Loughgiel Shamrocks 0-13 v Toreen, Mayo 1-02 at Breffni Park, Cavan
Loughgiel Shamrocks U14’s travelled to a blustery Breffni Park in Cavan to take on Connacht Champions Tooreen in the Division 1 Táin Og Final. With the wind in their favour in the first half, Loughgiel started at a blistering pace and in the opening minute got the first score of the game through half forward Iarla Gillan after good work from Caolan McGuckian. Not long after, Gillan got his second of the day and points followed from Danny McMullan and Brendan Murtagh, after good work from Tom Quinn, to give the Ulster Champions a 4 point lead. In their first meaningful attack, the Mayo side nearly hit the net but were thwarted by Olly McConville in goals making a great high catch under intense pressure and clearing his lines.
Loughgiel were unfortunate not to extend their lead when the Tooreen keeper made an excellent save to his left to stop a certain goal and Dáire Kearney struck the post after a great catch in a congested midfield. Full forward Caelan Patterson got off the mark with two quickfire points as Loughgiel asserted their dominance again. Tooreen began to settle and applied pressure but found a determined Loughgiel half backline of Kevin Gillan, Matthew Barr and Noah McAuley tough to break down. Tooreen did manage to get off the mark with a fine score midway through the first half. The first half ended with midfield duo of McMullan and Kearney getting a score apiece and a well struck 65 from Gillan to leave the half time score 0-7 to 0-1 to the Shamrocks in a wet Breffni Park pitch.
The second half began with Tooreen asking all the questions and belief that goals were needed but full back Oisin O’Connell was inspired at the back clearing everything that came at him, with Conor Irvine and Oisin McCaughan on hand to further frustrate the opposition attack. Into a strong breeze, it was Loughgiel’s Oisin Butler who was next to point and extend the lead, that was followed up by Patterson’s third of the game after a superb catch and ball forward by Barr. Kearney and McMullan combined again with the latter scoring from distance to move 9 clear. Tooreen weren’t giving up but again McConville pulled off a superb save from close range to maintain the Shamrocks advantage.
As the game reached the last five minutes, the Connacht Champions finally found the net with an unstoppable low shot past McConville and followed up with another score. As time ticked away, Kearney got his second of the day and Archie McGarry made a great run and drew a foul from which Gillan comfortably pointed to round off the scoring with his fourth of the game. As the final whistle went Loughgiel celebrated a comprehensive win 0-13 to 1-2.
