Meath retain the Gerry Reilly Cup
Meath 2-11 Dublin 2-10
The Briody Bedding Sponsored Gerry Reilly Leinster U16 Cup Final played in Millbrook, Oldcastle on Sunday evening had the large crowd held in suspense right to the final whistle. Meath prevailed coming out on top with the minimum between the sides at the final whistle. 18 teams set out in June in June with the aim of lifting the Cup and the game was a fitting finale to this year’s tournament.
Dublin’s Oisin Grady opened the scoring with 2 points. Meath had their chance of a score with a shot on goal pushed out for a 45, which was not converted. There was little to choose between the teams throughout the opening quarter with Dublin ahead on three separate occasions.
Meath led for the first time after Dublin keeper Sean Downey failed to hold a speculative effort from midfielder Conor Gray in the damp conditions and Alan Bowden finished to the Dublin net. Meath went on to add 2 points to their tally to Dublin’s single point before the break.
H/T: Meath 1-5 Dublin 0-5
Whatever went on in the dressing room at the break had Dublin coming out upping their game and put the Meath defence under severe pressure. Three Dublin unanswered points had the sides level which included a Conor Dolan point from a free and a Matthew Lynch converted ’45.
However Meath hopes were boosted when Alan Bowden got his second goal to leave it 2-5 to 0-8.
Conor Dolan converted another free for the Dubs before two quick-fire points from Eoghan Frayne had Meath back in the ascendancy.
It didn’t take Dublin long to get back in contention and a brilliantly taken goal from Seamus Smith had them just a point in arrears.
Meath’s Adam McDonnell set up substitute Ruairi Kinsella for a Meath point on 55 minutes and then added one himself in response to another Dolan effort.
2 superbly-struck points from placed balls (1f & a 45) by Eoghan Frayne in the closing stages proved crucial for Meath. Dublin responded with a goal from substitute Luke Breathnach to cut the deficit to the minimum in injury time. Meath won possession from the kickout and responded by going down the field again just before the final whistle, but Luke Caffrey’s shot was wide of the post.
Martin Briody (representing Briody Bedding – sponsor of the tournament) presented the ‘Man of the match’ award to Meath’s, Adam McDonnell
Claire Reilly (Gerry’s Mother) along with Gerry’s brother, Martin, sister Andrea, Martin Briody (Sponsor), & Jamie Queeney (Meath GAA) presented the Gerry Reilly Cup to Meath’s Captain, Ciaran Caulfield.
Scorers for Meath: Eoghan Frayne (0-6, 2f & 2(45’s)), Alan Bowden (2-0), John McDonagh (0-3,2f), Adam McDonnell & Ruari Kinsella (0-1) each
Scorers for Dublin: Conor Dolan( 0-4,2f), Oisin Grady( 0-3), Seamus Smith (1-0), Luke Breathnach (1-0), Dara Dempsey, Matthew Lynch(45) & Eoin Wilde (0-1) each
Meath: Adam Niven (Simonstown); Ben Moran (Summerhill), Sean O’Donoghue (St Colmcille’s), Godfrey Ehichoya (St Colmcille’s); Ben Donnelly (Kilbride), Oisin Kelly (Ratoath), Ciaran Caulfield-Capt (Trim); Conor Gray (Dunshaughlin), Cian Smyth (Ratoath); John McDonnell (Dunshaughlin), Adam McDonnell (Summerhill), Mark Coffey (Ballinabrackey); Alan Bowden (Duleek-Bellewstown), Eoghan Frayne (Summerhill), Aaron Murphy (Dunshaughlin).
