ALL SQUARE IN THE ‘HILL
Saturday April 20th 2019, IFC Group B, Round 2
Full time: St. Michaels 2-16, Syddan 2-16,
Half time: St. Michaels 1-07, Syddan 2-11.
One could sense a sigh of relief from both camps at the final whistle when this second round Intermediate Group B clash ended all square in the excellent facilities of Meath Hill on Saturday evening last, but if the truth be known, both sides will be ruing the fact that they had ample opportunities to collect both points especially Syddan who held a 9 point lead two minutes into the second period.
It was a goal 40 seconds into the game scored by the industrious Oran Meehan when he capitalized with a fisted finish from Shane McDonnell’s lofted delivery that opened the games scoring. However St. Michaels failed to build on that lead while Syddan were non perturbed by the score and by the tenth minute had posted four unanswered points to take the lead which they retained up to the 58th minute.
The first of Syddan’s brace of goals which both resulted from defensive errors in the St. Michaels goalmouth came on 25 minutes and the second quickly followed three minutes later for a 2-10 to 1-7 lead. Shane McCormack, Christopher Drew and Ciaran Lynch added early points for St. Michaels. Lynch was first to react when a Paddy Clarke effort came back off the upright on 24 minutes, McCormack and Ray Reilly posted two further points before the short whistle, however it was the men in green and gold who held a commanding 2-11 to 1-7 interval lead.
The Syddan men won the throw-in and moved up-field to split the posts for their 12th minor, they added another point two minutes later for a 9 point advantage. Shane McCormack converted two St. Michaels frees to keep his side in touch but Syddan also converted a free to leave 8 points still separating the sides. The excellent Paddy Clarke found Davy Lynch in space and he fired over a mighty effort from 40m out for a 7 point game. Then came the games turning point, Syddan lost their no 12, Patrick Farrelly to a red card and the wheels fell off their wagon, Ciaran Lynch then lofted a high effort between the posts before that man Oran Meehan blasted to the corner of the net for the second time to reduce Syddan’s advantage to just 3 points. The introduction of Paddy Tobin and the outstanding work rate of Davy Lynch, Paddy Clarke and Lee Morris paid dividends for the St. Michaels lads as another Davy Lynch effort from play and two frees from McCormack levelled the match on 52 minutes. St. Michaels were now in full control with Clarke, Morris, Meehan and Davy Lynch causing havoc for the Syddan defence however their tendency to over elaborate in their build up play wasn’t always their best policy as they sent a series of scoreable efforts wide of the posts and got turned over on several occasions however Syddan failed to capitalize on their mistakes as they went 29 minutes of the second half without raising a flag.
Shane McDonnell combined with Ciaran Lynch for his 4th point before he sent over his and his sides final score of the match to go two in front with 2 minutes of normal time remaining. Syddan dug deep and a point from a free in the first minute of injury time gave them a slim lifeline and with the final kick of the ball in the 3rd minute of added time they drew level much to the relief of their management and supporters. St. Michaels management and supporters would have taken a draw at half time, but deep down they’ll know they should have left Meath Hill with both points.
St. Michaels team and scorers:
Darren O’Connell; Ciaran O’Reilly, Sam Briody, Daithí O’Reilly; Paddy Clarke, Christopher Drew (0-1) Ben Reilly; David Lynch (0-2), Matthew Halpin; Oran Meehan (2-1), Lee Morris, Ray Reilly (0-1); Shane McCormack (0-6, 5f), Shane McDonnell, Ciaran Lynch (0-5 1f).
Subs: Harry Dunne for C. O’Reilly, Paddy Tobin for D. O’Reilly, C. Sheridan for R. Reilly, C. O’Reilly for Lee Morris (BC).
Referee: Bernard Heaney
Report: Pascal Reilly PRO.
NO JOY IN FINAL
Saturday April 6th 2019
U-17 FL division 4b Final.
