Under-21 champions Duarigle Gaels made to work by St Peters
Duarigle Gaels 1-12 St. Peters 1-8
DEFENDING holders Duarigle Gaels were made to work by challengers St. Peters in the opening round to the Central Stores, Kanturk Duhallow U-21 ‘B’ FC Round 1 at a windswept Millstreet. Ultimately, the reigning champions were forced to up their level of performance during the second half that allowed helped force extra time
The quality may had been suspect at times but in conditions far from conducive to football, the Millstreet and Cullen combination wrestled control and chipped away at a six point deficit.
On the restart, St. Peters put numbers behind the ball to offset the elements in a bid to stifle the anticipated Duarigle Gaels recovery. For a time, St. Peters resisted strongly yet Duarigle became more adventurous to pick scores to force extra time.
The near gale forced wind influenced the game, that made matters difficult but both sides deserve credit for a keenly fought contest. Favoured by the elements in the opening half, St. Peters featuring a Rockchapel and Freemount input held the superior movement and better workrate.
That stemmed from the positive play of Martin Murphy, Michael O’Callaghan, Jack Curtin and John Walsh to allow the visitors make off a firm statement. Going forward, St. Peters asked questions of the Gaels defence and the concession of frees allowed Eoin Collins convert opportunites into points.
St. Peters were well placed, rewarded on a decent move for Mickey McAulliffe to net. Duarigle attempted to keep in touch, points to Neil Flahive and Colm O’Leary saw the Gaels trail 1-5 to 0-2 at the break.
Though Duarigle resumed with a howling wind at their back, yet the ploy of additional St Peters defenders outnumbering Gaels attackers limited progress for the holders. Steadily Duarigle got to grips with the situation, prompted by the play of Colin Walsh, Shane Hickey and Darragh Cashman.
In attack, Flahive supported by O’Leary and Luke Murphy found the target, a run of points helped force deadlock 0-8 to 1-5 at the end of the hour. Into extra-time, Duarigle came up with the answers, an all defining goal from Flahive underlined the winners supremacy.
That goal gave Duarigle a vital cushion to close out the game in a hard fought encounter. DUARIGLE GAELS: D Downey; A Murphy, S Fleming, T Healy; E Murphy, C Hickey, L O’Donoughue; S Hickey, C Walsh; D Cashman, L Murphy 0-1, Colm O’Leary 0-3; N Flahive 1-7, Colin O’Leary, M Twomey. Subs: C Murphy for T Healy, D Buckley for A Murphy, B Murphy for E Murphy.
ST PETERS: C Casey; P Curtin, S Curtin, J Murphy; C Broderick 0-1, M Murphy; M O’Callaghan; J Curtin, J Walsh; C Curtin, M McAulliffe 1-0; N Linehan, M Daly, E Collins 0-6 (5f); J McAulliffe. Subs: M O’Callaghan, D Buckley. D Carroll.
REFEREE: J Hartnett (Boherbue)