Archie proves vital for Nicks
Midfielder on song in final
STRONG showings in key phases of this thrilling under-13 ‘A’ Shield final proved decisive for a very capable St Nicholas team against a Blessington side who looked impressive at times on a beautiful morning in Baltinglass last Saturday.
A powerful performance from Archie O’Rourke along with Harry Reid, Dylan White, Joshua Farrell and Aaron Geoghegan probably gave St Nicholas the edge, that and being able to take their goal opportunities when they came their way.
The first of those goal chances arrived in the second minute when a loose ball that should have been cleared by the Blessington defence was pounced on by Aran Lawless and finished past Dylan Keogh in the Blessington goals.
St Nicholas would open up a 1-5 to 0-0 lead in the opening 16 minutes of this game thanks to points from Thoams Doyle, (two frees), and three superb scores from Harry Reid before Blessington managed to get off the mark through Aaron Keogh with 18 on the clock.
The Blessington men managed to turn the tide significantly from here on to the half-time break with points from Aaron Mulhall, David Gilmore (free) and another from play to head for the break trailing by 0-4 to 1-5 but now with a major foothold in the game.
Things looked even better for the boys in blue when Oisin O’Neill got on the end of a move involving James Phibbs and Aaron Keogh to finish home past Joe Manifold.
But St Nicholas stirred from their slumber and flying midfielder Archie O’Rourke fired home a rocket to the bottom corner to restart their engines in a big way after four minutes of the second half.
This game was heating up nicely and Blessington bounced back superbly from the concession of that goal with a point from Oisin O’Neill after a pass from David Gilmore while Aaron Keogh turned provider for Aaron Mulhall for the midfielder to lash home past Manifold to level the game at 2-5 apiece with nine gone in the second half.
The next 15 minutes were where this game was won and lost. Blessington failed to score again until the scoreline read 4-7 to 2-5 with goals from Benedict Joyce and Aaron Geoghegan complimented by points from Archie O’Rourke and Liam McDonnell as St Nicholas surged clear.
Blessington would rally with excellent points from David Gilmore Aaron Keogh (free) and Gilmore again but that was as close as they would get as St Nicholas held on to win by 4-8 to 2-8 after a thoroughly entertaining football match on a stunningly beautiful morning.
Scorers - St Nicholas: Archie O’Rourke 1-2 (1f), Harry Reid 0-4, Aran Lawless 1-0, Benedict Joyce 1-0, Aaron Geoghegan 1-0, Thomas Doyle 0-1 (f), Liam McDonnell 0-1.
Blessington: Aaron Mulhall 1-1, Oisin O’Neill 1-1, David Gilmore 0-4 (1f), Aaron Keogh 0-2 (1f).
ST NICHOLAS: Joe Manifold; Toby Miley, Dylan White, Darragh Corrigan; Martin Byrne, Joshua Farrell, Benedict Joyce; Archie O’Rourke, Harry Reid; Bradley Guing, Dean Coyne, Aran Lawless; Thomas Doyle, Aaron Geoghegan, Josh Byrne. Subs: Jack Martin, Liam McDonnell, Jack Muldowney, Eanna Waters, Matthew Doyle, James O’Reilly.
BLESSINGTON: Dylan Keogh; Ronan Smyth, Tony Carroll, Terence Punseile; Jack Byrne, Thomas Lietner, Aaron Keogh; David Gilmore, Aaron Mulhall; James Phibbs, Harry Wilson, Thomas Walsh; Oisin O’Neill, Padraic Quinn, Ben Carroll. Subs: Max Kehoe, Luke Higgins.
REFEREE: Keith Peppard (Hollywood)