St. Martins youngsters through to Minor final
St Martin's full forward Brian Maher is put under pressure from Leon Fitzgerald from Eire Og. Photo: Pat Ahern
In atrocious conditions these two sides served up a cracking Cental Under 18 Football semi-final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Thursday. It took extra time to find a winner and while there were six points in it at the end, the game could have gone either way. The eventual winners were just that bit better in extra-time so they fully deserve their place in the final.
The difference between the two sides in the first half was Éire Óg’s ability to take goals. Adam Dowling’s two-pointer from play nudged St Martins in front but they found themselves trailing when Ronan Dooley struck for the opening goal of the game. Two points from Freddie Gibson and one from Dowling turned the lead around. Yet again, Éire Óg breached the Martins cover and Dooley found the net through a maze of legs.
Edward O’Byrne scored another YI goal on 24 minutes and St Martins replied with a Dowling point to leave Éire Óg leading 3-2 to 0-6 at the interval.
As the rain became worse, the players dug in. Dowling struck for St Martin’s first goal in the third quarter and Billy Flynn scored a cracking three-pointer into the scoreboard end of the ground when his rocket off the ground flew by the inside of the right-hand post and into the net.
In the second minute of injury time, Dermot Lawlor held his nerve when he converted an Éire Óg free. That levelled the game at 3-6 to 2-9.
The YIs did have chances in extra time but didn’t take them. Their opponents self-belief was vital as Dowling pointed from a free. Also on the mark were Rory McCaffrey and Dylan Ruane. A late, late goal from Kieran Donald who held his composure before slotting home was the icing on the cake for St Martins.
Aaron Dowling 1-5 (1-2p pen), B Flynn, K Donald 1-0 each, F Gibson 0-2, B Maher 0-2, D Francis, D Ruane, R McCaffrey 0-1 each R Dooley 2-0, S Hayden 1-0, Jacob Curran 0-3, D Lawlor 0-2 (fs), S Gurhy 0-1.
James Hogan; Kyle McInerney, Sean Hourihane, Michael Shanahan; Rory McCaffrey, Martin Carroll, Dylan Ruane; Ben Curry, Kieran Donald; Padraig Eustace, Aaron Dowling, Sam Meyler; Edward O’Byrne, Freddie Gibson, Davy Francis.
Brian Maher for O’Byrne (h/t), Billy Flynn for Gibson (40), Matthew O’Brien for Francis (40), Tiarnan Whelan for Meyler (53).
Tommy Cooney; Daniel Donovan, Jamie Doody, Harry Delaney; Darragh Casey, Leon Fitzgerald, Alex Donnelly Finn; Adam O’Neill, Brian Louw; Dara Nolan, Jacob Curran, Dermot Lawlor; Sean Hayden, Cormac Murphy, Ronan Dooley.
Adam Haughney for O’Neill (19), Shane Gurhy for Nolan (41), Evan McGrath for Haughney (54), Nolan for McGrath (73).
Lar Murphy
