U15B Football semi-final

*GortnaMona 4-09*
*All Saints 4-07.*
A Super game that ebbed and flowed with the lead changing hands several times, was finally decided by a last minute goal for the home side in this thrilling encounter in West Belfast.
Gorts started the brighter and were economical and swift in possession. The home side raced to a 2 point lead and followed that up with a goal to stretch their lead to 5 points after 10 minutes.
The Saints were spurred into action and replied in kind with a well taken point and followed that by smashing in a goal which brought them back into the game.
The tide turned and Gorts popped over a nice point and soon after an effort for a point saw the ball drop in under the crossbar for Gorts 2nd goal of the game. They quickly followed that with another slick short passing move to register another point.
Saints needed a response and a pointed free started the revival. A period of sustained Saints pressure finally yielded a well taken goal and it was game on again. Both teams swapped points before the break to leave Gorts up by a point 2-06 to 2-05.
The Ballymena boys started the 2nd half sharply and registered a fine point to level it up. The visitors continued the good spell with another point and moments later, a goal when a high ball over the top caught the Gorts keeper in no-man’s land and makeshift full forward Jakub Kaczmarek latched onto the ball to palm it to the net to put All Saints 4 up. Unfortunately Jakub suffered a bad hip injury in that play and couldn’t continue.
The game was still there for Gorts and they punished All Saints who were doing well in possession but not turning it into scores. Gorts chipped a point back from a free and when they clipped another after a couple of wides the tension was beginning to rise higher. Errors were creeping in on both teams as we entered what seemed like a very long period of injury time. Gorts tenacity and persistence paid off as a shot for an equaliser looped into the top corner of the net to send the Gort na Mona crowd into raptures. All Saints had one last attack but couldn’t get past the resilient Gorts defence and victory went to the young Gort na Mona men.
A tough way to miss out on a final for the Ballymena boys who put everything into it and just came up short. Gort na Mona made home advantage count and advance to meet Cargin in next week’s final.
We all wish Jakub K. well and a quick recovery from his injury.
Ballymena wish to thank Gort na Mona for their kindness, support and hospitality when waiting on medical care for Jakub, and wish them well for the final.