Leinster League U-15 Final: Title for Killary
April 29, 2019
The successful Killary Emmets squad.
KILLARY EMMETS 3-17 SKRYNE 3-7
AFTER starting at a snail's pace Killary Emmets staged a remarkable revival and finished with lighting speed to be crowned Leinster U-15 league champions at Syddan on Sunday evening.
It was the comeback of all comebacks for the Syddan/Castletown combination who trailed by 12 points after 20 minutes to eventually have 10 to spare at the final whistle.
Visitors Skryne began in terrific fashion and had built up a 3-3 to 0-0 lead after just 20 minutes. At that stage it seemed as if the Tara side would stroll to a comfortable victory.
However Killary gradually worked themselves into contention and there was an extraordinary transformation as they wiped out an eight point interval deficit and in the process outscored their opponents 3-11 to 0-2 in the second half hour.
The game was 22 minutes old before Rian McConnell opened Killary's account from a free. McConnell accounted for three further points in the half but at the break Skryne held a comfortable 3-5 to 0-6 lead. They could have been ahead by more at that stage but they hit a penalty wide of the target close to half-time.
McConnell edged Killary closer at the start of the second half but there was still seven points between the sides after 40 minutes.
With Killian Smyth and McConnell dominant at midfield Killary began to exert their authority while the introduction of Jack Dowdall proved a game changer.
A goal from the penalty spot by centre back Adam Matthews left the minimum between the sides on 47 minutes. Smyth fired over the equaliser and shortly after edged his side in front.
John Gabriel Gomez doubled the lead and when Matthews pointed it left it 1-16 to 3-7.
Moments earlier Skryne had a great opportunity to regain the lead but keeper Shane Kelly produced a great save from a penalty.
There was no way back for Skryne after Jack Dowdall struck for the first of two goal. The substitute added a second goal on the hour mark and then in added time McConnell took his tally of points to eight with the final score of the game.
After the match Meath Co Board PRO presented the trophy to joint captain's Adam Matthews and Mark Goslin.
KILLARY EMMETS - Shane Kelly; Cillian Oakes, Mark Goslin, Ewan Sheridan; Cormac Farrelly, Adam Matthews 1-1 (1-0 pen), Ciaran O'Dea; Killian Smyth 0-3, Rian McConnell 0-8 (6f); Darragh Kelly, John Gabriel Gomez 0-2, Corey Curtis; James McKenna, Aaron Monaghan 0-2, Cormac Dardis. Subs - Mark Young, Jack Dowdall 2-1, Darren McMahon, Zack Bourne, Aaron Young, Pearse Cassidy.
