U-16s reach final of the Fr Manning Cup
Under-16s beat Waterford to reach Fr Manning Cup final
WICKLOW qualified for the final of the Father Manning Cup, with a hard-earned win, over a dogged Waterford outfit last Saturday afternoon.
Wicklow won the toss and played with the aid of a strong breeze. They put in good strong solid display in the opening 30 minutes, to build a commanding lead.
However, they will need to tighten up on their marking and polish up some of their shooting skills, when they take to Longford’s Pearse Park, next Satuday at 3 p.m., against Sligo in the final.
Matthew Ging opened the scoring with a point from an acute angle in the opening minute to get Wicklow off to a flying start.
Matthew Ging tagged on a brace of points as Bray’s Sam Kearney was winning lots of possession in the early exchanges and supplying great ball to his offence. Jason Kenny was next on the scoreboard, with a point as Wicklow were flying aided by a strong breeze.
Waterford broke up the field, however Dunlavin’s Tom Moran cut out the threat and cleared out the field to Sean Coffey who put a high ball into the dangerzone, where Keith Burke duly punched the ball over the crossbar for Wicklow’s fifth white flag of the match going into the second quarter.
Ely Cullen had a shot on goal well dealt with by Aughrim’s Sean Campbell, in Waterford’s first real scoring chance.
Wicklow wasted a host of chances to put the game to bed, with some rushed shooting and some poor shot selections, turning over ball in good positions.
Waterford finally got off the mark with a monster of a point by Tom O’Connell in the next attack, however, Waterford let their hosts off the hook as they landed four bad wides in a row, going into the closing stages of the first half.
Sean Coffey made a great penetrating run up the field and bombed over Wicklow’s sixth point before the lively Conor Fulham fired over another point
to close out the half with the score 7 to 1 in Wicklow’s favour.
Wicklow would face up against the wind in the second half and the management made a bold call, in withdrawing full-forward Keith Burke and bringing on Jack Grace as an extra defender, to absorb any early Deise pressure.
Again Wicklow got of to a flyer when Matthew Ging had the ball over the crossbar inside the first minute.
Waterford had a great chance of a goal in the next attack but Ely Cullen somehow pulled his shot over the crossbar, with the goal at his mercy.
DJ Melia added a point for Waterford,
to cut the lead down to five. Eoin O’Neill pointed to quell the Waterford comeback.
The Carlow referee had to produce three yellow cards as things heated up between the sides.
Sam Kearney, Tom Moran and Cillian Keane were putting a huge amount of effort in, breaking down Waterford attacking play. Tom O’Connell fired over a point for Waterford. Sean Coffey blazed a gilt edged goal chance wide of the mark, as another chance to put the game beyond doubt went amiss.
Cillian McDonald knocked over Wicklow’s tenth point to close out the third quarter, now leading by six points.
Matthew Ging finally put the game to bed when the Tinahely man found the back of the Deise net after a Conor Fulham shot crashed back out of the crossbar, where Ging was on hand to finish home.
Wicklow mamagement emptied the bench. Robbie Miley fired over Wicklow’s final point in the 55th minute.
Waterford rallied and added 1-02 before the full time whistle sounded.
Scorers - Wicklow : Matthew Ging 1-04 (2f), Cillian McDonald 0-1, Keith Burke 0-1, Sean Coffey 0-1,Jason Kenny 0-1, Conor Fulham 0-1, Eoin O’Neill 0-1, Robbie Miley 0-1.
Waterford: Ely Cullen 1-01, Dj Melia 0-2, Tom O’Connell 0-2, Mark Fitzgerald 0-1.
WICKLOW: Sean Campell (Aughrim); Tom Moran (Dunlavin), Adam Hadden (Tinahely), Jordan Brady (An Tochar); Cillian Keane (Er Og), Neil Browne (Er Og), Bradley Hickey (Tinahely); Sam Kearney (Bray), Cillian McDonald (Tinahely); Conor Fulham (Er Og), Sean Coffey (Rathnew), Eoin O’Neill (Er Og); Mathew Ging (Tinahely), Keith Burke (Hollywood), Jason Kenny (Baltinglass). Subs: Arun Daly Danne (Baltinglass), Jack Grace (Donard/Glen), Robbie Miley (Valleymount), Dan Healy (Er Og), Thade Shanahan (Er Og),
WATERFORD: Tadgh Murray; Caoilin Taylor, Sean Boyle, Jaimie Moylan; Jack O Floinn, Colm Foley, Kyle Sloane; Sean Welsh, David Condon; Dj Melia, Mark Fitzgerald, Tom O Connell; Cathal Daly, Ely Cullen, Cathal Scanlon. REFEREE: John Hickey (Fenagh).