Full time: Wolfe Tones 2-12, St. Michaels/Nobber 1-09,
Half time: Wolfe Tones 2-08. St. Michaels/Nobber 0-02,
A strong Wolfe Tones outfit led from pillar to post as they picked up the division 4b minor title in Dunganny on Saturday morning last. The winners opened the scoring with a point after three minutes and they never looked back after their opening goal on seven minutes and dominated possession for the remainder of the half to lead by 2-8 to 0-2 at the interval.
Joe Tierney and Kevin Reilly were on target in that opening half for the St. Michaels / Nobber combination.
Although St. Michaels / Nobber competed on a much more even footing in the second period playing with the advantage of a strong wind, they opened the half with four unanswered points from Cian McFadden (2), Lorcan McEntee and Kevin Reilly, but they then went 8 minutes without troubling the umpires before substitute Jo Jo Ogunube marked his introduction with a fine point from play. Wolfe Tones however had not gone away and in a four minute spell fired over three unanswered points to lead by 2-11 to 0-7 at the end of the third quarter. St. Michaels / Nobber were then given a life-line in the form of a penalty, however they missed the opportunity to cut the deficit when the shot went wide of the upright.
The ‘Tones added their final score of the match in the 50th minute as the combination side kept plugging away adding a further two points from play from Cian McFadden and Seamus Fagan and Kuba Bidinski’s work was rewarded with a consolation goal as the game entered injury time.
St. Michaels/Nobber team & scorers:
Niall McMahon; Brian O’Reilly, Barry Bradley, Paddy Finnegan; Seamus Fagan (0-1), Ben Gaffney, Scott Farrell; Jack Dunne, Kuba Bidinski (1-0); Lorcan McEntee (0-1), Mark Condra, Gerard Walsh; Joe Tierney (0-1), Kevin Reilly (0-2), Cian McFadden (0-3).
Subs: Jo Jo Ogunube (0-1) for Walsh, Paddy Fitzsimons for Reilly.
Referee: Roger Tobin.
Report: Pascal Reilly PRO
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.
A FEAST OF GOALS IN CASTLETOWN
Friday April 5th 2019,
IFC Group B, Round 1
Full time: St. Michaels 4-12, Bective 4-09.
Half time: St. Michaels 3-04, Bective 2-04.
St. Michaels finished strongly to see off Bective with three points to spare in this entertaining Meade Potato Company IFC match played in Castletown last evening. The winners needed a late goal from Shane McCormack to see off an inspired comeback from the Bective men and eventually seal an opening round Group B win.
St. Michaels opened the scoring with a point from Shane McDonnell in the opening minute, however Bective opened their account with a goal 40 seconds later and although Oran Meehan fired over his sides second point four minutes later Bective hit the back of the net for a second time with a rasping shot on six minutes to gain an early four point advantage. St. Michaels then took control for the next 7 minutes with Davy Lynch pointing, Meehan then collected a fine pass from McDonnell and rattled the back of the net from 8m out to level matters and when a shot on goal from McDonnell was deflected, it fell kindly for McCormack who came in from the right wing and coolly slotted the ball low under the advancing goalkeeper to regain the lead after 12 minutes play. Bective kept the scoreboard ticking with 2 points, one from a free before Ciaran Lynch opened his account from a free on 21 minutes and he followed that up with his sides third major minutes later when he latched on to a Matthew Halpin effort that came back off the upright and he gave the Bective keeper no chance for a five point lead. Bective however refused to lie down and their efforts yielded a further two points before the interval to reduce the St. Michaels lead to to just 3 points, 3-4 to 2-4.
Within three minutes of the restart Oran Meehan had stretched his sides lead to four points, but again lapses in the St. Michaels rearguard allowed Bective back into the game with their third goal, however they didn’t build on that score as two pointed frees from Ciaran Lynch settled his sides nerves and a further point apiece from McCormack and Lynch opened up a 3-9 to 3-5 gap between the sides entering the final quarter. But once again the Bective lads showed plenty of heart and in a three minute spell drew level after posting 1-2 without reply. The situation was beginning to look ominous for the St. Michaels lads who had been in this situation before in league matches, and especially when Bective went one in front with only five minutes left on the clock, however a foul on Ben Reilly was punished by Ciaran Lynch who calmly split the posts, Bective replied from play to go back in front but when the 40 “something” year old Daithí O’Reilly made his way up from corner back to send one over from play to draw level didn’t motivate or shame his younger team mates nothing would, and a well struck point from Davy Lynch put his side back in front and although Bective drew level again there was still time for St. Michaels to launch another attack when Ciaran Lynch sent a high ball into the Bective square, in rushed Shane McCormack to tap it over the head of the Bective ‘keeper for the all important winning goal.
