U-16 All County C Championship, Final
Davitts 3-12-3-10 Ardoyne
Kevin Herron reports from Coláiste Feirste
Photographs: Brian McKee
ODHRAN VOYLE’s goal with the last kick of the game settled a thrilling U-16 C Final at Coláiste Feirste as Davitts defeated 14-man Ardoyne 3-12-3-10 on Friday evening.
Davitts were first off the mark when Seadna Clarke fisted over the bar and a minute later Eamonn O’Connor swung a shot over to double the advantage.
It ook Ardoyne until the 7th minute to reply when Donnahadh Fennell clipped a pass to Ryan Donnelly to pop over,
The game’s opening goal arrived in the 10th minute. Odhran Voyle won the ball back as Ardoyne tried to break out of the defence and Voyle slipped a pass through that Eamonn O’Connor palmed over the oncoming Brendan Lagan and into the net to make it 1-2-0-1.
Odhran Voyle who’s in jury time goal gave Davitt’s victory over Ardoyne
O’Connor cut in and flashed over his second point a few moments later and kicked a free to further extend his side’s lead.
With ten minutes of the half remaining O’Connor pointed again to open up a seven point lead, ahead of Ardoyne getting to grips with things.
A converted Fionnbar Stiobhard free was much needed and followed almost instantly by a Leon Maguire point after Kallum Murphy’s shot was blocked down.
The North Belfast natives found the net in the 25th minute. Donnahadh Fennell popped the ball into the path of Eamonn Fennell whose low shot squeezed underneath the legs of Ciaran McGonigle.
Davitts talisman Eamonn O’Connor kicked his fifth point in response, but Donnahadh Fennell converted a free and in the same incident Conor Gillen was black carded and would sit out the opening stages of the second half.
On the stroke of half time Ciaran Lee laid the ball off to Brendan Finnegan to drop over and ensure the narrowest of margins separated the sides at the interval (1-6-1-5).
Both sides exchanged frees upon the restart, Eamonn O’Connor had briefly increased his sides lead, only for Fionnbarr Stiobhard to convert a close range free at the other end.
Ardoyne hit the front for the first time in the 40th minute. Like the first goal, Donnahadh Fennell fed Eamonn and he adjusted his run and fired to the net to make it 2-6-1-7.
Odhran McGrattan instantly halved the deficit in response, though Brendan Finnegan dropped over his second of the night and a converted Donnahadh Fennell free had his side 2-8-1-8 ahead by the 47th minute.
A converted Eamonn O’Connor free reduced arrears and less than 60-seconds later Kian Finn swept over a two-pointer from play that tied things up with ten remaining.
An angled Fionnbarr Stiobhard shot edged his side back in front, but the turning point came in the 58th minute when Fintan Jones appeared to be through on goal only to be wiped out by Ryan Donnelly.
There was a prolonged delay until Jones was carried off and referee Deaglan Carey and his officials established that Donnelly was the offender and issued a red card.
The subsequent free was converted by O’Connor and extra time appeared to be on the cards.
The conclusion to the game was simply enthralling. Davitts thought they had won it when Eamonn O’Connor sent a high ball in and it was laid off to substitute Anton Corr to smash home and give his side a 2-12-2-9 lead.
Ardoyne sought an immediate response and it came less than 60-seconds later, Donnadadh Fennell slipped possession off to Fionnbarr Stiobhard to smash beyond McGonigle.
Fennell and Stiobhard missed opportunities to win the game for the 14-men but their frees drifted wide of the post, however Donnahadh Fennell eventually edged his side back in front at the third time of asking and it appeared as though the North Belfast side had snatched victory.
Davitts had a final opportunity to reply and they seized it when a high ball fell to Odhran Voyle to smash home at the near post and spark scenes of jubilation as the final whistle sounded immediately after his strike and his side ran out 3-12-3-10 winners.
DAVITTS: C McGonigle, C Cosgrove, D Rainey, F Teggart, R Rooney, O Voyle (1-0), C Gillen, K Finn (1×0-2pt), S Hayman, E McKay, O McGrattan (0-1), F Jones, S Clarke (0-1), E O’Connor (1-8, 0-5f), L Thomas McGivern. SUBS: J Crilly for L Thomas McGivern (15), A Corr (1-0) for S Clarke (41), C Teggart for F Teggart (53).
ARDOYNE: B Lagan, K McLaughlin, J Saul McDermott, J Cosgrove, K Turley. K Murphy, G James Mailey, E Maguire, C Lee, D Fennell (0-3, 0-2f), B Finnegan (0-2), R Donnelly (0-1), E Fennell (2-0), L Maguire (0-1), F Stiobhard (1-3, 0-2f).
REFEREE: Deaglan Carey (CON MAGEES’S, GLENRAVEL)
Joe Edwards presents the U16C Football Cup to Davitt’s captain, D Rainey
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