Our U-21 footballers closed the 2016 season on a high note, winning the county title against Galtee Gaels on Friday night at Martinstown. It was a very cold December night on a heavy pitch which required hard work and a big effort by all the players to bring home the cup. It was particularly pleasing for this squad as so many of them had played in the U-21 county finals of the past two years where we had lost to Adare and Galbally.
The team opened brightly, getting on top in midfield through Eoin O’Doherty and Killian Ryan with good support from wing forwards Danny Taylor and Colm Moran, which lead to multiple scoring chances. The forwards kicked a series of good points from distance, all from play, with Adam Storan, Eoin Ryan, Ronan Beatty, Stephen Scanlon all contributing but unfortunately we did not avail of a couple of goal scoring opportunities as they came which would have built a winning lead out of all the possession. The lead was 6 points to nil after 25 minutes when Galtee Gaels came back into the game strongly, started to dominate possession and kicked a number of good scores of their own to leave the halftime score a narrow lead at 6 points to 5 for Mungret St Pauls. Sean Mullane and his back line of Cathal Shinnors, Chris Dunford and Eoin Galvin, Brian Barry, Conor Garvey & John O'Donovan had done very well to ensure a goal was not conceded.
Following a couple of switches, we opened the second half brightly, gaining more possession and as a result we had the first score. It was nip and tuck from there for the third quarter until the fresh legs provided by subs Declan Brown, Adam Barry, Michael Uwatse and Eoghan Killian introduced to the forwards gave us an attacking advantage as we stretched the lead out to 3 points. Cathal Shinnors kicked the score of the game, involved in a move all the way from his cornerback position then kicking it over from the right corner with help from the post and crossbar. To their credit Galtee Gaels continued to battle and had a shot from a long way out whistle just over the bar to narrow the lead to 2. Eoghan Killian restored the lead with a fine run from midfield to the 13 topped off by chipping over a point to leave the score at 11 points to 8. Both sides battled right to the final whistle as our boys held out to claim the trophy which was presented to our captain Ronan Beatty by John Cregan on behalf of the county board.
Thanks to referee Michael O’Flaherty and his team who officiated fairly and sensibly in the difficult conditions.
The team and scorers were as follows. All 11 points were scored from play.
Sean Mullane, Cathal Shinnors (0-1), Chris Dunford, Eoin Galvin, John O'Donovan, Conor Garvey, Brian Barry(0-2) , Killian Ryan(0-2), Eoin O’Doherty, Danny Taylor, Adam Storan (0-2), Colm Moran, Stephen Scanlon (0-2), Ronan Beatty (0-1), Eoin Ryan, Subs used; Declan Brown, Eoghan Killian (0-1), Adam Barry, Michael Uwatse
The following players had played in earlier rounds of the championship; Ciaran Laffey, Peter Harrington, Niall Goggin, Ryan Minihan, Michael Fitzgibbon
Mentors for the team Bosco Ryan, PJ Garvey, John O'Donovan and Liam O'Connell.
We look forward with renewed confidence to the 2017 season after our club footballers at U-16, minor, U-21 and intermediate all gave a good account for this year, reaching three county championship semi-finals, losing each time to the eventual winners, and one successful final across the four squads.
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