Burke wins it for St Kevin’s
Free edges out Tomacork
ST KEVIN’S TOMACORK 1-10 1-09
THE sublime free-taking skills of Keith Burke helped snatch a dramatic late victory for the under-15 footballers of St Kevin’s over Tomacork in the ‘B’ Shield final in a bitterly cold Ballinakill last Friday night.
In a game that was nip and tuck throughout with fantastic scores on both sides, it fell to Burke to steal the win with a superb strike from distance after the hugely impressive Robbie Miley had been attacking through the centre.
Things hadn’t looked to promising at the break when a very capable looking Tomacork side led by 1-06 to 1-03. St Kevin’s had notched the opening score from the outside of the right boot of Eoghan Daly but Tomacork took control for the next 10 minutes with points from the threatening Owen Young, Gavin Murray and Ryan Guilfoyle.
But St Kevin’s stirred from their slumber. Conor Reid shaved the top of the crossbar with a fine point before adding another to level matters at 0-03 to 0-03 and then Robbie Miley set off on a searing run and lashed home low and hard past Caoimhin Rawson in the Tomacork net after 19 minutes.
But Tomacork rallied and points from John Young, Owen Young and James McGing and a fine goal from Eoin Kavanagh left the Tomacork lads leading by 1-06 to 1-03 at the break with St Kevin’s cursing their luck after a Ben Clarke shot rocketed off the Tomacork crossbar.
The second half was a dogged affair. James McGing opened the scoring for Tomacork but Eoghan Miley fired over for St Kevin’s. Both men added another point each before Keith Burke grabbed his first score of the day after 21 minutes of the second half to make it 1-08 to 1-06.
Owen Young fired over a sweet score to leave three between the teams but then Kevin’s mounted a serious challenge with points from Robbie Miley (free), Keith Burke (free), a stunner from Miley on the burst forward and then Burke’s match winning effort that brought a huge roar from the vocal St Kevin’s supporters on the sideline.
Scorers – St Kevin’s: Robbie Miley 1-03 (2f), Keith Burke 0-03 (3f), Eoghan Daly 0-02, Conor Reid 0-02.
Tomacork: Owen Young 0-03, James McGing 0-03, Eoin Kavanagh 1-00, John Young 0-01, Ryan Guilfoyle 0-01, Gavin Murray 0-01.
MICHAEL DWYERS GLENEALY 4-07 3-05
ON a lovely afternoon for hurling in Ballinakill, Michael Dwyers and Glenealy served up a fine contest in the U-13 Hurling Championship final on Sunday last.
A chilly breeze supported the team playing into the dressing rooms end of the field.
Michael Dwyers raised the first white flag when Jack O’Toole pointed a close in free after two minutes.
The Western side appeared to have the advantage in size and strength and had the Glenealy defence under pressure in the early stages.
However, Glenealy slowly got back into the game and when Michael Óg O’Neill pointed after twelve minutes they began a period of dominance.
Full-forward Cormac Byrne scored a goal a minute later to give his side the lead for the only time in the game.
When Matt Miley scored the Dwyers first goal four minutes later to level matters, the flow of the game moved back in Dwyers favour.
Jack O’Toole and Austin Brennan pointed two frees before Glenealy centre-forward Seamus French kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Reds with a point.
Michael Dwyers responded immediately when corner-forward Brian Richardson netted their second goal and centre-back Austin Brennan concluded their first half total when he pointed a free just before the break.
The half-time score stood at 2-4 to 1-2 in favour of the Western side.
Glenealy, now playing with the advantage of the strong breeze, began the second half strongly.
Michael Óg O’Neill had a great shot for a goal brilliantly saved by Adam Williamson in the Dwyers goal. However, the goalie was unable to prevent Seamus French in the fourth minute when he netted his side’s second goal.
When Michael Óg O’Neill point- ed another free two minutes later, there was only one point between the sides.
However, the game now entered a period of stalemate with both defences keeping the attacks under control. Sam Gough had switched to midfield for Dwyers and was helping to keep a steady flow into his attack.
The deadlock was broken when midfielder James Boland scored a goal after twenty minutes.
Jack O’Toole added two more points from frees and when Man of the Match Matt Miley got his second goal with two minutes of normal time left, it left his side in a comfortable lead.
A Michael Óg pointed free for Glenealy was responded to by another Jack O’Toole pointed free.
Seamus French had the final say in the game when he scored Glenealy’s third goal just before the final whistle.
Michael Dwyers were deserving winners of a very sporting and well-contested game on a final scoreline of 4-7 to 3-5.
After the game Martin Fitzgerald presented the cup to the victorious Michael Dwyers team.
The Wicklow People Man of the Match award was presented to Matt Miley.
Scorers - Michael Dwyers – Matt Miley 2-0, Jack O’Toole 0-5, Austin Brennan 0-2, Brian Richardson 1-0, James Boland 1-0.
Glenealy – Seamus French 2-1, Cormac Byrne 1-0, Michael Óg O’Neill 0-4.