U13’s Finish top of the League!

Our U13s put in a super performance in the final match of the Division B League in Sean Newman Park this afternoon, beating St. Ultans/Cortown and topping the table! It was the opposition who took the first point of the match but that was their last time in the lead. An Odhran Garry free was sent on to Peter Smith, back to Odhran, a bit of a melee but it was Odhran who came out with the ball again and got her on to Tadhg Sheridan to level the match. Super work from Kyle Gaffney secured the next ball, onwards thanks to the hardworking Ronan Fitzpatrick and in to the waiting Charlie Crawley, being marked by two players, Charlie was brought to the ground, free awarded and converted, with the exact same scenario playing out again two minutes later! A super tackle by Luke Farrelly secured the ball for Oldcastle’s next score: onwards via Charlie Smith, back to Luke, on to Charlie Crawley and in to Tadgh for his second point. St. Ultans/Cortown had a chance of their own with a great shot on goal, but Bradley Kelleghan put in a great save, with the kickout secured by Kyle Gaffney and on to Charlie Crawley for Oldcastle’s next score. The opposition added their second score soon after from a free, the kickout secured by Charlie Smith, on to Charlie Crawley, back to Charlie Smith and back again to Charlie Crawley on a great run, who smashed her to the back of the net! Oldcastle’s defence were working well, Rory Kavanagh, Logan

Skelly and Luke Hjert putting in trojan work and forcing the opposition to make multiple wides, while Ronan Fitzpatrick never stopped, covering the pitch. A foul on Tadgh Sheridan led to Oldcastle’s next score, with Charlie Crawley adding another. The opposition took two points just before the half-time whistle blew, leaving the score Oldcastle 1-07, St. Ultans/Cortown 0-04 at the break.

A Rory Kavanagh ball onwards via Peter Smith found Charlie C for Oldcastle’s first point of the second-half, with the impressive Kyle Gaffney doing great work to set up the next score for Tadhg. The opposition added on two points. Oliver Monaghan’s super kickout was taken down by a super catch from Charlie Crawley at midfield, on to Charlie Smith and back to Charlie C for Oldcastle’s next score. St. Ultans/Cortown finally broke through for a goal soon after, reducing the gap to four, but Oldcastle replied with one of their own. Another point for the opposition, but Oliver’s kickout found Charlie Smith, on to Charlie Crawley, to Tadhg who was fouled, he tipped the free in to Peter Smith who fired her to the back of the net for Oldcastle’s second goal, and a bit of breathing space, or so we thought, but the opposition came back with a fluke of a ball from midfield that just dropped in and found the back of the net. Oldcastle kept battling on, a free from Peter Smith and more fine points from Charlie Crawley meant that even another late goal for the opposition wasn’t enough for them, and when the referee blew the final whistle, it was on a score of Oldcastle 2-15, St. Ultans/Cortown 3-07.

A towering performance from Charlie Crawley, ably backed up by every player on the pitch who all gave their all today, a great result for the lads who have trained so hard all year, and for their coaches! Max Nulty missed today’s match due to injury, but was a pivotal player all year and contributed to today’s win.

Oldcastle: Bradley Kelleghan, Rory Kavanagh, Logan Skelly, Luke Hjert, Luke Farrelly, Kyle Gaffney, Ronan Fitzpatrick, Peter Smith (1-01), Tomas Cahill, Charlie Crawley (Captain, 1-10), Charlie Smith, Odhran Garry, Tadgh Sheridan (0-04). Subs: Oliver Monaghan, Danielius Simkas, Jonathan White, Neitanas Majuskus, Philip Purcell, Rowan Smith.