Spirited performance earns win for U-14’s

Oldcastle 2-15 Gaeil Colmcille 3-3

A spirited team performance ensured victory for the home side in the U-14 FL on Sunday evening (8 May 2016)  in a sun soaked Millbrook.

The home side had a lot of possession in the opening minutes and it Ben Grey who opened the scoring for the home side. Oldcastle were forced into an early substitution with Darren Kavanagh replacing James McCluskey. Pearse Sheridan added the next 4 points for Oldcastle before the visitors grabbed a goal. Darren Connell was starting to take control around midfield and his strong running at the Kells side’s defence lead to 3 scores. Ryan Kevin was winning good ball in the half forward line as was Ben Grey whose movement was causing the defence problems. The visitors were pushing hard but Aaron Ward and Colin Halpin were outstanding in defence. Stand in Keeper Haroldas Berzonskis was doing very well, catching a number of high balls which came into the danger area and also his long kick outs were a great base to start attacks. The half time score was Oldcastle 0-9 Gaeil Colmcille 1 – 2.

Oldcastle were hit another major blow when Darren Connell had to leave the field due to a hand injury and was replaced by James Tuite. This resulted in a second shuffling of the pack for Oldcastle with Mark Coyle now at centre half back and DJ Monaghan moving to midfield. Darren Kavanagh opened the scoring in the second half with a well taken point. Pearse Sheridan was starting to lead by example and was causing headaches for the visitors. Jack Murphy, who had come straight from playing for Meath under 13’s was doing well in defence and was always available to support the rest of the team making runs up and down the wing. James Tuite was unlucky as his shot on goal went narrowly wide. The visitors grabbed another goal but the home side started to dig deep. DJ Monaghan was doing well in his new position and was winning a lot of ball in the middle of the field and Mark Coyle was now in control in the centre of defence. The visitors then forced a great save from Haroldas Berzonskis as a goal looked on the cards. The whole Oldcastle team had now upped their game knowing that a win would secure a semi final place. The biggest cheer all evening in Millbrook came when Darren Kavanagh grabbed the ball and finished to the net. As the clock ticked down Ryan Kevin grabbed another goal to finish the scoring in what was a very entertaining game.

Oldcastle: Haroldas Berzonskis, Conor Boylan, Aaron Ward, Colin Halpin, Jack Murphy, James McCluskey, JP Purcell, Darren Connell (0-3), Pearse Sheridan (0-9), Ben Grey (0-2), Mark Coyle, Ryan Kevin (1-0), Sean Chatten, Dj Monaghan, Conor Gibbons.
Subs: Darren Kavanagh (1-1) for James McCluskey, James Tuite for Darren Connell, Matthew Cahill for Sean Chatten