U16A Football championship
semi-final
All Saints 1-12 Dunloy 3-12
All Saints, Ballymena and Cuchullian’s Dunloy served up an excellent game of football in this U16A semi-final, played at Quinn Park on Thursday night. There was little between the sides throughout with both sides moving the ball around with confidence.
It was All Saints who led by the minimum at the break as they kicked some excellent points with the wind behind them but a goal from Oisin O’Brien after a smart build-up kept the visitors in touch with the same player kicking a 2 point free and largely responsible for his side’s first half total.
Shane Dorrity pointed All Saints ahead in the second minute with O’Brien replying from a free at the other end.
Harry Blaney briefly pointed the visitors ahead but Joe O’Hara responded with a fine 2 pointer to restore the All Saints lead.
A good point from Eoin Bradley moved the Quinn Park side 2 ahead before Oisin O’Brien raised another Orange flag with a good conversion into the breeze to level matters again.
It was end to end at this stage as the impressive Joe O’Hara restored the All Saints lead but the hosts were dealt a heavy blow when Oisin O’Brien sent his shot to the corner of the net following a sharp build up.
Undeterred it was the home side who made the better finish to the opening half and O’Hara, Conor Rogers and Eoin Bradley were all on target to leave it 0-8 to 1-4 at the short whistle and all still to play for.
Eoin Hudson moved All Saints 2 in front with a point on the restart but Dunloy replied through another Oisin O’Brien 2 point free to leave it all square after 4 minutes.
The game then swung in favour of the visitors but it was All Saints who thought that they had taken the lead as Obanijseu Osoko rose to fist a high delivery to the Dunloy net but the goal was ruled out for square-ball.
Before the dust had settled it was the visiting Cuchullian’s who found the net for the second time and this time it was a mistake in the home defence that allowed Lorcan Martin a simple tap in.
All Saints replied through Shayne Dorrity but Dunloy responded immediately and Phelim Devlin in the All Saints goal made a splendid save to push Harry Blaney’s rasping shot over for a point.
Cillian Cunning added a point for Dunloy and when Ronan Elliott followed with another the visitors had moved five ahead with 11 minutes remaining.
All Saints were fighting hard to get their own game back on track and Eoin Bradley punished a breech but Dunloy continued to look dangerous on the break and Harry Blaney was unfortunate to see his effort come back of an upright and cleared to safety.
The hosts were in need of a major to reignite their challenge and they came close to achieving it with Thomas McGarry racing clear on goal but Ciaran O’Brien in the Dunloy goals advanced to make an excellent save.
Back came Cuchullian’s with free taker, Oisin O’Brien punishing a breech at the other end and Ronan Elliott adding a point from play before Phelim Devlin in the home goals pulled of an impressive save to deny Blaney when a goal looked eminent.
The hosts finally got in for a goal of their own with Jack Orr forcing the ball home following a goalmouth scramble and the goal was allowed to stand despite strong protests from the visitors.
It came too late to affect the outcome and an excellent Dunloy replied with their third goal of the evening through Cillian Cunning with Conor Tully concluding the scoring with a consolation point for the home side.
Dunloy will now face St. Brigid’s who defeated Naomh Eanna 1-13 to 2-9 in the other semi-final played at Musgrave Park on Thursday night.
All Saints: 1.Phelim Devlin 2. Odhran Dorrity 3. Joseph Killough 4. Rory Mayo 5. Se Walker 6. Joe OHara 7. Finn Hudson 8. Ruairi Hamill 9. Conor Rogers 10. Shayne Dorrity 11. BoBo Bradley 12. Jack Orr 13. Conor Tully 14. Oba Osoko 15. Thomas McGarry
16. Connaire Scullion 17. Alex Leith 18. Oscar Bradley 19. Rory McGarry 20. Niall Higgins 21. Jonah Mitchell 22. Alfie Gordon 23. Shay Quinn 24. Joshua Dillion 25. Kain McNeil 26. Odhran Cassidy 27. Cathair Casey
Dunloy: 1 Ciaran O’Brien, 2 Harry Burnell, 3 Paedar Doherty, 4 Noah Bradley, 5 Caden Doherty, 6 Aaron Richmond, 7 Cillian Cunning, 8 Lorcan Martin, 9 Dylan McTague, 10 Blaine Mullan, 11 Oisin O’Brien, 12 Harry Blaney, 13 Roan Neenan, 14 Tiernan O’Reilly, 15 Ronan Elliott
Subs: 20 Ethan Guiney, 16 Se McGarry, 17 Pearse McMullan, 19 Aodhan O’Brien, 21 Fionn McCloskey, 23 Liam McClelland,
Referee: Martin Quinn (St. Enda’s)
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