Dicksboro 5-13 3-10 Young Ireland’s
Dicksboro & Young Ireland’s clashed in this Duggan Steel U-15 Roinn A Championship final in Clara with many hoping that would follow the classic nature of the close fought league final played during the summer.
The first half was a slow burner with Harry Shine & Killian Carey exchanging points but it exploded to life in the 15th minute when Shine & Johnny Keane exchanged passes which ended with Mikey Raggett sending the green flag waving.
Young Ireland’s instantly responded with Ben Phelan flicking the sliothar to the roof of the net after Daniel Manning had squared the ball to him.
Killian Carey followed this up with a goal of his own after the sliothar had ping ponged around the square. The mercurial centre forward followed this up with a pointed long range free.
Declan Farrell had a big day in Shines goal which brought the Palmerstown outfit back into contention. Manning & Shine swapped points before Farrell put his side back in front with a fine goal but Padraig Naddy had the final day of the half with a long range point from out on the wing which cut Dicksboro’s short whistle lead to 3-2 to 2-4.
Ragget & Kyle Maher got the first two points of the new half which saw a tremendous and courageous fight back launched by Young Ireland’s lead largely by Carey who rattled off five points in a row including four from play which put them back in front and they could have being further in front only for some unlucky wides.
Raggett & Keane landed points before Sean Keenan made a surge for goal and he blasted the ball to the roof of the net. Carey briefly lifted the siege with a converted free but Ragget (4) & Keenan kept the pressure on with five points.
Carey then blasted a 21 metre free to the bottom right hand corner which put the game back into the melting pot but points from Keenan & Shine cane after Carey was somewhat unlucky not to goal.
A goal from Maher in injury time sealed the result where the Palmerstown men’s accuracy in front of goal proved to be the difference between the sides.
Teams: Dicksboro: Michael Clarke, Nathan Pollard, Fionn McGarry, Kevin Moore, Tom McPhillips, Mick Carroll, Michael Stynes, Johnny Keane (0-1), Cillian Hackett (0-1), Kyle Maher (1-1) Declan O’Farrell(1-0), Sean Knox, Harry Shine (1-8, 0-7 frees) (C) Mikey Raggett (1-1) Sean Keenan (1-2)
Subs: Sam Tynan
Young Ireland’s: Barry Dunne, Robin Carey, Sean Fitzpatrick, Rory Farrell, Darragh Travers, Patrick Langton, Bobby Brennan, Jamie Middleton, Padraig Naddy, Aaron Hosey, Killian Carey (2-9, 1-4 frees) (c), Ray Lawson, Mikey Knox, Daniel Manning (0-1), Ben Phelan (1-0)
Subs: Jamie Clarke
Ref: Stephen Delaney (Graigue Ballycallan)
By Mary Morgan Tue 29th Oct
