GAA ROUND-UP: Plenty of exciting action on local GAA fields in recent days

KILDALKEY FALL TO TRIM

Martin Carr

Kildalkey and Trim squared up to each other in the u-21 HC in Kildalkey on Sunday morning and after an entertaining 60 minutes both teams came away with a share of the spoils .

A draw was probably a fair result on the day as both teams will feel they should have won.

Kildalkey lost their first game against a strong Ratoath team in round one while Trim were convincing winners over Kilmessan. So Trim would have been favourites to win here but sport doesn’t always work out like that and these teams bring the best out of each other. It was Kildalkey who took the fight to Trim and led for most of the game

Playing with the wind in the first have the men in blue played much better than in round one and the management switched around the team and it seemed to have the desired effect as they played with a bit more fluency

Senior players Paddy Barnwell and Brian O'Halloran were in the thick of the action from the off with O'Halloran winning vital frees that were converted by reliable Mattie Cully. Cully hit 1-6 in that first half including a goal from a long range free that went all the way to the net and a tidy point from distance

Kildalkey’s other scores came from Barnwell, O'Halloran, Joey Finnane and Cian Colhoun as they led 1-10 to 0-7 at half-time

Trim had the wind at their backs for the second half and were always going to come strong after the break and hit the first couple of points but lively substitute Ciaran Reynolds scored a fine individual goal to give Kildalkey a huge boost to lead 2-11 to 0-11. However, Trim piled on the pressure hitting the next few points and after winning a free around 35 meters out they cleverly hit a short pass to an unmarked player and took the lead at 2-11 to 1- 15,

Both teams exchanged points to still leave a point between the teams but soon after Cully missed a close in free to level it.

He redeemed himself by getting on the end of a great move and rifling a bullet to score a great goal to leave his team two points up with time almost up and victory in sight.

However the experienced Trim didn’t panic and won won late frees. Joey Cole made no mistake to make sure his team claimed a draw which was a fair result as Trim hit a lot of wides over the hour.

This was an exciting game for this time of year and the weather conditions but both teams deserve credit as they gave their all .

Kildalkey had good performances from Arron Traynor in goals Conor Lyons, Paddy Barnwell, Brian O'Halloran and Cully while Cian Colhoun and Reynolds played very well for two minors.

The new u-21 league format, with a guaranteed five games, means you can build on a good performance rather than play one game and if your beaten your out.

Teams are going to beat teams and it’s wide open with Kilmessan Clann Na Gael and Kilyon/ Longwood still to play Kildalkey who can build on this now and look forward to at least three more games and you never know after that.

They’ll take great confidence from this performance and move on to next Sunday where they’ll play Kilmessan

Kildalkey team and scorers

1 A Traynor

2 C Lyons

3 L Carroll

4 C McGourty

5 A Rickard

6 C Fitzgerald

7 S Colhoun

8 C Browne

9 P Barnwell (0-1)

10 K Lynch

11 B O'Halloran (0-1)

12 M Cully (2-8) (1-7f)

13 C Colhoun(0-1)

14 J Finnane (0-1)

15 E Geoghegan.

Subs

C Reynolds (1-0)for E Geoeghan

N McNally for J Finnane

S Potterton for C McGourty

LOUGHCREW GAELS/GAEIL COLMCILLE PUSH DUNDERRY HARD

Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille lost out by three points (2-6 to 1-12) to a physically stronger Dunderry outfit in this entertaining round two u- 21 A match played on a wet, windy Bank Holiday Monday morning in Moylagh.

For the second week running the Gaels suffered an early injury blow when they lost influential half forward Tom Shine after only three minutes. The combination side however had a dream start with two Sean Thornton goals in the first eight minutes giving them a 2-0 to 0-2 lead. Oisin McDermott hit a super point from the right wing after a great run in the 13th minute to stretch the lead.

Dunderry replied with a point in the 15th minute but a Daire Shine pointed free restored the Gaels five-point advantage. Dunderry at this stage were beginning to assert themselves and from a free in the 18th minute they went for goal but the defence held firm and the ball was deflected over the bar for a point.

Dunderry then added three points to narrow the gap to one as half-time approached. However, Daire Shine pointed from a long range free to give the home side a 2-point lead at the interval.

With no substitutes available a couple of positional switches were made by the Gaels at half time and they stretched their lead to three with a Daire Shine free in the 4th minute of the second half.

