U17B Football Championship Final
Naomh Eanna 4-18 St. James 2-7
Photographs: Bert Trowlen
When Aldergrove’s Conor Magee finished a Liam McGarry palmed cross to the St. Enda’s net in the opening minute of the second half to level the contest this U17B Football final at Dunsilly on Sunday morning looked set for a thrilling finish.
The Crumlin side had recovered from a bad start when Michael McKenna got St. Enda’s on their way with a goal in the second minute and the Glengormley lads pushed on to lead 1-4 to 0-0 before Cormac McGarry finally opened St. James’ account with a point in the 14th minute.
A goal from Lewis Smith, four minute later gave St. James’ a foothold but it was St. Enda’s who still held the upper hand at the half way stage to lead 1-8 to 1-5 as Patrick Tumelty sounded his half time whistle.
Magee’s opener to the second half had the sizeable Aldergrove support in good voice but they would only add a further two points during the remainder of the 30 minutes as a Sean Nolan inspired St. Enda’s responded in devastating fashion to dominate the remainder of the exchanges.
Nolan was in excellent form for the Hightown side as he added two early points to McKenna’s opening goal and further points from Conan Walsh and Odhran McKenna put his side in a strong position at the end of the opening quarter.
Further points from Joseph Lewis and Conan Walsh in response to McGarry’s opener for the Crumlin side had St. Enda’s eight ahead by the 17th minute and they looked to be strolling to an easy victory but when Liam Og Cullen set up Lewis Smith for a St. James goal, a minute later the game suddenly came to live.
By half time St. James’ had closed the gap to three with Cormac McGarry 0-2 and Conor Magee adding points and Anton McKeown and Padraig O’Hare replying for St. Enda’s and it looked anyone’s game as the half time whistle sounded.
Conor Magee’s goal on the restart for the Crumlin side brought matters all square but St. James’ failed to build on this score and it was St. Enda’s who produced a devastating response as they took control of the contest.
Sean Nolan got them on their way with a point and Adam McCann added another after his well struck attempt at goal was pushed over by Daniel McCutcheon in the Aldergrove goals before Conan Walsh found a way past the St. James’ net minder in the 3d minute as the St. Enda’s pressure intensified.
Leo O’Loingsigh added a point and Padraig O’Hare fired over when he might have had a goal and further points from O’ Hare, Joseph Lewis, Conan Walsh and an O’Hare free put the Hightown side in cruise control.
Lewis Smith finally added St. James’ second score of the half as he pointed a free in the 13th minute but it brought another response from St. Enda’s as Anton McKeown split the posts at the other end and then Michael McKenna’s dipping shot appeared to deceive Daniel McCutcheon and ended in the Aldergrove net.
St. James day went from bad to worse when they had a player dismissed in the 22nd minute and St. Enda’s finished strongly with points from substitute Ryan Kelly and Man of the Match, Sean Nolan before another replacement, Darragh Quinn got his side’s fourth goal.
Cormac McGarry, who had a good game for the Aldergrove side, replied with a consolation point for his side in time added on but it is an excellent St. Enda’s that are this seasons U17B football champions and it is a title they thoroughly deserved.
The winners were strong throughout with Joseph Lewis and Michael McKenna just two of the players who caught the eye but Sean Nolan at centre-half-forward deserves special mention for the manner in which he directed matters throughout.
A disappointing end to the season for a St. James’ side who played their part in making this an entertaining final but they were unable to sustain their challenge after drawing level early in the second half.
Daniel McCutcheon in goals had a fine game, despite being beaten four times and the Aldergrove net minder pulled off a number of fine saves and Adam Connolly, Liam Og Cullen, Cormac McGarry, Lewis Smith and Conor Magee were others who gave it everything.
St. Enda’s: 1 Seanan Nagle, 2 Oisin O’Hare, 3 Frank Kane, 4 Eoin Duffy, 5 Joseph Lewis, 6 Malachi MacGribbon, 7 Adam McCann, 8 Aaron McKeown, 9 Leo O’Loingsigh, 10 Conan Walsh, 11 Sean Neilan, 12 Odhran McKenna, 13 Darragh Moss, 14 Michael McKenna, 15 Padraig O’Hare, 17 Ronan Bradley, 18 Daniel O’Kane, 19 Ryan Kelly, 20 Aidan Murphy, 21 Darragh Quinn, 22 Ciaran McAlister, 23 Cillioan Brown, DJ Murray
Aldergrove: 1 Daniel McCutcheon, 2 Shea O’Connor, 3 Jude Scallon, 4 Cayden Lagan, 5 Luke Delaney, 6 Adam Connolly, 7 Rory Finney, 8 Noah Jeffries, 9 Liam Og Cullen, 10 Calum McCool, 11 Cormac McGarry, 12 Christopher Robb, 13 Conor Magee, 14 Liam McGarry, 15 Lewis Smith, 16 Fionn Brannif, 17 Ronan Ferguson, 18 Daire Maguire, 19 Rory Corrigan, 20 Fionntan Muldoon, 22 Eoin McAleese, 23 Cormac Morris
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
