U-12’s cruise into Final
Oldcastle’s U-12 team made sure of their place in the Spring League final with a comprehensive win over Drumcondrath/Meath Hill in Millbrook this morning (22 June 2019). The prolific Pat Crawley took the first two scores for Oldcastle, before a nice Ollie Hjert pass found the waiting Jack Smith, who moved the ball upfield at speed before passing to Lee Keatinge, who tipped it in to the well positioned Ryan Halpin for a score. From the kick-out Jack Smith again got the ball, moving it on to Eoin Sheridan who won a ’45, which found it’s way to Thomas Sheridan, who blasted right through the D/MH defence and kicked a lovely score. Team Captain Shane Boylan also had his scoring boots on and took six in the first half. Cormac Guirke was in goals this first half while not overly busy thanks to the super defence, made some nice saves. Simas Abraitis was also having a great match, and a lovely catch from him fed on to Thomas Sheridan, then Isabel Delaney, back to Thomas and on to Ollie Hjert who put it between the bars for another. Mark Cadden added two to leave the half time score Oldcastle 15, D/MH 1.
The second half saw Oldcastle up the ante, with the opposition taking their frustration out on them. Thomas Sheridan was in the wars, being targeted with heavy hits from all sides, but his two frees both resulted in scores. Padraig Lynch was rock solid in defence, while Rhys Eager now took over goal-keeping duties and provided some great kick-outs. The introduction of Jack Nulty, Alex Lynch and Tiarnan Halpin-Murphy brought a new energy to the forward line, and resulted in yet more scores, while Mikey Timmons wore down his man and covered every inch of the pitch. D/MH added a few scores near the end, but by that stage it was way out of reach for them, with the final score Oldcastle 28, D/MH 4. The Drumcondrath players are taking to the pitch at Croke Park at half-time tomorrow however, so their spirits were still high with the anticipation of that in mind, while the Oldcastle team were delighted with the thoughts of yet another U-12 Spring League Final in store, and the hopes of making it three-in-a-row!
St. Mary’s Slane will be the opposition in the final which will take place at 12.30pm next Saturday 29th, venue to be confirmed.
Oldcastle: Cormac Guirke, Padraig Lynch, Thomas Sheridan (2), Shane Boylan (Captain, 7), Jack Smith, Simas Abraitis, Ryan Halpin (3), Pat Crawley (9), Rhys Eager, Eoin Sheridan, Mark Cadden (3), Alex Lynch, Jack Nulty, Lee Keatinge, Tiarnan Halpin-Murphy (3), Isabel Delaney, Oliver Hjert (1), Mikey Timmons.