U-13’s on fire in the final match of the Leinster Cross-County League Group Stages

Oldcastle 6-11 Donaghmore Ashbourne 4-05
The U-13’s finished off the Leinster Cross-County League Group Stages in style today with a superb victory over Donaghmore/Ashbourne played on Saturday afternoon (25 Feb.2017). The weather was fine in Ashbourne, and it was the home side who took the first point.
Fionn McCabe then passed a lovely ball over his opposite number and back into his own arms, on to Paul Hennessy and from there to Eoin Smith, who was fouled, resulting in the first free and point for Oldcastle. Ciaran Connell and Cormac O’Connell did some good work to get the ball upfield soon after, by way of Paul Hennessy, Rory Crawley and Lloyd Colleran, and on to Eoin Smith who took a smashing goal. Tomas Kizelis making good runs up front all the while. JP Purcell pulled off a great mid-air tackle which earned him a free, which found Rory Crawley, Ryan Kevin and back to Rory again for a nice point, and energised the Oldcastle lads. Eoin Muldoon and Ryan Kevin also notched up scores against the fairly stiff breeze, to leave it Oldcastle 1-06 and Donaghmore Ashbourne 1-05 at half time.

Oldcastle stepped up the pressure in the second-half, with the ball not even getting into the other side of the pitch for the first ten minutes. Possession didn’t result in scores though, there were lots of missed opportunities before Rory Crawley got a ball over to JP Purcell, and on to Paul Hennessy who passed it on to Eoin Muldoon who hammered home a goal. That was the kick start to a great scoring period, Eoin taking another goal soon after and points coming from all angles. Jamie Keatinge scored three goals in the space of a few minutes. Colm Gibson was denied a goal by a foot block, but the resulting free brought a score for Oldcastle. Donaghmore/Ashbourne did attempt a comeback and scored three goals, but Oldcastle were too far ahead to catch, and soon had the game under control again.

Overall the Oldcastle team put in a great performance today, with every single one of the lads giving their all, a fantastic display of teamwork on show. Rian Mulvanny pulled off some great saves, while Jack Kellett kept his man out of the match altogether. Brian Hetherton was powerful at full back, scooping up every ball, while Ciaran Connell and Cormac O’Connell also had a great defensive work-rate, Cormac being the master of getting the ball out of mad melees. J.P. was marking their star performer and kept him quiet, while Fionn, Lloyd, Rory and Paul were the backbone of the team.
All the forwards put in great performances, with Eoin Smith in particular covering every inch of the field and taking inspirational scores, but it was a great combined effort, with every single Oldcastle player leaving nothing behind (except Lloyd Colleran who left a lot of sore opposition players behind!).

Oldcastle have now played all their matches in this league and have three victories from four matches: we now have a two week wait while the other teams finish their matches but going on today’s performance and depending on those results, we have every chance of being in the final. Well done today lads!

Oldcastle: Rian Mulvanny, Jack Kellett, Brian Hetherton, Ciaran Connell, Cormac O’Connell, J.P. Purcell (Captain), Fionn McCabe, Lloyd Colleran, Paul Hennessy (0-01), Tomas Kizelis, Rory Crawley (0-01), Ryan Kevin (0-03), Jamie Keatinge (3-00), Eoin Muldoon (2-02), Eoin Smith (1-04), Colm Gibson