Subs/Panel: Ruairi Kinsella (Dunshaughlin) for Murphy, Oisin Keogh (Skryne) for Smyth (Black card), Oisin Bright (Na Fianna) for Ehichoya, Zack McGovern (Kilbride) for Coffey. Cathal Darby Seneschalstown, Andrew McWeeney Kilbride, Luke Caffrey Simonstown, Fursey Blake Dunsaughlin 23 Luca Brady Cortown/St Ultans, 24 Kian Lynch Moynalty, Luke Hannon St Colmcilles, Tagdh Hanrahan Simonstown Adam Daly St Colmcilles, Caolan Nulty St Colmcilles Con Smith Bective, Conor McDonnell Seneschalstown, Cormac Sheehy Meath Hill, Dan McEvoy O’Mahonys, Daniel Flanagan Dunboyne, Donal Commons Seneschalstown, Eoghan McCague Walterstown, Fionn Smith Gaeil Colmcille, James O’Sullivan Donaghmore Ashbourne, Josh Harris Trim, Kian Gillespie Kilmainhamwood Liam Stafford St Colmcilles, Michael Hillard Cortown/St Ultans, Ross Reynolds, Walterstown Scott O’Sullivan Bective, Sean McDonnell Na Fianna Sean O’Connell Simonstown, Shane McCarthy O’Mahonys
Dublin: Sean Downey St Sylvesters, Barra O’Donoghue Kilmacud Crokes, Robert O Shea Castleknock, Sam Hannigan Fingal Ravens, Alex Gavin Ballyboden St Endas, Sean O’Driscoll Nh Olaf, Michael Mc Donald Ballyboden St Endas, Daire O’Rourke Fingal Ravens, Conor Dolan Man O War, Davy Keogh Ballyboden St Endas, Ben Kelly Kilmacud Crokes, 11 Eoin Wilde Skerries Harps, Dara Dempsey Kilmacud Crokes, 22 Matthew Lynch Ballinteer St Johns.
Subs/Panel: Séamus Smith Na Fianna for D.Keogh, Matthew Lynch Ballinteer St Johns for Kelly, Luke Breathnach Ballinteer St Johns for McDonald (Black card), Daniel Sutton (Round Towers Lusk) for O’Rourke, Morgan Griffin Liffey Gaels for Downey, Jack Crennan St Judes for McDonald, Blaine Keogh St Oliver Plunketts for Grady, Kalem O’Brien Trinity Gaels for Dolan, Harry Hughes Ballymun Kickhams, Jake Hollywood Ballymun Kickhams, Joe May Skerries Harp, Johnnie Quirke Ballinteer St Johns, Kamen Bagnall St Judes, Timmy Akinleye Erins Isles, Alex Matthews Erins Isles, Ben Jones Skeries Harps, Ciarán Morrissey O Dwyers, Conor Watt St Brigids, David Keane Ballyboden St Endas, Jack O’Neill St Annes, James Cotter St Sylvesters, Jordan Mynes Kilmacud Crokes, Kevin Mullarkey Thomas Davis, Kieron Kelly Ballumun Kickhams, Lewis Nugent Byrne Fingallians, Luke Whelan Skerries Harps, Max Corcoran Nh Mhearnog, Rob Kenny KIlmacus Crokes, Sean O Brien St Annes, Sean Stone Na Fianna, Senan McCann Clontarf, Theo Clancy Kilmacud Crokes, Tomás Hegarty St Maurs
Ref: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
Click here to view photos from this game in Millbrook
Before the kickoff, a minute’s silence was observed for Mikey Leddy (O’Mahony’s.), who died tragically in Lanzarote. Go ndeanamh Dia trocaire ar a anam
–——————
Well done to all the U8’s and U9’s and their mentors & parents, who played at half time and a treat for everyone present.
We were entertained by matches featuring:
An U-9 match between Oldcastle and Garda Westmanstown Gaels Club from Dublin, (Wearing the Meath & Dublin colours!) fulfilling a long standing commitment to play a match between these two clubs, as our Oldcastle native Garda Alan Lynch is a coach of this great young Dublin team!
Oldcastle U-8 team v Our neighbours, St. Brigid’s of Ballinacree.