Gort na Móna u15 Footballers
Féile Peile na nÓg 2023
Photographs: Ciarán Ó Brolcháin
After missing out narrowly the previous week in the cup final of the Regional Hurling Féile na nGael in Clonduff to Banagher of Co. Derry, the young Gorts were on the road again this weekend, this time to Bekan, Co. Mayo to represent Antrim in the National Féile Peile na nÓg at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.
They were placed in Division 2 of the competition against some really tough opposition and first up was Four Masters of Donegal. The Gort lads started very slowly and it seemed that they were getting caught up in the occasion. Some basic mistakes were costing them and they quickly found themselves four points behind before a Nathan McKenna point settled the nerves a bit. The game was end to end but the Donegal boys were just more clinical with their shooting. Keelan McCann pulled another point back in the second half and when it looked like they might have been trying to stage a dramatic late comeback they were caught on the break at the other end and conceded a goal which effectively killed the game off. Four Masters saw the game off with another point leaving the game 1-07 to 0-02.
The Gorts didn’t have much time to feel sorry for themselves, as next up was the Co. Meath champions, Navan O’Mahonys. Whatever was said during the break between games must have worked as from the first whistle Gort na Móna seemed determined to show that they weren’t just in Mayo to make up the numbers. They took control of the game which was played with a very strong wind blowing across the pitch that didn’t provide an advantage to either team. Two first-half points from Nathan McKenna were enough to see the Gorts go in at half-time with a 1-point lead.
After some really good build-up play, the ball was worked to the byline and clipped to the back post where Lorcan Cordner was waiting to fist home Gort na Móna’s first goal of the day, this was followed up with a pointed free from Aodhan O’Hanlon just inside the Navan 45. The game finished 1-03 to 0-01 for Gort na Móna. This result was exactly what the young men from West Belfast needed, it restored a bit of belief and gave the huge travelling support something to cheer.
In the last group game, it was time to play O’Donovan Rossa, Magherafelt, who were being spoke about by many as the favourites to win the competition, but the young Gorts didn’t let that faze them. Almost from the throw-in, they secured possession and found a pass to Nathan McKenna in the forward line leaving him with a one-on-one with the Magherafelt full back. He managed to round the defender and very calmly slot the ball into the back of the net. Magherafelt responded with two points at the other end before Nathan McKenna kicked over another point. This game was being played at a serious pace and both teams were giving it everything. Another couple of scores from the Derry lads saw them go in at half-time with a 1-point lead.
Gort na Móna came out in the second half much like they started the first, and after some good team play they worked the ball into a shooting chance in front of the keeper who made a good stop, however his save spun up into the air and Daire Keenan was there to fist it into the net. From here the Gorts fancied their chances and lifted their game again and almost immediately Ruairi Ó Scolláin found himself in front of goal and rifled the ball into the top corner. Magherafelt now had to go for it, 5 points down coming into the last 5 mins but they just couldn’t seem to break down the maroon wall. The Gort defenders were literally throwing their bodies in front of every ball, getting blocks on almost every attempted shot.
The game was getting more and more physical as it went on and the aggression finally spilled over with a bit of a scuffle between a few players from both sides, however the referee somehow saw one of the Gort lads as the aggressor and a straight red card was shown to Aodhán O’Hanlon which ruled him out for the next game. The 14 men of Gort na Móna limited the Derry champions to two more scores, both of which came from placed balls, leaving the final score Gort na Móna 3-01 Magherafelt 0-07.
This result left 3 teams at the top of the group on 4 points so in order to determine who went through to the cup competition the deciding factor was points conceded. Four Masters and Magherafelt both conceded 17 points through the group stage whilst Gort na Móna conceded 18 meaning that they would be competing in the shield semi-final. After 3 very tough and physically-draining games the Gort boys were being sent to get some food onboard to prepare for the next game but as they were leaving the pitch, Tullamore of Co. Offaly had already come on and started warming up. The next game was being played straight away so there was no time for anything. The boys had to be rounded up and sent straight back out with barely a 10-minute break since the end of a gruelling game against Magherafelt.
Tullamore got off to a quicker start in the semi-final and managed to stick over two points before the Gorts got going. After some neat play the ball was worked up into the scoring zone before a free was awarded just on the edge of the 21. Daire Keenan stepped up for what looked to be a routine kick over the bar but the ball somehow found its way into the top corner of the net. Gort na Móna followed that up with another Nathan McKenna goal to give a 4-point lead just before the 8min mark. This is when the long day started to catch up with them, players were going down all over the pitch with cramp, with two needing to be replaced before the half-time break. This continued into the second half with another two players needing to be taken off due to cramp and because of the suspension from the previous game there weren’t enough substitutes to cover the injuries.
The Gorts battled on and tried to contain Tullamore who by this time had turned over the deficit and got their noses in front. In stoppage time and with Tullamore up by 3, the Gorts went for it with Keelan McCann driving up the pitch and setting Nathan McKenna through on goal. As he went to pull the trigger the Tullamore full back put both arms round his waist and pulled him to the ground. The referee put both arms out seemingly signalling for what looked a stonewall penalty to level the game. With the Gort sideline and support cheering the referee then instructed the Tullamore goalkeeper to take a kick out – he had given it wide! From the resultant kick out Tullamore went down the far side and scored another goal to kill off any further drama with the last kick of the game. Tullamore ran out 3-03 to 2-00 winners.
This Gort na Móna team represented their club, county and community with distinction over the past few weeks and can be really proud of what they have achieved. The skill level and determination they showed are a testament to the hard work they clearly put in and their coaches, parents and the 100+ Gorts that have followed them all over the country the last two weekends could not be any prouder of them.
