Super St Nicholas
Mighty Murtagh bags hat-trick in victory over Balto
ST. NICHOLAS were crowned under-15 ‘A’ county champions after a goal fest and a highly enjoyable game in ideal conditions played on Saturday afternoon last in Blessington.
Straight from the throw-in, Jamie Furlong gathered possession and drove the ball into the dangerzone where Jamie Farnan collected and fired high into the roof of James Walshe’s net for a dream start for the Slaneysiders.
St. Nicholas replied immediately through a sublime point from the boot of Matt Miley, after great work by Cian Deering.
A Dylan Prendergast point cut the deficit back to the minimum as the Donard/Dunlavin combination side settled into the game.
Jack Bookle tagged on two quickfire points for Baltinglass as the play ebbed up and down the field.
Corner-forward Sean Doyle split the posts before Rob Murtagh dispatched a missile to the back of the Baltinglass net for St. Nicholas’ first major of the game as the tempo intensified and closing out a lively first quarter with the scoreboard now reading 1-3 to 1-2 in favour of St Nicholas.
Baltinglass dominated the next period with some powerful running and interlinking play. Jack Bookle fired over a point from a free before Adam Keogh harvested Balto’s second major of this gripping encounter.
Jack Bookle and Jack Kenny stretched the lead with a point apiece.
Baltinglass were on fire now and Mark Kavanagh fired low into the St Nicholas net for a third major for the Slaneysiders going into the closing ten minutes of the half.
St. Nicholas steadied the ship with a badly needed point from Matt Miley.
A goal soon followed for the combination team as Rob Murtagh was first to react and in like a light to finish the rebounding ball back out off the upright back into the net to cut the deficit to three in this high-octane battle.
Baltinglass broke back up the fielded and Adam Keogh plundered home his second major of the game before Jack Bookle landed their sixth point.
Matt Miley harvested another major for St Nicholas just as the half-time whistle sounded with the scoreboard now reading 4-6 to 3-4 after a breathtaking opening 30 minutes of all-out attacking football.
Jamie Furlong further increased the lead with two mighty points. Sean Doyle replied with a point, however Baltinglass drilled in their fifth major from full-forward James Farnan to leave them leading by 5-8 to 3-5 after 50 minutes played.
However, St Nicholas wouldn’t lie down; they responded in style with a pair of goals from Sean Doyle and Rob Murtagh to cut into the lead.
Eoin Sheridan and Jack Bookle each traded pointed frees. This was soon followed by Matt Miley dribbling the ball 30 meters along the ground before chipping his effort to the Baltinglass net to level this blockbuster at 5-9 to 6-6 going into an absorbing closing five minutes.
Both full forwards traded points before Sean Doyle found the back of the Baltinglass net again. Adam Keogh landed their 11th and final point before St. Nicholas landed two more majors to close out an almighty battle.
Wicklow Games Manager, Hugh Kenny presented the St.
Nicholas captain, James Walshe, with the trophy, while Rob Murtagh picked up the Wicklow People Man of the Match award to spark off wild celebrations.
Scorers - St. Nicholas: Robert Murtagh 3-0, Sean Doyle 2-2, Matt Miley 1-3, Jack Keogh 1-0, Adam Byrne 0-1, Eoin Sheridan 0-1 (1f).
Baltinglass: Adam Keogh 2-1, Jack Bookle 0-6 (3f), Jamie Farnan 1-1, Mark Kavanagh 1-0, Jack Kenny 0-1, Robert McHugh 0-1, Jamie Furlong 0-1.
ST. NICHOLAS: James Walshe; Ross Sheridan, Ben Lawless, Luke Bagnall; Cian Deering, Riain Waters, Liam Metcalfe; Sean O’Sullivan, Jack Keogh; Dylan Prendergast, Adam Byrne, Eoin Sheridan; Sean Doyle, Robert Murtagh, Matt Miley. Subs: Oisín O’Friel, Ciaran Geoghan, Conor Manifold, Aaron Metcalfe, John Doyle, Gavin Drouhin, Jimmy Flood.
BALTINGLASS: Pauric Brady; Peter Wall, Geordan Peggs, Jake Doyle; James Fleming, Ross Frahill, Charlie Byrne; Jamie Furlong, Adam Keogh; Jack Kenny, Robert McHugh, Mark Kavanagh; Jack Bookle, Jamie Farnan, Callum Brophy. Subs: Dean Kelly, Adam Kavanagh.
REFEREE: Ciaran Goff (Éire Óg)