Dunderry’s extra bit of experience and physicality then came to the fore and with four points in a row from the 6th to the 14th minute of the half they edged into a one-point lead. On 19 minutes Daire Shine hit another free to level the match.

However Dunderry responded immediately with a point to retake the lead and in the 22nd minute they got what would prove to be the decisive score when following a bit of a goalmouth scramble they goaled to go four points up.

From the puck out the home side lost Tadhg Dardis who was dismissed for a second yellow card offence. Despite the numerical disadvantage the hosts held Dunderry scoreless for the remainder of the match and got some reward with a point in the 26th minute from a long range free by Daire Shine.

Despite the best efforts of the home side to get a goal in the final five minutes Dunderry held out to claim the victory.

Despite the result this was another fine team performance by the Gaels and was full of hard work, never-say-die attitude and determination in what were tough conditions for hurling.

Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille - T McKeon, L Finnegan, H Corcoran, T Dardis, C Rennicks, D Shine (0-5), S. Tunney, O McDermott (0-1), C O’Reilly, K Og Lynch, T Shine, R Earley, E Briody, S Thornton (2-0), C McGovern. Subs - J Connell for T Shine.

Referee - Mark Reilly (Kilmessan)

KILTALE TOO STRONG FOR NA FIANNA

Kiltale 3-14

Na Fianna 0-13

Kiltale earned their first points of the u-21 HC in a hard-fought contest in Kiltale on Sunday, winning by 3-14 to 0-13.

It was Kiltale that got the goals that proved to be vital in a match played in changeable weather throughout with wind, rain and sunshine occurring at some stage of the morning.

The wind was strong and in the home side's favour in the first half and they made the most of it going in six points to the good mainly thanks to a goal from play and three points from frees scored by centre back Conor Ryan and four points from Eoghan Frayne who was operating from the half forward line.

Conor Quinn also chipped in with an excellent point from a tight angle.

Na Fianna pushed the hosts in the early part of the second half but Frayne frees and a Jamie O'Shea point kept the home side ahead.

Two goals in three minutes from Frayne and full forward Sean Hughes settled the issue however with Vinny Walsh also adding a point late on.

Kiltale - L Boyle; M Flaherty, G. McVann, A Rooney, C Ryan (1-03), C McCormack, D McVann, V Walsh (0-1), E Frayne (1-6), L Moran, S Lynch, J. O'Shea (0-2), S Hughes (1-1), C Quinn (0-1).

UNDERAGE

U-16 Division 1 Final

Navan O'Mahonys 5-12

Ratoath 4-3

Colin O'Brien

Having been unbeaten all year, Navan O'Mahonys u-16 girls were crowned Division 1 champions at Grangegodden on Monday. The forecast was for heavy rain but thankfully it held off for the duration of the match and the large crowd was treated to a great display of skill and determination from both sides.

Straight from the throw in Neasa McDermott fisted the ball down to Isabel Thorp who delivered a pin point pass to Lauren Woods and she coolly slotted the ball over the bar. Ratoath won the kick out, moved the ball swiftly and goaled at the other end. At this stage there was little between the teams and both sides had chances that went narrowly wide.

Midway through the first-half the O'Mahonys players began to dominate and they created numerous goal chances. O'Mahonys’ goalkeeper, Rebecca Crowley ,with her excellent kickouts ,was providing her team with plenty of quality ball. However, a combination of some wayward shooting by O'Mahonys and good saves by the Ratoath keeper combined to thwart the O'Mahonys’ efforts.

The Hoops finally broke through on the 10th minute when tenacious midfielder Julia Collins won the ball back and set up Muireann Nelson who scored a great point. Another point followed from Aoibheann Kielty after lovely combination play between Neasa McDermott , Lauren Woods and Cara Ratty.

The pressure being put on the Ratoath kickout was starting to pay dividends and Cara Ratty, having won the kickout, was fouled in the square . Up stepped Nelson who calmly buried the ball in the back of the net leaving O'Mahonys 1-3 to a 1-0 ahead.

Ratoath then enjoyed a period of dominance, scoring 1-2 to edge in front with 10 minutes remaining in the half. However, the Brews Hill girls held their nerve and the half-back line of Dayna Keogh , Annie Hogan and Isabella Mallon were immense .

Time and time again they denied the Ratoath forwards. Their tackling was ferocious and they were first to any loose ball. The midfield duo, Isabel Thorp and Julia Collins, were a constant thorn in the Ratoath side with their tracking back and vital interceptions.

