U-14s RECORD NARROW VICTORY IN SPRING LEAGUE

Oldcastle 3-18 Syddan 7-5
The first match of the U-14 Football league got off to a delayed start due to the referee forgetting his whistle on Thursday evening (13 April) in Syddan . Brendan Halpin had a toy whistle to hand, but a delegation was sent for a real one. Play eventually got underway, and home side Syddan were first on the scoreboard, with a goal within a minute. Ryan Kevin took a fine point straight back in reply, but soon after the opposition hit another goal. A good Kane Cullen intercept, fed on to Cormac O’Connell then Conor Boylan, who was fouled, led to Jack Murphy taking a free, and the next point. J.P. Purcell fed the next kick-out on to Lloyd Colleran, on to Conor Boylan, next to Cormac O’Connell, back to Conor again, on to Jack Murphy and back to Conor once more, who shot a cracking goal, after a great series of moves. Ross McCann, Ryan and Conor registered more points before the end of the first half, leaving it Oldcastle 1-05, Syddan 2-04 at the break.

Syddan started the second half as the first, with a goal straight away, followed by a point, but Oldcastle upped the ante and points from Jack and a goal from Ryan levelled it again. Eoin Smith then shot a fine point from way out the field, followed by another from J.P.  Syddan replied with another goal. The referee must have forgotten his black cards as well, as he could have dealt plenty out to the Syddan lads. It was level again at 2-10 to 4-04, but Oldcastle put the heads down and had a fine period of play. Ross and Jack notched up three points apiece, then Conor Boylan planted one right between the posts from nearly the half-way line. Eoin Muldoon was very unlucky not to get a goal, an inch was the difference. Syddan shot in another two goals to keep the pressure on, but a great Cormac O’Connell clearance got the ball upfield to Ryan, J.P., Jack and on to Ross for Oldcastle’s final score, leaving us four points clear, with only seconds on the clock. Syddan retaliated with a goal with the final kick of the match, but it just wasn’t enough for them, and Oldcastle deserved the hard-earned victory.
The lads’ workrate was phenomenal, with U-14 debutants Eoin Smith, Cormac O’Connell and Fionn McCabe having great matches. Kane Cullen impressed, while J.P. Purcell and Ryan Kevin worked hard throughout as always. Ross, Jack and Conor led by example, and Matthew Cahill pulled off some greats saves in goal, against a team who seemed to go just for goals. James Tuite, Sean Chatten and Darren Kavanagh did great work throughout.

Oldcastle: Matthew Cahill, Cormac O’Connell, Lloyd Colleran, Kane Cullen, J.P. Purcell (0-01), Fionn McCabe, Jack Murphy (0-05), Conor Boylan (2-02), Eoin Smith (0-01), Ross McCann (0-05), Ryan Kevin (1-05), Sean Chatten, Eoin Muldoon.
Subs: Darren Kavanagh, James Tuite.