Terrific Display by the U15’s in lifting the Div 2 Cup!
U15 Football League Division 2 Final
Oldcastle 4-10 Skryne 3-07
A super team performance from the Oldcastle U15s in Simonstown saw them lift the U15 Division 2 Cup at the expense of old foes Skryne! on Friday evening(19/7/2024). Oldcastle were playing against a stiff breeze, and the opposition had the perfect start, with a goal within a minute, but that was to be the last time they held the lead. A Skryne kickout was secured by Jack Hand, on to Alex Smith, to Eoin Smyth and safely delivered into Mark Halpin’s hands, and dispatched to the back of the net! Game levelled, Oldcastle kicked on with a fine point from Alex Smith. A good intercept from Jack Hand soon after found Eoin Smyth, on to Jack Pakenham, to Callum Keaginge then Alex Smith, back to Eoin then to Alex once more, to Kyle McEnroe, back to Jack, to Alex again, to Eoin O’Connell, on via Zach Smyth who made a great pass to the instigator of the whole movement, Captain Jack Hand, who buried her in the back of the net! A point from Kyle followed, before Skryne finally got another point. They followed that with a couple of wides, but then sent another two over, before Oldcastle got motoring again with an Alex Smith point.
Skyrne looked dangerous near the Oldcastle goals but Hayden Cullen came to the rescue to a super clearance kick which sent the ball back to midfield. Another point and more wides from Skryne, before a great clearance from Eoin Burns made its’ way upfield via numerous players before Eoin Smyth fired her between the posts. It was Charlie Crawley, an U13 player playing a whole age group up, who took the final score of the half, a lovely point to leave it Oldcastle 2-05, Skryne 1-04 at the break.
The second-half got underway with a foul on Callum Keatinge, which Mark Halpin converted, Skryne doing the same minutes later. Skryne took the fight to Oldcastle then, and a great shot on goal was saved by Hayden Cullen, but they got to the rebound and buried her to the net, and straight away were in for another goal, but another super save from Hayden saved Oldcastle’s bacon! They converted the ’45 though, to level the match again, 2-06 apiece. Oldcastle regrouped, held the heads and pushed on: Callum Keatinge was fouled again; Mark Halpin converted. Eoin O’Connell made a great catch straight after and was fouled, Mark converted. An Eoin Smyth intercept was fed on to Jack Pakenham, making great runs, to Jack Hand, playing out of his skin, to Callum Keatinge, to Mark, back to Jack and finally to Charlie Crawley who put her over the bar!
The kickout from that point was brought down by Mark Halpin, on to Eoin O’Connell, he was fouled and Mark converted, four points up now and cruising, before Eoin O’Connell turned over a Skryne attack and got the ball on to Jack Pakenham, he got her in to Charlie Crawley and Charlie planted her in the back of the net! A goal in an U15 Division 2 final for Charlie, good man! Skryne paid the price for their fouling soon after, with a red card, and Oldcastle kept the pressure up, a Jack Hand clearance finding its’ way to the other end of the pitch and on the end of Callum Keatinges’ boot before finding herself in the back of the Skryne net once more, Oldcastle’s fourth goal and the game out of reach now!
Skryne to the credit never gave up, a period of sustained pressure ensued, but the Oldcastle defence were rock solid: TJ Masterson, Paul Lynch and Jack Tynan clearing attack after attack to keep them out. John Smith, Lee Garrigan and Aaron Sheridan came on and kept the Oldcastle ranks fighting in the last quarter, while Enda Fanning came on as goalie and made another few good saves, before the ultimate goalie’s nightmare of a penalty in the dying minutes! Skyrne scored but no matter, the lads were out of sight, and when the final whistle blew it was on a super Oldcastle victory of 4-10 to 3-07, a great result to cap a great run throughout this league.
Well done to all the lads and to coaches Enda Smyth, Ollie Fitzpatrick, Enda Garrigan and Brendan Halpin, and enjoy those pizzas in Ciara’s Candy!
Oldcastle: Hayden Cullen, TJ Masterson, Paul Lynch, Jack Tynan, Charlie Crawley (1-02), Jack Pakenham, Zach Smyth, Eoin Smyth (0-01), Eoin O’Connell, Alex Smith (0-02), Callum Keatinge (1-00), Eoin Burns, Jack Hand (Captain, 1-00), Kyle McEnroe (0-01), Mark Halpin (1-04). Subs: Enda Fanning, Aaron Sheridan, Lee Garrigan, John Smith, Eanna Sheridan, Rian Healy, Charlie Clogher, Donnacha Smith, Rory Tynan, Eimhin Kellett, Dylan Gorman.