Our Under 21 football team played Fr O’Neills in the divisional championship final at Rostellan last Thursday night. Unfortunately the team completed an unwelcome double, losing this game as well as the hurling final. Played on a perfect sod on a balmy evening under lights this was a strange game.
At times we looked to be in for a drubbing but as the game wore on we were well in it and had plenty of chances to win but kicking nine wides was the main reason we lost. Fr O’Neills were out of the blocks quickly and had two points in as many minutes before Daniel Dooley got one back for us. O’Neills went up by two again before Sean O’Brien kicked over a point from a free. With Liam Forde dominating at midfield we were winning an amount of possession and after 16 minutes Sean O’Brien levelled the scores at 0-3 each. Then in a swift reply Fr O’Neills moved the ball downfield and goaled. Shane Murphy from a free brought our tally to 4 but O’Neills finished the half with 4 points to lead by 1-7 to 0-4 at half time.
We dominated the first ten minutes after the break, tow points from Sean O’Brien made it 1-7 to 0-6. Then a long ball into the O’Neills net from the fist of Michael Collins to leave us just one point in arrears 1-6 to 1-7. This was a crucial phase of the game and once more our inability to kick over points from good chances was our downfall. We didn’t score for the last 6 minutes and Fr O’Neills added 1-2 to win by 2-9 to 1-7.
Great credit to all the players on duty on the night. They gave their all for the green, white and gold. Well done to each and every one of them.
Team: Vincent O’Keeffe, Stephen Quinn, Shane Kearney, Brian Collins, Stephen Pratt, Michael Kearney, Stephen Boyce, Liam Forde, Stephen Buckley, Michael Collins, Sean O’Brien, Shane Murphy, James O’Sullivan, James Hogan, Daniel Dooley. Sub: Kevin O’Keeffe.
