All County U-17 Football League
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass 4-13 Con Magees Glenravel 3-13
A late point by Caolan Boyd sealed the win as Moneyglass claimed the points to defy a character laden comeback from their visitors Glenravel in what was a hugely enjoyable affair at the Marian Hill venue on Sunday last.
The home side looked to be home and hosed when the impressive Sean Boyd found the net early in the second period and the St Ergnat’s boys looked on the way to victory as they held a 4-10 to 0-6 lead, but the visitors showed a bit of character to get themselves back into contention.
The Con Magees slowly gained composure and with the home side easing off the throttle a little, back to back majors from Peadar McDonnell and the excellent Shea O’ Brien saw them on the road to recovery.
Moneyglass did offer replies through the ultra impressive Tiernan Mc Cormick, Kevin Mc Cann and Sean Boyd, but their visitors were not to be halted on their comeback trail. The young Con Magees closed to within a couple of points with only four minutes of normal time left to play, before Boyd shut the door on the visitors with a well taken point.
The opening period was to prove a mainly one sided affair with Tiernan Mc Cann leading the way for the St Ergnat’s side and the sharp shooting Sean Boyd proving ever accurate with his finishing.
It was the full forward who opened his team’s account within a minute of the start as he despatched between the posts with a dash through from the middle by Tiernan Mc Cormick setting up Finn Mc Closkey to finish to the net.
It was all Moneyglass in the early stages and although Glenravel did open their account with a Shea O’ Brion 4th minute point the home side were quick to return fire and after Jamie Mc Laughlin, Sean and Paul Duffin raised white flags apiece, Tiernan Mc Cormick then set up Finn Mc Closkey to finish to the net again.
The home side were utterly dominant and goal number three came after Paul Duffin’s set Rory Taggart who planted the leather in the net.
Sean Boyd added a further trio of points for the dominant Marian Hill side as opened a hefty 3-07 to 0-03 advantage by the 20th minute.
The visitors pulled a point back through Pheilim Ward in the 22nd minute and they did come close to finding the net a few minutes thereafter as the hard grafting Eamon Ward made a positive drive forward before shooting just wide of the target.
Peadar Donnelly did add a point to the Con Magees meagre total in the latter stages of that period but and Fergus Donaghy added another after Paul Duffin and Sean Boyd tagged on similar scores at the other end to give St Ergnat’s a handsome 3-10 to 0-05 interval advantage.
Starting the second period a full fourteen points in arrears any notion of a comeback were probably not in the vision of those in the Glenravel camp, and although they did open their second half account with a point from Shea O’ Broin, the ever accurate Sean Boyd fired between the posts at the other end.
Jamie Mc Laughlin was to fetch the resultant kick out and when he found Sean Boyd in space, the leading scorer was not to waste his opportunity as he showed his class to 4-11 to 0-06.
The Con Magee’s lads looked down, but as events would show they may well have been down on the canvas but not to be counted out.
Eamon Ward and Cormac Mac Keown added point whick had little impact on the scoreboard
But when a Cormac Mc Keown flick sent Peadar McDonnell away to find the net things began to change.
The goal offered a bit of hope to the visitors and when Joseph Mc Laughlin sent his centre forward Shea O’ Brion in to add another the comeback trail looked more of a possibility.
The home side having looked to ease down on the throttle regained control as Sean Boyd, Kevin Mc Cann, and the ever busy Tiernan Mc Cormick added points apiece.
Moneyglass had gone 4-13 to 2-08 clear at the 48th minute but the Glenravel lads were not done quite yet and five unanswered scores in succession from Cormac Mc Keown, Eamon Ward, Shea O’ Brion (2), and replacement Oran Mc Clintock brought them back into contention.
Moneyglass having given up a huge advantage needed to find a reply but the visitors were on a roll and when Shea O’ Brion intercepted a poor clearance to send Peadar McDonnell in the find the net only a couple of points separated the sides with the home side clinging on the fragile 4-12 to 3-13 advantage.
The home side needed a response and Caolan Boyd provided it as he split the posts to give his team a three point cushion 4-13 to 3-13.
A smashing game which provided entertainment a plenty to the crowd in a very watchable affair which pays tribute to the youngsters involved and indeed a positive word must go to the man in charge who did much to ensure this minor game provided entertainment aplenty
Patrick Tumelty from the Lamh Dhearg club had a superb game, ensuring the action continued non stop from start to finish, and he does look referee who is likely to ascend the ranks in his that role.
Referee P Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
Teams
Moneyglass
Callum Graham, Bobby Kennedy, E O’ Boyle, Eunan Mc Erlain, Oisin O’ Donnell, Paul Duffin (0-02), Damien Duffin. Tiernan Mc Cormick (0-01), Kevin Mc Cann (0-01), Mark Duffin, Jamie Mc Laughlin (0-01), Nate Dixon, Finn Mc Closkey (2-00), Sean Boyd (1-07), Rory Taggart (1-00)
Caolan Boyd (0-01) for F Mc Closkey
Oisin Hamill for N Dixon
Glenravel
Declan Carey, Ronan Mc Cormick, Niall Dixon, Joseph Leech, Noah Friel, Niall Hynds, Eamon Ward (0-01), Conor Mc Quillan, Conor Duffin, Joseph Mc Laughlin, Shea O’ Brion (1-05), Pheilim Ward (0-01), Cormac Mc Keown,(0-03), Peadar McDonnel (2-01), Fergal Donnelly (0-02),
Subs
Joseph Mc Kay
Oran Mc Clintock
