Provincial breakthrough for Strand Celtic teens
Strand Celtic and Yeats United feature in Connacht FA underage finals at Milebush
IN WHAT is the 50th year of the club’s existence, Strand Celtic have won their first Connacht underage title. This history-making achievement came in last Saturday afternoon’s Connacht Boys U-18 Shield final at Solar 21 Park (Milebush) in Castlebar. At the Mayo venue, Strand secured Shield honours thanks to a 2-1 extra-time defeat of famous Galway club Salthill Devon.
In blustery and wet conditions, the Ross Doherty-captained Strand emerged victorious thanks to Mark McDaniel’s header in the first period of extra-time.
McDaniel, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on the day of the game, found the net from a corner taken by Jacob Krajeshki.
Strand had to work their way back into proceedings after going a goal down in the first-half of normal time.
The Sligo-Leitrim Youth & Schoolboys/Girls League club created several chances early on, with Mark McDaniel and Ross Doherty – both Connacht winners with Sligo’s Minor Gaelic footballers last year – going close.
Strand didn’t panic after going a goal down. They levelled matters after 35 minutes – winger Cathal Ballantine netted with aplomb after cutting in from the right flank. Rory Kinane’s pass released the attacker.
It remained 1-1 for the remainder of the game. There were further opportunities for Strand, with Mark McDaniel twice going close, and goal chances for Jamie Kilfeather, Donnacha Beirne and Alfie McDermott.
Strand goalkeeper Cathal Morahan also made a vital save in the second-half of normal time to prevent Salthill from retaking the lead. The Galway club also had a goal chalked off because of an offside.
The breakthrough goal – for a breakthrough result – came in the first period of extra-time. A superb team performance included two exceptional individuals displays, those of centre-back Jamie Walsh and midfield dynamo Ross Doherty. Two hours before the Connacht Boys U-18 Shield final, Strand were involved in the Connacht Boys U-12 Cup final. They ended up losing 5-2 to Galway’s Salthill Devon but summoned a stirring recovery– making it 3-2 after going 3-0 down in the opening half.
A series of saves from goalkeeper James Mulhern as well as solid defensive work by Diarmuid Whelan and James Sheridan ensured that the gap, although serious, was no greater than three goals going into the second-half.
The comeback began when substitute Adam Parkes netted from Ronan Byrne’s through ball – this goal meant that Parkes had scored in every round of this season’s competition. Strand’s second goal was a headed finish by Ronan Byrne following a corner.
Strand had dragged themselves back into contention with just over 10 minutes of normal time to go. But the eventual winners added two further goals in the last five minutes – a converted penalty and a goal from a counter-attack. Meanwhile, last weekend was also a big occasion for Yeats United.
The Carney-based club contested two provincial deciders at Castlebar’s Solar 21 Park – Saturday’s Connacht Boys U-12 Shield final and the Connacht Boys U-16 Shield, a game that took place on Sunday.
Yeats were beaten 5-1 by Galway’s Knocknacarra in the Connacht Boys U-12 Shield final, with Fintan Ryan on target for Yeats, who are captained by Pol Arnold.
Another Galway outfit, Bearna na Forbacha Aontaithe, were Yeats’ opponents in the Connacht Boys U-16 Shield showdown.
This finished 5-2 in favour of Bearna na Forbacha Aontaithe. On target for Yeats were Jamie Finnegan and George Gillen.