JUNIORS SCRAPE OVER THE LINE

Saturday April 13th 2019
JCF C, Group A, round 2
Full time: St. Michaels 0-12, Syddan 2-05,
Half time: St. Michaels 0-03, Syddan 1-03. 

Two well matched teams served up an exciting contest but it was St. Michaels who ground out an important opening round win at the expense of Syddan in this Group A Ideal Bathrooms Junior championship match in a bitterly cold Carlanstown on Saturday evening last.
It was a mixture of youth and experience for the home side but it was the veteran Dáithí Regan who proved pivotal in this victory where his experience and shooting proved invaluable as he helped himself to a personal tally of 0-5 while he was also instrumental in setting up many more scores.
Syddan opened the scoring with a point after 30 seconds while starting with the strong wind to their backs, Ben Farrell opened the scoring for the home side and Regan opened his account two minutes later to edge his side into an early lead. Syddan levelled matters before Jamie Farrelly added what was to be his sides last point of the half as they struggled to overcome the blustery conditions.
Syddan were awarded a penalty on 23 minutes which they duly converted after Gavan Sweeney’s brave effort failed to keep it out. Syddan stretched their lead with a further point and led at the break by 1-3 to 0-3.

Mark Stafford cut the deficit to two points straight from the throw-in but again the visitors replied to restore their three point advantage. Johnny Reilly replied with a great effort from play before Regan showed he’d never lost his touch as he posted three from frees in a five minute spell to put his side back in front at the end of the third quarter. St. Michaels were now utilising the strong wind and Jamie Farrelly posted his second point of the match while Ben Farrell followed up 30 seconds later for a 0-10 to 1-4 lead. A pointed free from Syddan reduced the deficit but a well struck effort from Felim O’Reilly put three between the sides. Syddan were reduced to 14 men in the dying minutes but that didn’t affect their confidence as they responded with their second major to level the match with a minute remaining on the clock. They had the opportunity to regain the lead from a free however their effort sailed wide and from Gavan Sweeney’s kick-out, Felim O’Reilly collected and found Dáithí Regan with a kick pass and he hadn’t to be told where the posts were for the winning point.

St. Michaels team & scorers:
Gavan Sweeney; Brian Reilly, Paddy Callaghan, Scott Doyle; Justin McPhillips, Harry Dunne; Anthony Briody; Mark Stafford (0-1), Felim O’Reilly (0-1); Ben Tobin, Christopher Lynch, Johnny Reilly (0-1); Ben Farrell (0-2), Dáithí Regan (0-5 3f ), Jamie Farrelly (0-2).
Subs: Jason O’Donnell for Tobin, Kevin Cassidy for Lynch, Conor Gaffney for Farrelly.

Referee: Patrick Clarke.
Report: Pascal Reilly PRO.