Drumkeerin power too much for Aughnasheelin
Led by the impressive Cathal McCawley, a more powerful Drumkeerin eventually claimed the Under 14 League 9-a-side title last Thursday night in Ballinaglera despite brave resistance from a younger Aughnasheelin in an exciting Final.
U-14 9-A-SIDE LEAGUE FINAL
DRUMKEERIN 2-11
AUGHNASHEELIN 2-5
Drumkeerin, who enjoyed a significant advantage over their Aughnasheelin rivals who had beaten them in the group stages, in terms of size, only made sure of the victory with a goal in the last minute.
In a strange way, the scoreline is both reflective of the dominance of Drumkeerin who kicked a lot of wides and, at the same time, very tough on an Aughnasheelin side who battled right to the final whistle only for Cathal McCawley to grab a last minute goal.
McCawley, who captained his side, grabbed 2-5 on a wonderfully warm evening and Aughnasheelin really had no answer to his powerful running with the ball. McCawley was the cutting edge of a physically imposing Drumkeerin side who towered over their opponents.
That size and power meant that Drumkeerin had a huge advantage over a young Aughnasheelin side and boasted fine performances from McCawley, Declan Daly, Thomas McPartland and Jerome Maguire.
Maguire was persistence personified in defence while the size and strength of Daly and McPartland in the middle of the field gave Drumkeerin the platform for victory.
Aughnasheelin, to their credit, displayed great team-work and wonderful skills to keep in contention against a well drilled Drumkeerin side, over-coming their lack of size by clever use of the ball and strong team-work.
The younger Aughnasheelin, sporting quite a few Under 12s, also had a lot of good displays and once they add height and strength to the skills, the likes of Conor Cullen, Fintan Fitzpatrick and Kevin McWeeney will take some stopping.
Cathal McCawley got Drumkeerin off to a good start with a point after just 15 seconds but the north Leitrim men were rocked back on their heels when a long ball was knocked ed down to Aughnasheelin’s Conor Cullen who drilled home an excellent finish on two minutes.
Thomas McPartland ran through to point on eight minutes but in a move from defence, Kevin McWeeney scored a lovely point to negate the score.
It got even better for Aughnasheelin when Conor Cullen’s pass set up Fintan Fitzpatrick for an excellent goal on 11 minutes, the corner-forward finishing with some style.
But Drumkeerin were not to be found wanting – Thomas McPartland pointed after a good run from Jerome Maguire before McCawley produced an excellent finish for his first goal of the game after a good run.
Declan Daly saw his shot tipped over the bar by keeper Matthew Flynn to level the scores before points from McPartland & Sean O’Grady opened up a two point gap.
A Fintan Fitzpatrick free halted the flow of scores but Cathal McCawley fisted over a point after a long run to leave Drumkeerin leading 1-7 to 2-2 at the break.
Two early Drumkeerin wides allowed Fintan Fitzpatrick narrow the gap with a third minute point after a brilliant Kevin McWeeney pass before Conor Cullen converted a free on six minutes to tie the scores.
However, Drumkeerin responded in ferocious fashion with three points in the space of a minute from McCawley (2) and Declan Daly as the north Leitrim side won two kickouts in a row and ran through to score.
But they then started to hit wides with three in a row before McCawley fisted over the bar to stretch the lead to three points.
Aughnasheelin had a great chance to get back on level terms when a long ball was broken down in the Drumkeerin goal-mouth but Dean Brolly’s one handed save prevented Patrick Sammon from goaling.
McCawley and Fitzpatrick swapped points as a goal remained between the teams but with time almost up, Brolly intercepted an Aughnasheelin attack. A long clearance led to a free and from that free, Cathal McCawley took off on a run to drill home his second goal.
Drumkeerin
Dean Brolly, Robert Fee, Declan Daly (0-2), Sean Hazlette, Jerome Maguire, Thomas McPartland (0-3), Sean O’Grady (0-1), Cathal McCawley (2-5), James Gallagher.
Aughnasheelin
Matthew Flynn, Ryan Cull, Jack McGirl, Keith Harvey, Philip Dolan, Kevin McWeeney (0-1), Conor Cullen (1-1), Fintan Fitzpatrick (1-3), Patrick Sammon.
Referee: Thomas Forde.
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
