U-12’s do the Double!
Oldcastle 17 Kilmainhamwood 8
Our brave U-12’s went into battle today (29 July 2017) hoping to add the Summer League title to the Spring League they won earlier this year. They faced an equally determined Kilmainhamwood at Paddy O’Brien Park in Navan, on a day when you needed both sunglasses and rain gear. The opposition took the first score, and indeed were the stronger team for the first 15 minutes of the match, going 4 – 1 ahead. Once Oldcastle nerves settled though, the lads found their rhythm and got into the match. A lovely Rory Crawley score, where he dummied about 5 KMW players on the run into the goalmouth helped Oldcastle into the game, and was soon followed by another from Eoin Smith. A Paul Hennessey intercept was fed upfield and caught brilliantly by Rian Mulvany who smashed it right between the posts. A fine clearance by James Gibney prevented KMW adding to their score, while good work from Cormac O’Connell resulted in a ball getting upfield by way of Nojus Domareas and Rory and finding its’ way to Eoin Smith for the final score of the first half, leaving it Oldcastle 7, Kilmainhamwood 6.
The second-half saw mid-field dominated by the brilliant Rory Crawley who was winning nearly every kickout, ably assisted by Paul they sent a steady stream of good balls in to the forwards. A well deserved Colm Gibson free yielded a score. James, Cormac and Ciaran Connell were defending like their lives depended on it, while Captain Fionn McCabe led by example, with a relentless workrate, likewise Adam Smith dogged his opponent and made his life miserable. Jamie Keatinge had a good match in goals, with some essential saves. Speedy Eoin Smith, reliable as always, added the next score from a rebound off the crossbar. A
bad tackle on Adam Smith resulted in a free which Paul put between the posts. At this stage Oldcastle were ahead by 12 – 8, and dominated the remainder of the match. Paul and Rory added the next scores. An accurate sideline ball from Rory landed right in the waiting arms of Nojus for another fine score. Straight after Nojus went again with a lovely pick-up, fed on to his cousin Tomas for a classy point. A Pat Crawley free taken by brother Rory added another. The final score was worked all the way upfield, from Jamie out to the waiting Ryan Halpin who was fouled. A well-deserved free went from Paul Hennessey to Eoin Smith, who made great work to keep hold of it, getting it out of danger and on to Jamie Pakenham who turned and scored, just before the final whistle!
A huge eruption of jubilation ensued, bittersweet for the lads who will never play U-12 again, but what a way to finish up!
A clean sweep of Spring and Summer League titles are well deserved, for a panel of lads who combine hard work and determination with ability and flair. A happy journey home over the mountain with the plaque was followed by more scenes of jubilation when the lads made it back to Oldcastle! Well done to you all, and to coaches and mentors Ronan Crawley, Vera Connell, Barry O’Connell and Stephen Skelly.
Also to all the parents who bring the lads to training and matches, and to all who came up to Navan in support today, fair play to all. Last but not least, thanks to Kilmainhamwood for a great game of football.
Oldcastle: Jamie Keatinge, Cormac O’Connell, Ciaran Connell, James Gibney, Fionn McCabe (Captain), Adam Smith, Paul Hennessey (2), Rory Crawley (4), Tomas Kizelis (1) Eoin Smith (4), Nojus Domareas (1), Rian Mulvanny (3), Colm Gibson (1). Subs: Prionsias O’Reilly, Alex Curran, Jamie Pakenham (1), Pat Crawley, Ryan Halpin.