Heffernan in flying form as Ashford topple AGB
U15 DIV. 2B PLATE AND DIV. 3C SHIELD FINALS
ASHFORD and Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney (AGB) contested the under-15 football Division 3 Shield final, played at the windswept St. Patrick’s GAA grounds at Dunbur Road on Saturday last.
Despite the heavy rain of recent times the pitch and underfoot conditions were good but a strong breeze blowing into the clubhouse end at the Wicklow town venue virtually ensured that the game would be a contest of two halves.
When the sides came on to the pitch there was a clear physical advantage in favour of Ashford with many of the Arklow side clearly much smaller and younger than their opponents. To make matters worse for the Arklow lads they were pitted against the strong breeze in the first period.
Ashford got off to a flying start when midfielder Darragh Heffernan launched a long high delivery directly in on the AGB goal and goalkeeper Denis O’Reilly was unable to prevent the ball beating him under the crossbar for the opening goal.
The Ashford side continued to camp in the Arklow half and gradually built up a lead. Points from Shane Dunleavy, Luke Fitzpatrick, Zach Nichols, Adam Tighe and Darragh Heffernan from a free had the black and amber clad side ahead by 1-5 to nil at the quarter-hour mark.
Some great defending from Joe Kinlon, Thomas O’Reilly and Kyle Kelly was helping to keep the score down. When Kyle Kelly broke out of defence and carried the ball forward to set up Tiernan Gahan for a point, followed by another Gahan point two minutes later it gave the Arklow lads a brief lift.
However, when Adam Tighe and Darragh Heffernan added two points followed by a Shane Dunleavy goal, the Ashford lads were back on top again. Heffernan added another point to leave Ashford well ahead by 2-8 to 0-2 at the half-time break.
AGB scored first in the second half with a Paudie Kavanagh point. However, two quick goals from Darragh Heffernan and Jason Carthy effectively finished any chance of an AGB revival. Further points from Heffernan (2), Shane Dunleavy and Jason Carthy brought the Ashford final tally to 5-13.
Fionn Doyle pointed with ten minutes to go to leave the AGB final tally at 0-4. Really AGB had little chance of overcoming the gap in size and strength. Despite the best efforts of Tiernan Gahan, Brian Hurley, Adam O’Leary they could make little roadway. The final score stood at 5-13 to 0-4.
Eddie Leonard made the presentation to Josh Nichols while Darragh Heffernan received the Man of the Match award.
Scorers Ashford: Darragh Heffernan 2-5, Jason Carthy 2-1, Shane Dunleavy 1-2, Adam Tighe 0-2, Josh Nichols, Luke Fitzpatrick and Zach Nichols 0-1 each.
AGB: Tiernan Gahan 0-2, Paudie Kavanagh and Fionn Henry 0-1 each.
ASHFORD: Ryan Clarke; Jake Cullen, Fionn Doyle, Isaac Scott; Josh Nichols, Joseph O’Braonáin, Shane Dunleavy; Adam Tighe, Darragh Heffernan; Luke Fitzpatrick, Jason Carthy, Shane Synnott; Luke Breen, Charlie Sullivan, Sam Greene. Subs:Ben
AGB: Denis O’Reilly; Joe Kinlan, Aaron O’Brien, Thomas O’Reilly; Conor Healy, Kyle Kelly, Niall O’Donovan; Gordan Prestage, Jack Mullan; Tiernan Gahan, Michael Goff, Brian Hurley; Fionn Henry, Paudie Kavanagh, Adam O’Leary. Subs: Dylan Lennon, Padraig Kelly, Shane Monaghan.
REFEREE: Eddie Leonard St Patrick’s)