‘A’ ok for St Nicholas
But appeal lodged by Dwyers over ‘B’ competition result
WICKLOW got their Féile na nÓg ‘A’ representatives sorted over the weekend in glorious sunshine with ideal conditions for football around numerous venues with St Nicholas qualifying in the foremost section.
However, things are not so clear in the ‘B’ section after Michael Dwyers have lodged an appeal with the CCC following what they describe as an incorrect score from their group game with AGB and a breach of rules connected with the playing of extra-time.
There were no such difficulties in the ‘A’ competition in Blessington.
Only three teams competed after Rathnew withdrew so it was Baltinglass who lined out against St. Nicholas in the opening game and in the opening minute Sean Doyle goaled for the Donard-The Glen and Dunlavin combination team.
Justin Keogh had a great goalbound shot cleared of the line by Michael Germaine in the first attack from the Baltinglass men.
Matt Miley added on a point for Nic’s as they were taking their chances.
Baltinglass kicked a couple of wide’s to let the opposition of the hook, however, Robert McHugh made a great run and fired over a point for their opener.
In the next attack Jamie Farnon levelled the game with a rocket of a goal.
St Nicholas replied with a brace of goals from Sean Doyle and a couple of points to leave the half time score 3-04 to 1-01.
On the restart Nic’s landed another brace of goals from Sean Doyle and Matt Miley. Baltinglass battled away with trojan work from Robert McHugh and Jack Bookle and a couple of great saves by Pauric Brady in goals.
St. Nicholas went on to win the game.
Baltinglass had to line out against reigning champions Éire Óg in game two.
The east coast side made a sensational start to the game by landing 1-4 in the opening seven minutes to take a stronghold on the game.
Again, Pauric Brady produced a number of key saves along with Jack Kenny who stifled the pressure somewhat.
Spenser O’Connor goaled as Callum O’Connor added a point on the half-time whistle.
Jamie Furlong pointed for Baltinglass on the restart and moments later cursed his luck as he had three goal chances brilliantly saved by Darragh Shanahan.
However, Éire Óg held on to set up a repeat of last years final going into the final game versus St. Nicholas.
Sean Doyle landed the opening score of the final with pointed free for St. Nic’s.
The magician Matt Miley, who had won the hurling Féile with Michael Dwyer’s a week earlier, found the back of the Éire Óg net from a 45.
Pat Byrne got the Greystones side’s first chance but it was cleared out for a 45 where Cian O Lonaigh rattled the Nic’s net to reduce the deficit as the half-time whistle sounded with the score 1-1 to 1-0 in favour of St. Nicholas.
Nic’s blitzed their opponents on the restart, scoring 2-2 in the opening five minutes with goals from Conor Manifold and Eoin Sheridan to rock Éire Óg.
St Nicholas were flying at this stage, however Éire Óg were not going away.
Taylor O’Sullivan had a great goal chance brilliantly tipped over by goalie James Walshe for a point.
Paul Delahunty and Cian O Lonaigh landed a point each for the east coast side but Conor Manifold landed the score of the night with a point from 52 meters for the final score of the game with the scoreboard reading 3-6 to 1-3.
Coiste na nÓg Chairman Pat Dunne thanked Blessington GAA for hosting, the teams that particapted, the referees and Hugh Kenny for organising the Féile.
The Hollywood man then presented the cup to Sean Byrne, the winning captain of St. Nicholas, to spark off wild celebration.
Elsewhere around the county at four venues, the ‘B’ Féile was underway.
Four groups were battling it out to finish top of each group to go to the semi-finals in Ballinakill the following morning.
In Donard, St Kevins, St Nicholas B and Blessington battled it out with Blessington topping the group.
In Annacurra, AGB topped the table over Michael Dwyer’s and Annacurra. Michael Dwyers contend that they won the group game with AGB. However, referee Gerry Corbett had the score at 1-5 apiece and not 1-6 to 1-5 as the Dwyers camp had.
In Aughrim, with Tinahely withdrawing, it left it a straight shoot out with Carnew and Aughrim which the homeside won.
And in Roundwood, it was a straight shoot out between An Tochar and Bray as St Patricks had withdrawn where Bray progressed.
On to sundrenched Ballinakill on Saturday morning with Bray playing Aughrim in one semi and AGB playing Blessington in the other.
Aughrim qualified for the final after defeating Bray by 2-8 to 0-1, along with Agb who defeated Blessington by 5-5 to 1-5.
Aughrim dropped a couple of early chances short into the AGB full-back line who cleared confidently.
Conaill O’Brien drew a great save from Roan Freehill, the Arklow net minder.
Sean McCarthy pointed before Mark Shannon levelled the game for Aughrim.
Pat O Halloran pointed for AGB and then Calum McKenna brought off a great save from a Dean Farrell piledriver as the half-time whistle sounded in tight opening half with the score reading 0-2 to 0-1 in favour of AGB.
Luka Connolly and Eoin Byrne pointed to increase the lead after the restart.
The searing heat was starting to take toll on both sets of players at this stage.
Cormac Ward tagged on another AGB point to put four between the sides.
Padraig Leccardi burst through the heart of the AGB defence and unleashed a monster of a shot that was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Roan Freehill.
A crucial save at this stage as the Aughrim faithful groaned.
Sam Carroll pointed a free as Aughrim upped the ante again for a grandstand finish.
However, AGB rallied with a couple of points deep into injury time as the full-time whistle sounded.
Pat Dunne presented the trophy to Adam Mullery to spark of wild celebrations.
St. Nicholas: James Walshe; Josh Thompson, Michael Germaine, James Flood; Oisin O’Friel, Ben Kearney, Liam Metcalfe; Sean O’Sullivan, Jack Keogh; Adam Byrne, Eoin Sherdain, David Wright; Matt Miley, Sean Doyle, Ciaran Geoghegan. Dylan Prendergast, Conor Manifold, Oisin Doyle.
Éire Óg Greystones: Darragh Shanahan; Gordon Bailey, Kevin Booth, Ryan Coleville; Paul Delahunty, Colin O’Shea, Jack Mcglone; Oisin Shanahan, Patrick Byrne; Ruari Parker, Geroid Murphy, Callum O’Connor; Patrick Cavanagh, Spenser O’Connor, Cian O’Lonaigh, Chris Stewart, Finn Brien, Taylor O’Sullivan, Tom O’Malley, Fintan Potts, Daniel Leahy, Ciaran Foley, Darragh Rush, Oisin Murphy, Oisin O’Reagan, James Hayden.
AGB: Roan Freehill; Oísin Wood, Adam Mullery, Luka Connolly; Chris O’Brien, Conor Gahan, Niall Dempsey; Pat O’Halloran, Daire Furlong; Owen Byrne, Conn Kinsella, Cormac Ward; Padraic Birmingham, Dean Farrell, Oran Dunning, Conor Hannon, Eoin Byrne, Sean Doherty, Diarmuid O’Connor, Pat Dickinson, Callum O’Neill, Sean McCarthy, Rian Fortune.
Aughrim: Calum McKenna; Finn Byrne, Oisin Keegan, Lorcan Toomey; Leo Byrne, Conor Edwards, Dermot Toomey; Sam Carroll, Patrick Leccardi; Hugh Gunning, Alex Kavanagh, Joe McGuickan; Conaill O’Brien, Stephen O’Toole, Mark Shannon, Calum Carrinduff, Ryan Kinsella, Jack Byrne, Cian Keogh.