Drumkeerin overpower Kiltubrid to claim U-14 crown
A physically stronger and imposing Drumkeerin side proved to be too powerful for their Kiltubrid opponents in last Friday's U-14 Championship 11-a-side final in Ballinaglera.
U-14 11-A-SIDE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
DRUMKEERIN 4-11
KILTUBRID 2-5
While Kiltubrid threatened their opponents in the second half for a brief period, the size difference between the players went a long way towards deciding this final.
Drumkeerin, who almost didn't have an U-14 side this year, played some lovely football which produced some fine scores over the course of the game and added the 11-a-side title to the 9-a-side title they won so emphatically earlier this year against Aughnasheelin.
Unfortunately for a game Kiltubrid, this was their second Final loss of the year, having been beaten by a very strong Gortletteragh team in the League Final.
Eager to make a positive start to the game, Drumkeerin dominated the opening 10 minutes of the contest with Jerome McGuire opening the scoring with a point before Cathal McCawley struck for the game's opening goal.
Thomas McPartland looked destined to score the opening goal but was denied by a combination of Kiltubrid goalkeeper Brendan McCormack and the crossbar and when the rebound fell to McCawley he had the simple task of finishing to the unguarded goal.
Not resting on their laurels Drumkeerin added a further three points in quick succession through Jerome McGuire, James Gallagher and McCawley.
It was already beginning to look like Kiltubrid were facing an uphill battle but to their credit they stuck to the task and were rewarded for their perseverance when Patrick Meehan opened their account with a 12th minute goal.
A nice exchange of passes between Conor Prior and Stephen McLoughlin created an opening in the Drumkeerin defence and when the ball was played through to Meehan he found himself clear of the defence.
Opting to control the ball on the ground, Meehan ran towards goal before delivering a shot which went low along the ground and just inside the Drumkeerin post.
Kiltubrid soon added to their tally as the accurate Owen Dolan converted a free.
At the other end, Drumkeerin lost some of their early momentum as they shot five wides, with only a Cathal McCawley point to show for their efforts.
Drumkeerin had their goalkeeper Dean Brolly to thank for ensuring the lead remained at four points as he made a fine save from Shane Meehan.
With the clock ticking ever closer to half-time, Drumkeerin launched a final surge in a bid to open up a more comprehensive lead. Cathal McCawley scored a fine individual goal, demonstrating plenty of skill, power and speed as he beat five Kiltubrid players before delivering a composed finish past Brendan McCormack.
Points from Declan Daly and McCawley left the score 2-7 to 1-1 in favour of Drumkeerin at the interval.
Drumkeerin began the second half as they had left off with James Gallagher scoring his side's third goal after Cathal McCawley's free struck the crossbar. This was quickly followed by another McCawley point.
To their credit the Kiltubrid players continued to persevere despite the fact that they were finding the going difficult and several of their players showed themselves to be good prospects for the future.
A Stephen McLoughlin goal gave the Kiltubrid supporters something to shout about while Mark Reynolds and Stephen McKeon also added points.
While a comeback was never a likely possibility, the Kiltubrid players were given a further incentive to keep on battling when Drumkeerin’s Declan Daly was dismissed having been shown two yellow cards by referee Thomas Forde.
With nine minutes remaining, the contest was all but ended when Cathal McCawley struck an unstoppable free for Drumkeerin’s fourth goal.
Owen Dolan added a further point for Kiltubrid from a free but Drumkeerin were able to see the game out and in the dying minutes McCawley added a further two points.
Kiltubrid can take plenty of heart from reaching the final and the battling qualities shown by the players and of course the fact that Drumkeerin won’t always hold that size advantage over them!
Owen Doaln proved to be very acurate with his frees, while Brendan McCormack in the Kiltubrid goal made some fine saves in he tried to keep the Drumkeerin forwards at bay.
Another plus for Kiltubrid is the manner in which they refused to throwin the towel in the second half.
Substitute Declan Byrne added a physical element to his side’s endeavours and was full of running while he was involved in the action.
From a Drumkeerin perspective it was a very good team performance with some notable performances from the likes of Jerome McGuire, Cathal Cawley and Declan Daly, prior to his dismissal.
While the result was never really in doubt, there was plenty to pleased with for Drumkeerin.
The fact that such a comprehensive result is possible in a championship final is perhaps further evidence that the underage competitions need to be looked at and evaluated in order to ensure players can compete at the highest possible graded.
Drumkeerin
Dean Brolly, Sean O’Grady, Robert Fee, Sean Hazlette, Jerome McGuire (0-2), Cathal McCawley (3-6), Declan Daly (0-1), Tomas McPartland, James Gallagher (1-2), Luke Fee, Francis Walsh. Subs used: James Earley and Darragh Woods.
Kiltubrid
Brendan McCormack, Owen Dolan (0-3), Kevin Prior, Mark Reynolds (0-1), Donal McNulty, Stephen McKeon (0-1), Shane Meehan, Patrick Meehan (1-0), Conor Prior, Stephen McLoughlin (1-0), Michael McCormack. Subs used: Declan Beirne, Niall Crossan.
Referee: Thomas Forde
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Sunday 05 February 2012
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