Wicklow under-16s fall at the final hurdle
Wicklow boys fall at the final hurdle after a brilliant run
WICKLOW made the long jouney to Longford last Saturday, to compete in the Fr Manning Cup final against huge favourites Sligo.
The Fr. Manning Cup is one of the longest running under-16, inter-county football tournaments, dating back to 1965.
Wicklow qualified by topping their group and defeating Waterford in the semis.
This was the first Wicklow team to qualify for the final, against a strong Sligo side, who were unbeaten.
A great start for the Garden county lads had Wicklow in a good position early on, however nearly 20 minutes without a score in the opening half, would prove costly in the wind up.
Sligo were a bit more measured in their approach, and were more clinical in front of the posts with their chances on the day, and a goal and point deep into additional time, put somewhat of a gloss on the final result.
Jim Davis got the opening score of the game with a point from an acute angle to give Sligo an early lead.
Sam Kearney won possession from the kick-out and made a darting run through and he laid off to the on running Conor Fulham, who fired over an equalising point.
Wicklow were winning plenty of exchanges around the midfield sector in the opening period.
Wicklow engineered a couple of goal chances, first as Jason Kenny cut in from the right hand side and fired a shot that crashed out off the upright into the side-netting, then after a Sligo clearance was intercepted by Cian McDonald, who made a penetrating run through and his shot on goal was brillianty saved by Jack Doyle and cleared.
Wicklow had a bit of momentum behind them and when Conor Fulham dropped a high ball into the danger-zone where Keith Burke fisted it goalbound, goalie Jack Doyle got a hand to parry it, but Sean Coffey was in like a light, to flick the size 5 to the net in the fifth minute.
Sligo won possession from the kick-out and hit a powerfull crossfield pass into full-forward, Oisin Gorman, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Sean Campbell.
Wicklow broke up the field with Bradley Hickey passing off to his clubmate, Matthew Ging, who curled a sublime point between the posts from 40 metres out on the wing.
At this stage, little did we know that would be Wicklow’s last score of opening half, after a bright start to the game.
Sligo gradually settled into the match. Conor Finn missed a goal chance and Jordan Brady blocked and cleared off the line.
Wicklow had chances to add to their tally but Conor Fulham and Sean Coffey were off target with their shots.
Sligo’s Eoghan Smith dropped a free short, goalie Sean Campbell palmed the ball away, Jim Davis was in to finish to the net, however the referee’s whistle sounded for a square ball infringement, another let of for Wicklow, as the first quarter concluded.
Sligo got their goal in the next attack after a great move was finished off by the lively Oisin Gorman. Sligo hit a purple patch going into the closing stages, adding three unanswered points.
Hugh Kenny lost the services of Adam Hadden through injury, which upset the defensive unit somewhat, Jack Grace entered the fray.
Again Wicklow missed two chances to add points with some rushed shot selections.
Eoghan Smith closed out the half with two pointed frees with the scoreboard reading 1-07 to 1-02 in favour of the Connaught outfit.
Joe Keaney and Smith each pointed to further Sligo’s lead on the restart. The dynamic Matthew Ging responded with a brace of pointed frees for Wicklow after good build-up play by Shane Daly and Jordan Brady.
Both Eoghan Smith and Matthew Ging traded points as we went into the final quarter with the score reading 1-11 to 1-06.
Cillian Keane with a pivotal run, cut the gap to four with a massive point for Wicklow.
However back came Sligo with some great interlinking play, strecthing the lead out with another brace of points.
The Wicklow management of Hugh Kenny, Mikey Daly, Kevin Healy and Gerry Browne introduced a couple of fresh legs at this point. Conor Fulham pointed with 57 on the clock to reduce the deficit to five again.
Wicklow got a great chance
to goal, you’d put your house on Matthew Ging, however this time, his shot cleared the crossbar for a point, a huge let of for Sligo at this crucial stage as Wicklow were staging a comeback.
Sligo pointed in the second minute of injury time and a minute later, goaled from man of the match, Oisin Gorman,to send the cup back to Sligo.
This was a great effort from this Wicklow side, from the group stages to the final, the players and management can take huge pride in themselves that they gave it their all.
This squad will go on to represent our County U-17’s in 2019 under a new management team.
Scorers - Wicklow: Matthew Ging 0-06, Sean Coffey 1-00, Conor Fulham 0-02, Cillian Keane 0- 01.
Sligo: Oisin Gorman 2-03, Eoghan Smith 0-06, Gavin Duffy 0-02, Jim Davis 0-02, Joe Keaney 0-01.
WICKLOW: Sean Campbell (Aughrim); Adam Hadden (Tinahely), Tom Moran (St. Nicholas), Daniel Healy (Er Og); Jordan Brady ( An Tochar), Neil Browne (Er Og), Bradley Hickey (Tinahely); Sam Kearney (Capt., Bray), Cilllian McDonald (Tinahely); Conor Fulham (Er Og), Keith Burke (St. Kevins), Shane Daly (St.Nicholas) Matthew Ging (Tinahely), Sean Coffey (Rathnew), Jason Kenny (Baltinglass). SUBS: Eoin O’Neill (Er Og) Robbie Miley (St Kevins), Jack Grace (St.Nicholas), Shane Browne (Avondale) Cian Hynes (Er Og) , Arun Daly Danne (Baltinglass ), Tom O Shea (Barndarrig), Thade Shanahan (Er Og), Caoimhin Rawson (Coolboy), Fionn O Sullivan (Rathnew), Cillian Keane (Er Og), Daniel Hedderman (Tinahely)
SLIGO: Jack Doyle; Mark Connolly McGowan, Jack Lavin, Shane Muldowney; Oisin Hynes, Ciaran Mc Keon, Keith Feely; Oran McDonagh, Joseph Keaney; Conor Finn, Eoghan Smith, Jack Davitt; Jim Davis, Oisin Gorman, Gavin Duffy. Subs: Jack Teape, Canice Mulligan, Tom Gavin, Tola Caraway, Conor Stinchon, Daire O’Boyle, Fionn Connolly, Conor Matthews, Zak O’Dowd, Brian Marrenn, Dara Foy, Fionn O’Heir, Jack Lundy, Lee Cumins, Lee Deignan, Luke Casserly, Ronald Scannlon, Rowan Elliot, Conor Mitchell.
REFEREE: Michelle Mulvey (Longford).