U-16’s start their FL campaign with an exciting drawn match

Oldcastle 2-13 Round Towers 3-10

Oldcastle will look back and wonder how they didn’t win the  U-16 FL Div 4 (Rd.1) game, but yet they were lucky to earn a draw in a very exciting game played in Millbrook on Tuesday evening (29 March 2016).

The pitch was heavy going with the recent weather making conditions tough going but despite Oldcastle starting the brightest it was the visitors who scored the first point on the 3rd minute. Having seen his earlier effort on goal just go wide Dylan Garrigan pointed for Oldcastle’s first score. Conor Hetherton added another before Pearse Sheridan added a brace of his own. Round Towers hit back with a goal on the 17th minute. Cillian Connell was fouled out on the left wing and took a quick free to Dylan Garrigan who converted. A poor goal kick went straight to Charlie Lynch who didn’t have to be asked twice and punished the mistake with a point. Round Towers were pushing hard but they found Jack McDonnell Fox in good form and he dealt very well with a number of balls into his goal mouth. Joe Lynch was trying hard and after a lot of hard work he set up Colin Hawdon who had advanced from half back to finish to the net. Having missed 3 clear goal scoring chances Oldcastle still went in at the break ahead on a score 1-9 to 1-3.

Round Towers hit the ground running in the second half and started taking control of the game. They added a couple of points before Pearse Sheridan pulled one back. Round Towers were awarded a penalty which was hit straight into the bottom corner. Despite getting his finger tips to it Jack couldn’t keep it out. From been 6 points up at the break Oldcastle were now 3 points down. Charlie Lynch was on the end of a good passing move but his shot rattled off the crossbar. Dylan Garrigan who done a load of work finally added to Oldcastle’s tally with a goal on the 21st minute of the second half.

A number of chances were not taken by the home side as they seemed intent on going for goals instead of taking their points. Dylan Garrigan was pulled to the ground when clear through on goals. Ref Joey Curley issued the Round Towers wing back a black card. Dylan converted the free. Round Towers hit back with a late goal to go one point clear. Colin Hawdon one a ball in the half backs and set the move going up the field.

With the clock in over time Dylan Garrigan converted to leave the score all even at Oldcastle 2 – 13 Round Towers 3 -10.

Ref Joey Curley blew the final whistle as the kick out was taken to end a game that could have gone either way but both sides were happy in the end to gain a draw and now look forward to the rest of the competition.

Oldcastle: Jack McDonnell Fox, Ciaran Healy, Louis Colleran, Darren Connell, Darragh Reilly, Ciaran Smith, Colin Hawdon (1-2), Conor Hetherton (0-1), Dylan Garrigan (1-6), Joe Lynch, Cillian Connell, Cillian Hanlon, Josh Halpin, Charlie Lynch, Pearse Sheridan (0-4).