U-17’s bring home the Cup!
Oldcastle 1-11 Duleek/Bellewstown 1-7
The great year continues for Oldcastle as they claimed the Under 17 Div 5 Special Football Championship in Dunganny on Thursday night (9 Nov.2017) to complete a remarkable double having already secured the Minor Championship 3 weeks earlier.
Both sides took a few minutes to settle in but Cillian Connell opened the scoring for Oldcastle on the 5th minute after a great cross field pass. Colin Hawdon added a second from a free. Dylan Garrigan was next on the score sheet before Duleek/Bellewstown finally opened their account on the 13th minute.
The next 10 minutes were scoreless with Oldcastle having a great goal chance, but Josh Halpin saw his effort just go to the left of the post. A number of shots also landed into the Duleek/Bellewstown goalies hands and Duleek\Bellewstown finding Jack McDonnell Fox in outstanding form in the Oldcastle goals saving two goal bound efforts and been excellent under the high ball.
Duleek/Bellewstown finally found the net on the 22nd minute to take the lead. Louis Colleran was charging forward from his full back role and after some good inter play with Oran Mulvanny the ball was released to Colin Hawdon, who made no mistake to slot over the bar. As the first half entered the closing stages Oran Mulvanny got the reward for his hard work with 2 excellent point to leave the half time score Oldcastle 0-6 Duleek Bellewstown 1-2.
With the Jaffa Cakes in the bellies Oldcastle had the dream start with Colin Hawdon hitting the net after only 3 minutes of the second half. James McCluskey got his first score of the game on the 4th minute.
As the rain started to pour down Oldcastle failed to take advantage of a number of chances before Duleek/Bellewstown got their first of the half on the 10 minute mark. Duleek/Bellewstown added another 2 points, but it took Oldcastle until the 23rd minute to add to their score as Pearse Sheridan converted to leave the score Oldcastle 1-8 Duleek Bellewstown 1-5.
Both sides were giving it their all and swapped 2 scores each with Oldcastle points coming from the boot of Colin Hawdon and Pearse Sheridan. A 3 point margin is a dangerous one in the closing stages of any game and as Pearse Sheridan converted to leave 4 between the sides Duleek/Bellewstown knew they would have to score twice to get back into the game. They pushed hard but they found the Oldcastle defence solid as a rock and they held firm to secure a memorable victory.
The forwards might have got on the score sheet, but Oldcastle had their Goalie Jack McDonnell Fox and the entire full back line of Ciaran Healy, Louis Colleran and Darren Connell to thank for preventing a number of scores and their hard work built the foundations for result.
Minor County Board Chairman, John Kavanagh presented Captain Josh Halpin with the cup on behalf of the team and with only 3 players over age next year roll on 2018!!
Oldcastle: Jack McDonnell Fox, Ciaran Healy, Louis Colleran, Darren Connell, Ciaran Smith, Conor Hetherton, Joseph Lynch, Dylan Garrigan (0-1), Oran Mulvanny (0-2), Cillian Connell (0-1), Pearse Sheridan (0-3), James McCluskey (0-1), Charlie Lynch, Colin Hawdon (1-3), Josh Halpin.
Subs: Aaron Getty for Charlie Lynch, Darragh Reilly for Joseph Lynch
Subs Not Used: Cillian Hanlon, Dj Monaghan, Jack Murphy, Colin Halpin, Conor Smith