U20 Div 3 FC: Two from two for Jenkinstown Gaels

Evan Drum Jenkinstown Gaels

Jenkinstown Gaels made it two from two with a late smash and grab raid in round two of the Coolrite Div. 3 Group A with a one point win over Dunderry at Kilbride on October Bank Holiday Monday morning.

Jenkinstown Gaels 1-16
Dunderry 3-09

Thankfully the tail end of storm Beolo faded away and despite slippy underfoot conditions the weather remained dry for the duration of the game.

Even without the services of their talisman Liam Jennings absent due to injury, Jenkinstown Gaels somehow found a way to dig out a solitary one point win to make it two wins from two and seal a place in the semi-final’s with a game to spare.

It was visitors Dunderry who were first to trouble the scorekeepers sending over a point within the first sixty seconds.

Jenkinstown Gaels opened their account in the second minute with Killian McGivern splitting the Dunderry uprights. Dunderry responded to take the lead for a second time, 0-2 to 0-1 five minutes in.

Midfielder Luke Faherty put Jenkinstown ahead for the first time with a two point free, but Dunderry’s centre back pointed to draw the sides’ level for a second time, 0-3 apiece.

An Aaron McCabe free restored Jenkinstown Gaels advantage, however the advantage was short lived as Dunderry struck for the first of their three goals in the 16th minute, 1-3 to 0-4.

Luke Faherty converted his second two point free of the game to draw the sides level again, 1-3 to 0-6.

A well moved Jenkinstown attack saw Warren Rogers on the end of it who split the uprights from the left wing to put Jenkinstown Gaels in the lead again. Jenkinstown almost added a goal of their own soon after when an Evan Drum shot at goal was well smothered by the Dunderry ‘keeper.

A brace of points from the side in white and black looked to have them in a one point lead heading for half time, but there was still time for Luke Faherty to convert a free to make it draw match when referee Stephen Cregan blew his half time whistle, 1-05 to 0-8.

Aaron McCabe opened the second half scoring within ninety seconds of the restart. Dunderry’s opening score of the second half saw them raise their second green flag when finding Stephen Tighe’s net for a second time, 2-5 to 0-9.

A Luke Faherty free left the minimum between the sides again, 2-5 to 0-10, but a Dunderry two point free in the 40th minute left three between the sides, 2-7 to 0-10.

A pair of Luke Faherty frees with a Dunderry point sandwiched in between meant two points separated the sides at the three quarter point, 2-8 to 0-12.

1-1 from Dunderry in the 48th and 49th minutes put them in a commanding six points lead with eleven minutes remaining, 3-9 to 0-12.

However, Dunderry failed to register a score in the final eleven minutes and with Luke Faherty and Mark Foley now dominating the middle third Jenkinstown Gaels never gave up and ate into Dunderry’s six point lead to trail by two four minutes into added time. Those four points coming from David Regan, Killian McGivern (2) and Luke Faherty.

There was still time for late drama as Luke Faherty smashed home a twenty metre free to the back of the Dunderry net deep into added time to put the home side into a one point lead.

Time ran out for the visitors soon after with Stephen Cregan blowing the full time whistle and Jenkinstown Gaels late smash and grab saw them winners by the minimum, 1-16 to 3-09.

Best for Jenkinstown were top scorer Luke Faherty, Killian McGivern, Mark Foley, Barry O’Leary and Harry Dunne.

Jenkinstown Gaels team and scorers: Stephen Tighe, Harry Dunne, David Regan (0-1), Charlie Benson, Cillian Murphy, Barry O’Leary, Oz Conboy, Luke Faherty (1-0f & 9f: incl 2 x 2ptf), Mark Foley, Warren Rogers (0-1), Barry Walsh, Killian McGivern (0-3), Calbhach O’Ceallaigh, Evan Drum, Aaron McCabe (0-2).

Subs used: Cian Melville, Noah Howard, Jack Lynch.