St Molaise Gaels U16s take on Eastern Harps
THE prolonged Co U16 A championship finally came to a close at Markievicz Park on Sunday when St Molaise Gaels had four points to spare over great rivals Eastern Harps.
The championship had been delayed in midseason following boardroom decisions and appeals but the final was worth waiting for as both sides produced some entertaining football in cold but dry Sligo G.A.A. Co. Grounds.
The sides were level at the interval but the more balanced North Sligo side finished the stronger to take the spoils of victory.
Harps had the opening score;a point from Michael Kielty-Mc Manemy but St.Molaise Gaels drew level with a pointed 13m free from James Heraghty. The Harps full forward gave his team a two points lead again pointing from play after Dylan Walsh had earlier converted a 13m free. Meanwhile at the other end only a great save from Harps ‘keeper Jamie McCoy from a James Heraghty effort, prevented the first goal of the game. St Molaise Gaels got back on level terms after 16 minutes when the influential Jack Davitt pointed twice from play.
James Heraghty pointed a 30m free to give his side a one point lead. Soon Harps jumped into the lead again with a goal. Dylan Walsh operating on the right near the sideline, lobbed in a speculative shot which sailed over the stranded Blaine Watters and ended up in the net.
A deflection by Jamie McCoy from a James Heraghty goal effort resulted in a point for St Molaise Gaels. The same player followed with a 13m pointed free to send both teams to the dressing rooms on equal terms at the interval on a 1-3 to 0-6 scoreline.
Harps regained the advantage early in the second half when Luke Hogge pointed a 40m free following a foul on his midfield partner Kyle Cosgrove. The crucial goal for the winners was scored by Jack Davitt after being set up by James Heraghty.
The same player added a point from play and a point from a 13m free as St Molaise Gaels began to control the exchanges.
Dylan Walsh pointed two frees as Harps reduced the deficit. St. Molaise Gaels upped the tempo to add points from Paul Mullarkey and Shane Towey, the latter deflected over by the alert Jamie McCoy in the Harps goal.
Kyle Cosgrove completed a penetrating run by notching Harps’ final point and Jack Davitt had the winners’ final point after James Heraghty found him from a quickly taken 45. His team emerged deserving winners after a well contested final on a 1-12 to 1-8 scoreline.
Best for the winners were Ethan Watters,Michael Kerins,Patryk Lukaszewski and Michael Gillen in defence,Oisín Sheridan and Joseph Keaney at midfield and Jack Davitt,James Heraghty and Paul Mullarkey in attack.
Harps had solid displays from goalkeeper Jamie McCoy,defenders James Kiernan,Kacper Grzenda,Donncha Byrne and Kieran Breheny; Luke Hogge and Kyle Cosgrove in the middle of the park and Michael Kielty McManemy,Dylan Walsh and Robin Richardson in attack.
Scorers: St.Molaise Gaels :J.Davitt 1-4,J.Heraghty 0-6 (0-4 f.),P.Mullarkey,S.Towey 0-1 each.
E.Harps : D.Walsh 1-3 (0-3f.),M.Kielty McManemy 0-3(0-1f.),L.Hogge 0-1(f.).K.Cosgrove 0-1.
ST MOLAISE GAELS : B.Watters;J.Kerins,E.Watters(capt.)T.Carway;P.Lukaszewski,M.Kerins,M.Gillen;O.Sheridan,J.Keaney;K.Foley,J.Davitt,R.Gallagher;S.Towey,J. Heraghty,P.Mullarkey.Subs used:N.Burke,L.Casserly.
EASTERN HARPS: J.Mc.Coy;D.Higgins,K.Grzenda,J.Kiernan;D.Byrne,E.Higgins,K.Breheny;L.Hogge,K.Cosgrove;R. Richardson,S.Connolly,D.Walsh;C.Kielty,M. Kielty Mc Manemy, M.Henry. Subs used:C. Hunt,F.Bruen.
Referee: P.Normanly (Tourlestrane).