U17A Football Semi Final
Naomh Gall 1-07 Con Magee’s Glenravel 1-11
With conditions far from ideal, a resilient Glenravel side managed to hold off the second-half challenge of a tenacious St Gall’s at Milltown on Sunday. It turned out to be a game of two halves in what was a rerun of last year’s U17B Semi-Final with Glenravel the brighter side in the first and St Gall’s springing into life in the second. It was an absorbing and dramatic tussle with a tempestuous atmosphere at the climax with a few unsavoury scenes spilling over after the full-time whistle.
Oisin Kelly’s superb fisted effort to the net into added time ensured there was only a point in it going into the last minute. However, seconds later, when Glenravel broke on the counter attack, Daire Higgins ruthlessly despatched his effort to the net to seal his side’s progression to the final where they will meet St Brigid’s.
Glenravel raced into an early four-point lead in the opening quarter with Peader McDonnell (2) on target and Shea O’Broin converting from the placed ball (2.) Glenravel were moving the ball fluidly and their industry in the middle third was reaping rewards. St Gall’s too played some quick, silky stuff but had difficulty in converting scores. Manus McCrossan was a constant threat for the hosts driving forward and his battle with Niall Hynds proved to be a pivotal battle.
Naomh Gall got the scoreboard ticking on the 15th minute When McCrossan split the posts from the dead ball but Daire Higgins responded minutes later with a curled effort from the left flank.
The hosts were searching for penetrative avenues for scores but struggled with Glenravel’s tigerish defending. They did however double their tally through the trusty right boot of Padraig Ó’Muirigh as he popped over from a free.
This only seemed to stir Glenravel back into life as they finished the half strongly. Eamon Ward’s searching runs from centre back were a thorn in the side of the Milltown men’s defence and he struck over a fine point before full-forward McDonnell added another to his tally to leave the score 0-02 to 0-07 in at Paul Burn’s short whistle.
St Gall’s emerged a much more potent threat in the second and began to find their range. Despite two quick points from Eamon Ward widening the gap, they responded well, and the introduction of Conor McVeigh seemed to swing momentum back in their favour. McVeigh announced his arrival emphatically with a beautiful point after selling a dummy or two in the build-up.
St Gall’s now had their opponents camped in their own half and Glenravel couldn’t seem to find an outlet to relieve the pressure. The hosts’ rejuvenated approach play was causing headaches for the Con Magee’s. Ciaran Óg Mullan fired over from a tight angle before Aaron Mackle opened his account with a caressed effort from the left flank. Padraig Ó’Muirigh then cut the deficit to only two points on the fiftieth minute as the hosts continued to rally, backed by their home support.
With full time approaching, Glenravel were in desperate need of a score to settle them and Shea O’Broin held his nerve as he converted from a testing free with great composure. The ever-dangerous Cormac McKeown then gave his side that all-important comfort score after he broke from defence with blistering pace to fire over.
Tempers were simmering as Paul Burns brandished a flurry of yellow cards to either side with St Gall’s searching for a crucial goal. Their prayers were answered late in added time when towering midfielder Oisin Kelly rose highest to fist to the net from a high ball in as route one paid off. With a single score now separating the sides, the hosts were buoyant as they searched for that elusive equaliser.
But agonisingly for them it failed to materialise and Daire Higgins sealed the win with a last gap goal on the counter-attack. His rasping effort rippled the net emphatically to trigger a roar from the travelling fans.
Credit to both sides for a hard-fought and entertaining affair. St Gall’s will rue their slow start as they looked a far better side in the second half. Glenravel will be delighted with the resilience and mentality they demonstrated to get over the line. It promises to be an intriguing final against a talented St Brigid’s side.
Teams:
Naomh Gall
L Burns; C Parker, O Maskey, L Walsh; S MacAdhaimh, L Lynn, C Hale; J McCullagh, O Kelly (1-00;) A Mackle (0-01,) M McCrossan (0-01,) D Crawford; C Óg Mullan (0-02,) P Ó’Muirigh (0-02,) A Pierce
Substitute scorer
C McVeigh (0-01)
Con Magee’s Glenravel
D Carey; C Laverty, N Dickson, J Leech; C Mooney, E Ward (0-03,) O McClintock; C Duffin, N Hynds; C Ward, S O’Broin (0-03,) P Ward; C McKeown (0-01,) P McDonell (0-03,) D Higgins (1-01)
