Greystones students too strong for Gaelcholáiste na mara
ST DAVID’S G’CHOL NA MARA 3 0
A really solid performance from St David’s earned them the U17 Wicklow/Wexford Division 2 crown at the expense of a gallant but somewhat limited Gaelcholáiste na Mara side in Woodlands last Thursday afternoon.
In lovely January sunshine it was the Greystones students who proved to have the extra touch of class with a stunning free kick opening the scoring and two tasty scores on the break sealing the deal in the second half.
A resolute defensive shift from Cathan McCarthy, Cillian Gunning, Cian Bollard and Daniel Hicks meant that it was a frustrating 80 minutes for the Arklow side who had plenty of useful footballers in their ranks but who just couldn’t find the cohesiveness with which St David’s were so richly empowered.
Early efforts from Oscar Mac Maolcholium and Conor Mac Cárthaigh for the Arklow students produced a wide and a relatively easy shot for Ben Horan to save in the St David’s goal.
The Greystones outfit produced one or two early moments of threat but it wasn’t until the 11th minute when Cian Bollard stroked home a delicious goal from a free kick awarded for a foul on the busy Euan Brady.
Bollard’s strike was the stuff of dreams. There was no major injection of power – he just carressed the ball over the wall and Gaelcholáiste na Mara goalkeeper Kieran Mac Giolla Phádraig couldn’t reach it in time to stop it sailing into the back of his net.
The remainder of the first half produced little in the way of real quality chances. The Arklow students seemed to be sitting back a little too deep to really pressurise the St David’s defence but the threat from St David’s on the break was very real and dangerous and had to be watched at all times.
Four minutes in to the second half and St David’s should have made it 2-0 but for Mark Hayden’s beautiful shot after a scintillating break to tail inches wide of the post.
Gaelcholáiste na Mara were working hard but they weren’t creating any clear-cut chances close to goal with Luke Ó Horáin bringing a save out of Ben Hogan and firing wide moments later.
St David’s got in again after 13 of the second half when Michael Martin showed lovely feet to take himself around a defender and slot home low off his right across the goal.
Gaelcholáiste na Mara looked in real danger at this stage but they rallied briefly after the concession of the second goal and had a wide off Connor Mac Cárthaigh while a free from the impressive Luke Scannláin was blocked by Hogan’s knees on the St David’s line.
With 15 to go the game was very much still alive but Gaelcholáiste na Mara desperately needed a goal.
Alas, for the Arklow students, their hunger for a lifeline left them slightly vulnerable down the wings and a stunning ball from deep set Mark Hayden away and he did superbly to cruise through the Gaelcholáiste na Mara defence, around Kieran Mac Giolla Phádraig and slot home off his left for the goal that killed the game as a contest.
The Gaelcholáiste na Mara heads sank after this and although they launched attack after attack they never looked like troubling Ben Hogan or the St David’s lead and when that final whistle sounded the vocal St David’s support announced their joy to the heavens.
A worthy victory for the Greystones students who clocked up some big victories on the way to the final.
ST DAVID’S:
1. Ben Hogan, 2. Cathan McCarthy, 3. Cillian Gunning, 4. Cian Bollard,
5. Daniel Hicks, 6. Robert Shparktan, 7. Mark Hayden, 8. Euan Brady, 9. Michael Martin, 10. Cian O Longaigh, 11. Maks Slaarczeyk. Subs: 12. Cullum Smith, 13. Michael Shannon, 14. Jacob Stanickin, 15. Sean McCormack, 16. Quentin Lawlor.
GAELCHOLÁISTE NA MARA:
1. Kieran Mac Giolla Phádraig, 2. Cristóir Búiséir,
3. Louis Mac Maolcholium, 4. Dáire Ó Forlainge, 5. Luke Ó Hóráin, 6. Conor Mac Éadbhaird, 7. Oscar Mac Maolcholium, 8. Luke Scannláin, 9. Connor Mac Cárthaigh,
10. Tadhg Ó Sé, 11. Patrick Leccardi. Subs: Ciarán Ó Caoimh, 13. Oisin Ó Broin,
14. Cian Ó Néill, 15. Jamie Comách Ó Ceallaigh, 16. Cormac Mac an Bháird, 17. Brian Ó hUrthuile