As we soak up the last rays of this Indian summer, there was plenty excitement in Carraig na bhFear GAA Grounds this Monday evening as both sides fought for supremacy in this football decider, played on an immaculate surface.
With a much diluted programme of games being played this year owing to Covid-19 restrictions, silverware is a real prized possession. However the reality is that we must be grateful that a programme of games was played at all – it didn’t look at all likely four and five months ago.
Our Under 12 team entered this final undefeated in their league campaign, but the only points dropped was a draw with tonight’s opponents, so we knew this was going to be nip-and-tuck. Finals can be tense affairs and tonight’s game was that at times, however the quality of football on display was of a very high standard during particular passages in play.
Both defences ruled supreme for large chunks of the game, with Jack Harte a rock in the full-back berth for our lads. A switch in defence leading to Alex Sheehan moving into corner-back and Tom O Sullivan to wing-back after fifteen minutes benefitted both players, who proceeded to be massively influential in this victory. Jamie Murphy at wing-back thundered into this game in the second half, while Ciarán Tattan was his usual steady self all through – he is a player that has improved with each and every game this year.Captain Darragh McGuire put in a great shift in the middle of the field tonight – a real leader in this team.
Along with Ciarán Ryan at six, Cian Dunne at nine and Davyn Maher at eleven, this central diamond has been a platform for each of our successes. Up-front, while we struggled for scores, it wasn’t for the want of trying – Rowan O Connell and Chris O Keeffe ensured the Whitechurch defence won no ball easily.
Billy Cambridge brought a different dynamic to proceedings when he was introduced with his darting runs, while Mark Reynolds, Fachtna Kelleher and David O Donovan also contributed positively to this success. Joe Arrigan was most unlucky with his effort in the first half when his quick thinking saw his shot flash over the crossbar via a deflection – it could so easily have raised the green flag.
However it wasn’t until the final quarter that a green flag was raised and ultimately it’s those scores that determined the outcome here. Before that Rónán Aherne in the St. Colmcille’s goal parried two goal-bound efforts away to safety – two fine saves from our netminder. The goal that put the first bit of daylight between these two teams was finished with aplomb by our full forward Shane Harrington – an effort he should be really proud off.
When the ever-dangerous Alex Flynn got a hand to a high ball into the square to knock it away from the Whitechurch keeper’s grasp three minutes from time, this goal also put this contest firmly out of the grasp of our determined opponents.
Well done to everyone involved in a great campaign for our Under 12 footballers – CLCG Naomh Colmcille abú:
Panel: Alex Flynn, Alex Sheehan, Billy Cambridge, Brian Barry, Charlie Horgan, Chris O’Keeffe, Cian Dunne, Ciarán Ryan, Ciarán Tattan, Darragh McGuire, David O’Donovan, Davyn Maher, Dillon Manley, Evan O’Leary, Fachtna Kelleher, Jack Harte, Jamie Murphy, Joe Aitken, Joseph Arrigan, Josh Varley, Kaya Sayin, Kevin Murphy, Killian Burns, Mark Reynolds, Martin Cotter, Mike Murphy, Oisin Arrigan, Rónán Aherne, Rowan O’Connell, Ruairi Dunlea, Shane Harrington, Tadgh Harden, Tom Collins & Tom O’Sullivan.
Management: Aidan Sheehan, Conor Kelleher, Don O Connell, Glen Arrigan, Lee Burns, Mike Flynn, Noel Manley & Shane Horgan.