Having weathered the storm , the Navan girls went on a scoring spree .Ratty turned over the ball and slipped it past the 'keeper to give O'Mahonys the lead by the narrowest of margins .This was followed by points from McDermott and Nelson. Great direct running by Thorp and McDermott yielded two more goals as the half drew to a close.

O'Mahonys opened the scoring in the second half with Lauren Woods combining with Muireann Nelson who made no mistake and extended the Navan girls’ lead. O'Mahonys won the kickout , worked the ball to McDermott who pointed to make it O'Mahonys 4-8 Ratoath 2-2.

This was followed by another Nelson free which left the Brews’ Hill side leading by 13 points half way through the second-half. It looked as if the Hoops had put the match to bed when Cara Ratty goaled again following a brilliant end to end move which saw Mia McDonald gather a dangerous ball in her own goalmouth , deliver a perfect pass up the wing to the Sadhbh Mellet who worked it in to Ratty in front of goal.

But Ratoath were not going to go down without a fight , in the final 15 minutes of the match they dug deep and took the game to the O'Mahonys’ girls.

A spate of attacks saw them score 2-1 without reply. With the defence under pressure O'Mahonys’ captain Grace Cahill , and her corner backs Abbie McCullagh and Mia McDonald rose to the challenge. They defended robustly, allowing no way through for the Ratoath girls. Cahill, McDonald and the ever dependable Rebbeca Crowley were always there to avert goalmouth danger and clear the ball to the industrious Mellet who picked up countless clearances from the defence. McCullagh’s strong running out of defence took the pressure off her team and provided a platform for further points from Nelson and McDermott.

The introduction of Milly Murray , Kitty O'Rourke , Kate Skelton and Aranita Bajqinca was important as the match entered the final quarter. Their fresh energy and determination was just what was needed to close out the game .

As the game entered the final minutes it was clear that Navan O'Mahonys were not going to be caught and at the final whistle they ran out convincing winners on a score line of 5-12 to 4-3.

It was a well deserved victory on the day for the 20 players on the Navan O'Mahonys’ panel who all played their part throughout the league. Each and every one of them left everything on the pitch , they never stopped working for each other and they can be truly proud of their achievement.

U-14s - O'Mahonys just miss out

Navan O'Mahonys u-14s took on a highly fancied Dunboyne side in the Division 6 title decider. Dunboyne had already beaten the Navan side in the league campaign and they knew it was going to be a tough battle between two super teams.

It was a first final for the O'Mahonys who were a little slow to settle, however against the run of play the Brews Hill side took the lead with a well taken goal.

Dunboyne soon settled into their rhythm and scored four points on the bounce to sneak into the lead.

O’Mahonys answered back with a score of their own to leave the teams level after 15 minutes of play. Dunboyne aided with a cross field wind were enjoying more possession and despite some resolute defending from O’Mahonys, Dunboyne raised their first green flag with a well worked goal of their own.

The O’Mahonys players did not let their heads drop despite been put under immense pressure from this well-drilled Dunboyne team and answered back with a goal of their own to leave the teams level as we entered injury time in the first-half. Dunboyne launched one final attack before the half time whistle and a fortuitous high ball deceived the O’Mahonys defense and ended up in the net.

Half time: Navan O'Mahonys 2-1 Dunboyne 2-4

As the second-half commenced O’Mahonys playing with the aid of the wind were quick into their stride tacking on a point, however Dunboyne answered back immediately and the large crowd in attendance could tell that this was going to be a tense finale. After a further exchange of points between both teams Dunboyne hit a purple patch and stretched their lead out to five points with 10 minutes to play.

In true Navan O’Mahonys spirit the girls never let their heads drop and showed amazing character and answered back with two goals in five minutes to push them into the lead by a point as we entered injury time.

Dunboyne to their credit didn’t panic and managed to work a well taken point to bring the game level for the third time. Just as it looked like this game maybe entering extra time, Dunboyne managed to win a free kick about 30 meters from the goal which they managed to convert to give them a 1-point lead. With no time to counter the referee blew the final whistle, Dunboyne players celebrated, O’Mahonys players devastated!!!

Full Time: Navan O'Mahonys 4-3, Dunboyne 2-10

Congratulations to Dunboyne and enjoy the celebrations, however these O’Mahonys girls will come back stronger and we will look forward to renewing our rivalry in the new year.