U14 A Reserve final: Dunboyne are champions
May 10, 2012
Dunboyne captain Glenn Mulvey raises the U14 Res FL cup as his team mates celebrate at Dunganny. TO VIEW A SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS GAME CLICK HERE
Simonstown Gaels 2-3
It was a case of third time lucky for Dunboyne following defeats in finals in the previous two years when they beat a strong Simonstown side in the final of the Under-14 A Reserve League at Dunganny on Tuesday evening.
Having lost to these opponents in last year's final Dunboyne were quickly out of the blocks on this occasion and Ronan Duggan got the opening point. The first quarter was fiercely fought, however, and it took some steady goalkeeping from Josh McCloskey to preserve Dunboyne's advantage.
Dunboyne edged clear after 15 minutes when corner forward Daragh Nolan, whose rampaging runs caused havoc all evening, finished to the net from close range.
Simonstown hit back with a goal of their own soon after and it was not until Dunboyne's second goal, a superb effort struck first time off the ground by Ben McBrien, that there was any clear daylight between the teams. Dunboyne went into the break with a 2-6 to 1-1 advantage.
When Nolan hit the crossbar early in the second half and Simonstown went up the other end soon after to score a goal it looked like game on again but Jack Donnelly settled nerves with Dunboyne's third goal from close range. After that the combined interplay of Donnelly, Duggan, Nolan, Sam McQuaid and captain Glenn Mulvey proved too much for Simonstown's defence to contain. McBrien got a second goal when he reacted quickest after his initial effort was saved and Nolan got the fifth with a fierce right foot shot. Substitute Joseph McWeeney added the finishing touch with a fine point (via the crossbar) from long range.
Dunboyne's defence (Paul Grant, Niall Carolan, Sean Nealon, Oscar Braun, Gary Dunne and Gavin O'Keeffe) was solid to a man but Dunne did a fine job when switched on to Simonstown's extremely dangerous right half forward and, with Simonstown double teaming Nolan, Grant made great use of his free role and Braun was outstanding throughout.
Midfielders David Murray and Pauraic Lavin covered acres of ground in support of defence and attack and Mulvey's composed performance at full forward yielded four points. Cian Mullen and Cormac Darcy added energy and bite in the second half and Cian O'Connor, Caolan Kissane, Rory O'Dwyer, Michael Reid and Liam Byrne provided vital re-inforcements to close out the game and ensure the cup was going back to Dunboyne.
St Peter's Dunboyne - Josh McCloskey; Paul Grant, Niall Carolan, Sean Nealon; Oscar Braun, Gary Dunne, Gavin O'Keeffe; David Murray, Pauraic Lavin; Jack Donnelly (1-3), Ronan Duggan (0-2), Sam McQuaid; Ben McBrien (2-1), Glenn Mulvey (0-4), Daragh Nolan (2-1). Subs: Cian Mullen, Cormac Darcy, Cian O'Connor, Caolan Kissane, Joseph McWeeney (0-1), Rory O'Dwyer, Michael Reid, Liam Byrne. Mentors: Adrian Carolan, Liam Duggan and Eanna McCloskey. Tweet