Although the holes that leaked the four goals will need to be plugged before the next round, the character shown by the St. Michaels players to get this result was exemplary, each man gave their all and it made for a thoroughly enjoyable game of football, well done lads.
St. Michaels team and scorers:
Darren O’Connell; Daithí O’Reilly (0-1), Sam Briody, Ciaran O’Reilly; Paddy Clarke, Christopher Drew, Ben Reilly; Davy Lynch (0-2), Matthew Halpin; Oran Meehan (1-2), Cian Sheridan, Ray Reilly; Shane McCormack (2-1), Shane McDonnell (0-1), Ciaran Lynch (1-5).
Subs: Paddy Tobin for Cian Sheridan, Lee Morris for Ray Reilly.
Referee: Paul Mooney.
Report: Pascal Reilly PRO.
NO LUCK IN THE DEERPARK
Sunday March 10th 2019,
AFL Division 2, round 5
Full time: St. Michaels 4-06, Dunderry 0-20,
Half time: St. Michaels 2-02, Dunderry 0-11.
St. Michaels failed to christen their new pitch with a win as their losing streak continued in the first adult match to be played in the Deerpark in Carlanstown on Sunday morning after Dunderry’s pitch was deemed unplayable following recent rain.
Dunderry started well and by the eight minute had three points to their name and a strong cross wind made play difficult, but both teams coped admirably producing an entertaining contest for the few hardy souls that turned out to spectate. The home side broke their duck when a high lobbing ball from Oran Meehan into the Dunderry square beat David Jennings for the opening goal and the leveller for St. Michaels on 10 minutes. Meehan then became the provider when he found Paddy Tobin in open space and he made no mistake from 6m out for his second major at the end of the first quarter. The home sides opening point also came from Tobin who performed quite well throughout to give his side a four point cushion after 18 minutes.
Back came Dunderry and in a four minute spell sent over as many points to level the match for the second time, Tobin once again split the posts with a great effort to go back in front however the lead was short lived as the visitors finished the half stronger to lead by 0-11 to 2-2 at the interval.
St. Michaels cause wasn’t helped when they lost Sam Briody to a red card two minutes into the second half as Dunderry stretched their lead to 4 points. Shane McDonnell settled his sides nerves with two well taken points from play but the visitors hadn’t gone away as they posted another minor to still leave three between the sides, a Shane McCormack converted free and another Meehan goal put his side 3-5 to 0-13 to the good heading towards the end of the third quarter. Dunderry however kept plugging away posting some well taken points with ease as the burden of playing with a man down began to take its toll on the St. Michaels lads as the visitors used the extra man wisely but they did managed to find their well marked target man Oran Meehan once more and he obliged by completing his hat-trick to go one in front with eight minutes left on the clock. A converted Dunderry free two minutes later left the match all square and they went two in front in another two minute spell before Ronan Lynch pulled one back but time ran out as the visitors posted the final point of the match in the first minute of injury time. St. Michaels will rue the fact that they could only manage 5 points from play for the entire hour in comparison to their opponents who posted 15 from play.
St. Michaels team and scorers:
Darren O’Connell; Harry Dunne, Sam Briody, Ciaran O’Reilly; Ray Reilly, Christopher Drew, Ben Reilly; Matthew Halpin, David Lynch; Shane McCormack (0-1 f), Shane McDonnell (0-2), Paddy Tobin (1-2); Oran Meehan (3-0), Peter O’Connell, Ronan Lynch (0-1).
Sub: Cian Sheridan for Dunne 22 minutes.
Referee: Pat Clarke.
Report: Pascal Reilly PRO.
