Molaise Boys retain U14 ‘A’ Championship
DESCRIBED by Coiste na nOg Chairman Joe Murphy in his post match speech as the best underage match he had viewed in his three years in the role St Molaise Gaels produced a stunning last fifteen mInutes to defeat old rivals St Marys by 3-16 to 4-05 at Markievicz Park on Thursday night last to retain the A championship title for the North Sligo club. The final scoreline was harsh on a St Mary’s side who led by two points with 12 minutes remaining but in truth Gaels were the better team and deserving of the victory.
Played in teeming rain on a slippery surface both sides are to be commended on producing such a brilliant display in front of an enthusiastic crowd who applauded both sides from the pitch at the end of sixty minutes of enthralling football. The players struggled in the early minutes to cope with the playing conditions but from the 7th minute when the superb Michael Langan kicked the opening point of the game for the winners to the final whistle blown by referee Rory Dillon who contributed hugely to such an enjoyable game with sensible officiating both sides went at each other in a game of constant attacking and some excellent scoring.
The winners dominated the early exchanges with Daniel O’Connor and Ronan McGowan also hitting points but were rocked by two quickfire goals from St Mary’s Conor White and Fionn Ohehir to bring the Sligo Town side back into proceedings.
A Daniel O’ Connor point just on the half time whistle saw Gaels ahead by 1-06 to 2-01 at the interval.
When Gaels kicked two early second half points it appeared as if they had taken a firm grip on proceedings but St Mary’s refused to give way and with Ryan Gillen proving a constant threat to the Gaels defence they responded with two points in quick succession. Midway through the second period Mary’s repeated their first half success of two very quick goals giving goalkeeper Ruairi O’Carroll no chance with either effort. Marys now led by 4-04 to 1-11 and a tight finish looked likely and a winner hard to pick.
However the excellent Gaels captain Luke Casserly with great support from Jack McGovern and Josh Fallon took a hold of proceedings around the middle of the field. A fantastic run from Casserly right through the heart of the St Mary’s defence saw him fire an unstoppable drive past St Mary’s goalkeeper into the roof of the net to restore the lead for Gaels and the outcome was decided by further goals from McGovern and Ewan Rippon.
Gaels had many fine individual performers including captain Casserly, Mark Herity, Josh Fallon, Daniel O’Connor and Jack McGovern but it was corner forward Michael Langan who produced a man of the match display involved in so many of the winning teams best moments. For St Mary’s there were great performances from Sean Clifford, Fionn O Hehir, Ryan Gillen, and Conor White