A man-of-the-match display from Dillon Manley at wing-back helped our Under 14 side to an exciting win over our neighbours Glenville, in a game played under fast-fading day-light in Carraig Na Bhfear on Sunday evening.
A fortuitous goal from a Fachtna Kelleher free, that deceived the keeper, midway through the first half helped St. Colmcille’s to a lead scarely deserved at the time. In truth it was the visitors had done much of the attacking aided by a strong wind blowing away from the village end of the field.Behind Manley, Martin Cotter, Charlie Horgan and Bobby O Donovan, along with Chris O Flynn, made sure Glenville had to work very hard for each of their scores.
Coming into half time Glenville hit a purple patch and at the short whistle it was level 1-3 to 0-6.
Our midfield partnership of Davyn Maher and Joe Aiken, boosted by hard work from Alex Sheehan at 6 and Tom O Sullivan at 11 ensured our central diamond took command in the third quarter.It was helter-skelter at this point, with scores hard to come by in trying conditioms. A superb passage of play on 50 minutes, had Manley pass to Kelleher who passed off to the energetic Mikey Murphy, who popped back to Kelleher and he in turn did a further one-two with O Sullivan before scoring a lovely point.
Maher boomed over a massive free and suddenly there were 4 points between the teams.
Rónán Ahern was very steady in goal, showing extra ball handling and good composure with his clearances. It was great to have Josh Varley back in our starting 15 for the first time in a year, working his way back after serious injury – Varley did very well at 14 and himself, Evan O Leary and Cillian Burns all worked very honestly throughout.
Darragh O Driscoll made his competitive debut for St. Colmcille’s and battled well when introduced, as did Alan Murphy fresh from receiving his Confirmation on Friday.