Mooney stars in Kevin’s win In Kevin’s win
ST. KEVIN’S claimed the under-14 ‘C’ football championship with a big victory over Barndarrig in Tinahely on Sunday morning.
Conor Reid and Robbie Miley starred in attack while Keith Burke was a rock at full-back and drove forward with the ball on numerous occasions to set up scores.
Christy Mooney was presented with the Man of the Match award for his performance at wing back and did very well. He had a lot of possession and while a couple of growth spurts will help this talented young man to fulfil his potential it wasn’t a problem on Sunday.
Barndarrig had some good performers but they just couldn’t handle the combined force of Hollywood and Valleymount’s underage charges. Tom O’Shea did his best to stop the St. Kevin’s attack while Conor Leonard is a promising player. Luke Kennedy finished the day with a couple of points that were only deflected over the bar.
However, St. Kevin’s were just too strong all over the field. They scored 1-02 within the opening five minutes before Barndarrig got on the score board. Robbie Miley skipped through the Barndarrig for the goal after 44 seconds and Luka Harney followed that with a point. Brian Keogh kicked the second point with a lovely effort on his left foot.
Mark Whelan got Barndarrig’s first score, a goal. Conor Leonard was fouled in midfield and Whelan was left totally unmarked for Leonard to kick a long free in and he made no mistake when faced by Ryan Willoughby in the St. Kevin’s goal.
St. Kevin’s replied with a quick fire 1-01. Keith Burke sent his first ball in around the scoring zone and Conor Reid won the breaking ball. Ciaran Coyne followed it with a goal. Barndarrig got their second goal after eleven minutes when Andrew Traynor went for a point and Willoughby was adjudged to have let the ball cross the line before he collected it.
That would be Barndarrig’s last score of the half though as St. Kevin’s kept scoring. Reid scored their third goal when Coyne did well on the end line to find him in front of goal and Reid couldn’t miss. St. Kevin’s then won a succession of Barndarrig kick outs and racked up six points in six minutes. Christy Mooney, Brian Keogh with two, Robbie Miley, Conor Reid and Luka Harney all with the points.
Reid added two late scores for the St. Kevin’s total of 3-11 at half time. Their scoring rate slowed in the second half but Keith Burke capped his fine day with an early goal, Mooney added a point moments later.
Luke Kennedy scored Barndarrig’s first point eleven minutes into the second half but St. Kevin’s half time substitute Ben Burke stormed into the game with three points in succession, the last one a result of Oscar Cawley’s good play.
Kennedy got his second when
his goal bound shot ricocheted off a defender over the bar and Tom O’Shea kicked Barndarrig’s last point as he joined the attack.
However St. Kevin’s finished off the day with another 1-02 as Conor Reid and Oscar Cawley, who was impressive when he too was introduced as a sub, scored the points and Robbie Miley ran through the defence for the goal.
St. Kevin’s are the champions and the clubs involved will look to continue with the good underage work that’s being done up there.
Scorers – St. Kevin’s: Conor Reid 1-05; Robbie Miley 2-01; Keith Burke, Ciaran Coyne 1-00 each; Brian Keogh, Ben Burke 0-03 each; Christy Mooney, Luka Harney 0-02 each; Oscar Cawley 0-01.
Barndarrig: Andrew Traynor, Mark Whelan 1-00 each; Luke Kennedy 0-02; Tom O’Shea 0-01 each.
St. Kevin’s: Ryan Willoughby; Tommy Mooney, Keith Burke; Cian Somers, Jean Luka Morris, Christy Mooney; Brian Keogh, Luka Harney; Patrick Clarke, Conor Reid; Robbie Miley, Ciaran Coyne. Subs: Ben Burke, Brendan Harkin, Oscar Cawley, Michael Doyle.
Barndarrig: Kevin Leonard; Tom O’Shea, Mikey Doherty; Rian Downes, Darragh O Murchu; Joseph O’Shea, Conor Leonard; Andrew Traynor, Luke Kennedy, Jonathan Collins; Mark Whelan, Conor Fleming. Subs: Max Richards, Daniel Murphy.
Referee: Stephen Fagan (Baltinglass)