No final delight for Drums/Meath Hill

2-13 0-12

THERE was no joy for Drumconrath/Meath Hill in this Under-21B decider at Carlanstown last Friday as Oldcastle took the honours in a fiercely competitive match.

The losers had Shane McCabe black-carded and Ryan Owens sent off in the final quarter, but those setbacks had no bearing on the outcome.

Oldcastle were much more effective in front of the posts, while their movement of the ball was also superior to that of their opponents.

The winners led 1-7 to 0-5 at the break, with the goal arriving towards the end in the opening quarter. It was a slightly fortuitous effort as a lofted point attempt from Conor Delaney hit the upright and Ronan Maguire made the most of the chance to finish to the net. Four pointed CJ Healy frees were augmented by a brace from Jason Scully and a lone Sean Maxwell effort after a fine run.

Ian Malone kept Drumconrath/ Meath Hill ticking over with three converted frees, while James Mooney and Shane McCabe were on the mark from play.

The combined side out-scored their opponents 4-2 in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Malone sent over four from play for Drumconrath/Meath Hill, while county minor Scully claimed another brace for Oldcastle - 1-9 to 0-9.

Oldcastle took a major step towards lifting the trophy when a surging run from Robert Smith, who was outstanding, made the opening for Ronan Maguire’s second goal. That left it 2-10 to 0-10 by the 53rd minute.

Further points from Scully, Maxwell and Maguire added gloss to the Oldcastle victory, while Daniel Byrne and Kieran Slavin completed the losers’ tally.

After the match County Board vice chairman and Drumconrath/ Meath Hill selector Peter O’Halloran presented the Stiofáin Ó Mealóid Cup to winning captain Sean Maxwell. ON the same day that their adult team were crowned Leinster Intermediate champions, St Colmcille’s Under-13s got the celebrations going with victory in the Division 1 Final at Dunganny.

The Cille’s went into the decider in scintillating form, having won all seven league matches, but standing in their way were an improving Navan O’Mahony’s team who had defeated a much fancied Dunshaughlin team to reach the decider.

The Piltown side drew first blood when Liam Stafford won great ball in midfield and possession passed through the hands of Godfrey Ehichoya and Fiachra Mac an Aba before Sean O’Donoghue shot to the O’Mahony’s net.

Josh Hayes then took a pass from Sean Horan and kicked a great point after coming up from wing back, before Liam Stafford split the posts following some good approach play by Ehichoya.

The Cille’s took their tally to 2-2 without reply when a great crossfield ball from Luke Hanan released Mac an Aba and after his initial shot was saved superbly by the O’Mahony’s keeper, he pounced send the ball past the keeper at the second attempt.

O’Mahonys had their chances, but great defending by Sean O’Donoghue, Conor Power and Caolan Nulty in particular kept them out and the impressive Hayes and Mac an Aba hit fine points to leave the scoreboard reading 2-4 to 0-0.

The first half ended with the lively and impressive Adam Daly kicking a wonderful long-range point after great work by Stafford and Hanan.

The second period opened with O’Mahony’s on the front foot, and after registering their first point of the contest they added two more in quick succession, with Shane Maguire and Michael Lidehea (2) on target.

However, the Navan side would fail to score again as St Colmcille’s regained the ascendancy with two great points from Daly and Hanan.

Substitute Conor Farrelly then fired home a goal to stretch the lead out to 13, before Emmett Higgins rounded the full back and slotted another fine goal to the O’Mahony’s net - 4-7 to 0-3 - for the game’s final score.