Murphy blows Gaels off course with late winner
ST PATRICK’S INNY GAELS 3-7 2-9
THE much-delayed Under-14 Division 4 Final, played under lights in Dunganny last week, was certainly worth waiting for as St Patrick’s snatched a dramatic stoppage-time victory.
A cool, crisp and dry evening ensured perfect conditions for football and the decider certainly did not disappoint as it packed in quality football, a red card, extra time and dramatic lastgasp scores.
Inny Gaels started the brighter and scored some fine points and a cracking goal on their way to a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead as St Pat’s struggled to find their rhythm. The Stamullen outfit’s only scores at that stage had come from their inspirational captain Sean Baxter and the industrious Duguid McDonagh.
The team faced an uphill battle in the second half, but they showed superb character to drag themselves into the game - thanks largely to goals from McDonagh and a sensational finish from Gareth Keogh.
The game was level with five minutes remaining when Killian O’Connor smashed a loose ball to the net to put St Pat’s three points clear and seemingly on their way to the Division 4 crown.
However, a late tackle saw one of their players red-carded and Inny Gaels equalised with the last kick in injury time, one of their players rifling the ball to the roof of the net.
The momentum was with Inny at this stage, but St Pat’s weren’t giving up without a fight and the two sides tore into each other like two heavyweights in the last round of a titantic struggle as cramped legs and bruised bodies gave it one last roll of the dice.
Scores were at a minimum at this stage and the teams managed just one further point apiece in the first half of extra time, with John Mannion, Jamie Murphy, Baxter and Sean Emmanuel taking the game to their opponents in waves.
In defence, the Aktar brothers and Eoin Brennan kept opportunities to a premium for Inny Gaels and goalkeeper Oisin Black pulled off two mighty saves.
You felt that whichever team managed to manufacture a score would claim the spoils and it was Murphy who delivered. Picking up a ball right on the stroke of full-time, young Murphy weaved round two players and calmly slotted over the winning score from 30 yards, his fifth of the day.
The ref blew his whistle and the Pats boys celebrated with unbridled joy, as for many it was their first piece of silverware in a green and white jersey.
Man of the match Baxter collected the trophy on behalf of the team and most of these lads will attempt to win a second trophy in the coming weeks as they currently top Division 2 of the Under-13 league with one game remaining.
ST PATRICK’S: Oisin Black, Eoin Brennan, James Rowe, Daanish Aktar, John Mannion, Aman Aktar, Ben McDonnell, Sean Baxter 0-1, Sean Emmanuel, Tadgh Lenihan, Joe Butler, Duguid McDonagh 1-1, Gareth Keogh 1-0, Ross Castaldi, Senan McKeon, Donal Farrell, Jamie Murphy 0-5, Sean Hackett, Sean Redmond, Killian O’Connor 1-0, Adam Kirby, Charlie Costello.
•St Patrick’s would like to thank Joe and Gloria McGuinness from Washington Laundrette & Dry Cleaners for the new jerseys and their continued sponsorship of the team.