Trim take the U15 Honours
Rain was relentlessly driving sideways as this U15 Division 2 Final in Dunganny got underway, with Oldcastle lining out against a strong Trim team (29/11/2021). Trim put the first point on the scoreboard, but Oldcastle soon caught up with a nice point from Nathan Gibney. A Padraig Lynch intercept soon afterwards was fed on via Tom Lynch, to Ryan Halpin, on to Thomas Sheridan and Rory Crawley, who was fouled. Paul Hennessy stepped up and dispatched her between the posts for a point.
The next score was the result of good work from Ivan Smyth, a ball to the forwards was just wide but the resultant 45 was sailed over by Paul again. Trim then added another point of their own, but James Gibney was in great form in midfield, getting most of the balls for Oldcastle. Good defence from Jack Smith got another ball in the right direction, upfield by way of Pat Crawley and Shane Boylan, he got it in to Ivan Smyth who lobbed her into the goalmouth: Nathan Gibney struck her goalward but the goalie got to her, but came back out to Cormac Guirke, who despite being on the ground managed to fire her to the back of the net for a super goal!
The next play saw Rory Crawley once again fouled, Paul Hennessy converting, the following saw Nathan Gibney fouled, Paul converting. Trim attacked again but super defence from Fergal Flynn repelled them. He then ran the length of the pitch with the ball, a great run that saw him get it to the waiting Nathan who gave a lovely pass to Cormac Guirke, he put her between the posts for the next point. Trim came again, and once more Fergal Flynn defended well, deflecting a certain goal, and sending the ball back upfield again. The final score of the first half was from a free to Nathan Gibney, Paul Hennessy once more converting to leave it Oldcastle 1-07, Trim 0-03 at the break.
Trim must have had a super half-time talk, as they came out to shock and awe. Four unanswered points were fired over, one after another, with the ball not evening getting into the other half of the field for the first seven or eight minutes. With only Oldcastle’s goal now separating the teams, Rory Crawley went for goal and was unlucky not to score. However the kickout found Tom Lynch who got the ball on to Fergal Flynn who found Ryan Halpin, he passed to a flying Pat Crawley who dodged and dived his way forward and smashed the ball in the back of the Trim net for Oldcastle’s second goal, extending the lead to six points. That however, was to be the last Oldcastle score,
Trim came back with a point, followed soon after by a goal. They then found their stride, dominating play, and Oldcastle dealt the blow of a black card. With the rain continuing to pelt sideways and the temperatures subzero, Trim saw out the match the better, with the final score Oldcastle 2-07, Trim 1-14.
What a year this team have had however. From starting in Division 3 in the summer league, they dominated it and went on to win. They have now had a super run in the Division 2 Championship, literally only a few kicks of the ball off the winners. A great team performance all year, and testament to all the hard work from this great bunch of players. Well done to all of you, and to coaches Paddy Gilsenan, Lorcan Fox and John Caffrey, and best wishes to all the lads heading up to U17s next year!
Oldcastle: Cillian Fanning, Pauric Lynch, Fergal Flynn, Thomas Sheridan, Ryan Halpin, Tom Lynch, Jack Smith, James Gibney, Pat Crawley (1-01), Shane Boylan, Rory Crawley, Ivan Smyth, Paul Hennessy (0-04), Nathan Gibney (0-01) Cormac Guirke (1-01). Subs: Riain Burke, Simas Abraitis.