Kildare win the Gerry Reilly U-16 Shield Final 2025!

Kildare 2-15 Cavan 1-17

What an exciting finish to the Gerry Reilly U16 FT Shield Final in Millbrook on Saturday afternoon.  Cavan were in the driving seat leading by six after Calum Lynch’s converted free to lead 1-17 to1-11 with just five minutes of normal time remaining.  Kildare’s Gavriel Abella pointed from a free with 4 minutes left. Kildare failed to convert a 45 and a 2point attempt before Eoghan Lyons got Kildare’s third 2 pointer of the game. Cavan saw their attempt on goal go wide and it still seem to be their game to win. Gavriel Abella’s goal as normal time ran out had the sides level and overtime looked certain.  But Kildare had time with Jame Wolfe’s point to snatch victory in injury time.

Cavan had started well in the opening half and had three points on the scoreboard before Kildare’s first point. After fifteen minutes Kildare took the lead after Fionn Stewart Byrne’s goal to lead 1-2 to0-4. but from then on it was Cavan that was in control and added 8 points to their tally and led by 0-12 to 1-4 at the break

A terrific game on football and well done to both teams and augurs well for their futures

Niall Fitzpatrick (Oldcastle GFC) presented the Man of the Match award to Gavriel Abella of Naas.

Dermot Monaghan (Chairperson, Oldcastle GFC) presented the Gerry Reilly Shield to Kildare Captain, Greg Kelly of Castledermot.

Scorers for Kildare: Gavriel Abella (1-6  (1f, 2pt, 2ptf)), Fionn Stewart Byrne (1-0), Dylan Daniels, Jame Wolfe & Eoghan Lyon(2pt) (0-2 each), Fionn Lawlor, Eoin Markey & Fiachra Martin(f) (0-1 each)

Scorers for Cavan: Senan Smith (0-6, a 2pt), Exceedingly Imade (1-2), Calum Lynch (0-2,1f), CJ Fitzpatrick, Daire  McCrystal, Simon Kolimar,  Adam Smith & Brian McDermott (0-1 each)