Blackhall Gaels GAA Club

U16 Final Match report
Posted by robj on July 07 2008 15:36:22

Competition: U16 FL Div 3A

Extended News

Competition: U16 FL Div 3A

Result: BHG 2-9 Ballinlough 3-8
Venue: Bohermeen
Date: 27th June 2008

The Gaels under 16 football team eventually ran out of time in Sean Newman Park, Bohermeen on Friday 27th June last, in a narrow defeat to Ballinlough in an exciting Division 3 A final.

After winning the toss and electing to play with a reasonably stiff breeze we dominated possession for most of the first half. However too many scoring chances were missed. We recorded 11 wides and only 3 scores. All three were points and came from John Kelly, Eric Carty and Stephen Morris. On the other hand Ballinlough made the most of their possession and almost scored each time they went upfield. That one of these scores was a fortuitous goal which could have been prevented, was not the type of boost which our lads needed. That said, our defenders Daniel Sharkey, Andrew Creagh, Ciaran Cunningham, Conor Stenson and Craig Malone provided a stout defense against counter attacking raids. Our goalie Darragh Corcoran had little to do compared to his counterpart at the other end who was pressed into action on a few occasions most notably from an Ian Cassidy special. Despite having played with the wind we were behind at half time but not out of the game by any means. The half time score was 1-05 to 0-03.

Despite Ballinlough recording the two first scores on the resumption – a point and another lucky goal which went straight in from a sideline free – our lads never gave up. John Kelly tacked over 2 points to give us hope. Alas our hearts sunk when the Ballinlough no 14 Sean Geraghty finished off some clever link up play and placed the ball in the corner of the net from an acute angle, well out of Darragh Corcorans reach. There were 10 points between the teams at this stage and a rout looked on the cards. But not this team. They never really seem to get going rightly until the odds appear to be stacked totally against them. Prompted by increasingly powerful displays from Stephen Morris at midfield and from John Kelly who had joined him in the centre, the Gaels roared back into contention with two well taken goals. One from Eric Carty and another almost immediately from Stephen Morris. A storming and victorious finish of the kind we had experienced in the semi final the week before, at the same venue against Nobber, looked as if it could be repeated. Eric rattled the post with a shot which appeared goal bound. However all was not in vain. It came back to his cousin substitute Paul Kelly, who slotted it over with his left foot. The margin was down to 3 points with enough time left on the clock to do a Houdini on it.

In a rare breakaway during this period of dominance by the Gaels, one of the Ballinlough mid fielders scored an excellent point from the centre of the field to lift the siege for them. But back came John Kelly with another point following more sustained pressure from the Gaels. We were now winning the breaking balls which we could not do in the first half. Another point followed from Niall Mangan. The margin was down to 2 points. Surely fortune would favour the brave. With our players pouring forward in search of victory there was always the threat of another breakaway attack in which their accurate forwards could punish us. And so it was. They again put 3 points between us. The clock was now ticking but maybe we would get a goal and get extra time. Pushed on by the relentless efforts of Stephen and John everyone poured forward. Both midfielders had goal bound efforts blocked. Niall had a low shot which was destined for the net just cleared off the line. Their goalie then scrambled it out for a 45. There was still time. John Kelly played the resultant 45 short to Conor Stenson who returned it to John and he slotted it over. There were now 2 points in it. Win the kick out and score a goal and we could win it in injury time. But alas it was not to be. The referee blew the whistle as the Ballinlough goalie kicked the ball out. No injury time played. The Ballinlough boys jumped for joy. The Gaels slumped to the ground. No victory presentation. No complaints. No robbery. The team which made the most of their scoring chances had won. The journey was over – for this year at least.

Thanks to a magnificent bunch of players – all 21 of them – who gave all they had during the season: Darragh Corcoran, Daniel Sharkey, Conor Walsh (Kilcloon), Ciarán Cunningham, Conor Stenson, Andrew Creagh, Craig Malone, Ian Cassidy, Stephen Morris, Darragh Keane, Patrick O Loughlin, John Kelly, Niall Mangan, Eric Carty, Conor Sloyane, Diarmuid Ryan, Colin Farrell, Paul Kelly, Oisín Kelly, Dillon O’Neill and Brian Staunton.

Thanks also to their coach Paul Nestor, his fellow selectors Peadar Creagh, John Keane, Sean Kelly, Gerry Stenson and to the players parents and club supporters who contributed to an enjoyable season of football.

Photo (as submitted by Tom Conneally) of team, coach and selectors before the Div 3 A final in Sean Newman Park, Bohermeen on Friday 27th June, 2008:

Back Row (L – R): John Keane, Peadar Creagh, Patrick O Loughlin, Conor Sloyane, Darragh Keane, Conor Walsh, Ian Cassidy, Craig Malone, Darragh Corcoran, Niall Mangan, Stephen Morris, Sean Kelly, Paul Nestor.

Front Row (L – R): Gerry Stenson, Daniel Sharkey, John Kelly, Colin Farrell, Diarmuid Ryan, Andrew Creagh, Eric Carty, Paul Kelly, Conor Stenson, Ciarán Cunningham.

More pictures available in the gallery here.