s
Kevin Herron reports from Sarsfields
Despite playing over half the game with 14-men and a ten minute spell with 13- Lámh Dhearg had enough to see off St Brigid’s and claim their place in the ACFL U-17 Division 3 league final after a 2-13-3-05 win at Sarsfields on Sunday afternoon.
Lámh Dhearg wasted no time in getting their noses in front and netted within the first ten seconds at Sarsfields.
Conal McGuigan claimed the throw ball and immediately set the wheels in motion with a forward pass to Kieran Fay-Kelly who backed himself and rifled to the net past Luke Logue to give his side the lead.
The Hannahstown side’s first point arrived courtesy of Eoin Campbell after some good play from Aidan McCague before Conal McGuigan muscled his way through and shot over the bar.
A converted free from Eoin Campbell followed with goal scorer Fay-Kelly swinging over a magnificent point and adding a second a few minutes later after his side turned defence to attack – with Ciaran McLaughlin leading the charge and Eoin Campbell providing an outlet.
Campbell conjured up his third point after Conal McGuigan fielded Rhys Camlin’s kick-out and McGuigan fed a high ball to the corner-forward for a simple conversion.
The duo were involved again moments later with the same outcome and Lámh Dhearg had hit 1-07 without reply.
Although things would begin to go downhill when Donal Martin received a second yellow-card and was given his marching orders a matter of minutes before Rhys Camlin gave away a penalty and was black-carded in the process.
Ciaran McLaughlin dawned the gloves for the 13-men and despite being sent the wrong way from the spot- Finan Collins drove his penalty high and wide of the post.
The Musgrave side outfit made the most of their numerical advantage and opened their account through a Diarmuid Hanna free.
The resulting kick-out from McLaughlin was then met by Finan Collins who slipped the ball off to Peter Mulgrew whose thumping shot found the roof of the net.
A further point from Pearse Lynch ensured that St Brigid’s closed the gap to five before the interval- though with the momentum and numerical advantage in their favour it was all to play for in the second period.
Lámh Dhearg extended their lead after the break as Conal McGuigan was afforded too much time to get a shot off, Luke Louge was able to parry McGuigan’s low drive and a point was the final outcome.
At the other end St Brigid’s quickly moved the ball through the gears quickly as David Prenter popped the ball off to Pearse Lynch who poked his shot to the corner of the net and made it a three-point game.
Parity was restored within two minutes with David Prenter bursting into the area and firing beneath Rhys Camlin to make it 1-08-3-02.
Diarmuid Hanna would edge his side in front for the first time with a well taken point – though Eoin Campbell converted a free at the other end.
The sides continued to trade scores, Finan Collins curled his side Infront again, but Campbell converted his third free of the half.
Prenter moved his side ahead for the third time- though Lámh Dhearg levelled for the third time in quick succession. Eoin Mackey did well to keep the ball alive and switch to substitute Calum Fegan-Lappin to split the posts and make it 1-11-3-05.
Lámh Dhearg got their noses back in front through captain Kieran Fay-Kelly’s third point of the afternoon.
Campbell extended the lead after floating the ball between the posts from Conal McGuigan’s pass, and the game was safe with a few minutes to spare.
Again, McGuigan was involved as he picked out the run of Fay-Kelly who shot past Louge and to the net to wrap up a 2-13-3-05 victory and ensure a place in next weekend’s Division 3 decider.
Lámh Dhearg: R Camlin, C McGarry, E Breen, D Young, C McLaughlin, E Stanley, D McGreevy, D Martin, A Morrow, A McCague, K Fay-Kelly (2-03), E Campbell (0-07, 0-03f), A Murray, C McGuigan (0-02), D O’Connor. Subs: S McCarthy for A Morrow (35), C Tumelty for C McGarry (38), C Fegan-Lappin (0-01) for D O’Connor (42), C Camlin for D Young (46).
St Brigid’s: L Louge, S KIlmartin, N Finegan, M Murnaghan, C Brown, C Finegan, D Hanna (0-02, 0-01f), D Harkin, P Mulgrew (1-00), P Lynch (1-01), E Sherry, F Collins (0-01), C McKavanagh, D Prenter (1-01), J Moore. Subs: L Marsh for M Murnaghan (35), A Marsh for E Sherry (38),
Referee: John Moran (Aldergrove)
