U15 B team pipped in Shield Final
*U15B Shield Final - St Sylvesters 1:7 St Marys 2:6*
*This was one that got away but sometimes its just not your day ! The St
Sylvesters U15B team somehow managed to lose out to St Marys in the B
shield final on Sunday morning in Commercials by a 2 point margin, despite
dominating for large parts of the game, kicking 12 wides, hitting the post
twice, conceding a late goal directly from a controversial 45 and also
missing a penalty.*
*Sylvesters started the game with the aid of a stiff breeze and quickly got
into their stride. Max Canny and Brian Murray were dominating midfield and
Aaron McCormack and Liam Shalloe were winning a lot of ball in the full
forward line. Gavin Hydes kicked an early point, Barry Crosse popped over
another and it looked like it could be one way traffic for a while. However
despite some good defending by Harry Barnes and Robbie O'Brien St Marys
managed to break up the field and nab a soft goal against the run of play
and a pointed free. Syls lads continued their dominance for the rest of the
first half but the forwards were guilty of kicking a succession of bad
wides and hit the post with an open goal on offer. Brian Murray pointed a
free and Max Canny made a penetrating burst through from midfield and
kicked a nice score which left the half time score St Sylvesters 0:4 St
Marys 1:1 *
*Despite now facing into the breeze the second half was a continuance of
where the first half ended. David McCormack came on and added a new threat
in the forward line kicking over a couple of points including a nice effort
with his left foot. Sylvesters continued to dominate possession, Ryan
McCarthy and Niall Mahon were keeping things tight at the back but the
forwards were guilty of squandering some more scoring opportunities while
St Marys were hanging in there and a couple of pointed frees kept them
level. Stephen Lowe also joined the fray and it was his run that drew the
foul in the small square but the resultant penalty was well saved by the St
Marys goalkeeper. A shot by David McCormack was also saved by the busy
keeper but the rebound fell nicely to the towering Joseph Haughey who
palmed it into the net. With the clock now ticking away it seemed the
Sylvesters lads had done enough but with 8 mins left and 3 points up
disaster struck. A well directed St Marys 45 eluded everyone and somehow
found its way directly under the crossbar. They quickly added a point to go
one up and despite relentless pressure for the last 5 mins by the Syls lads
they just couldn't get the vital equaliser. St Marys added another point
late in injury time to seal the victory.*
*While the final result was hearthbreaking for the lads and the large
travelling support (including the busload of girlfriends!) this team can
certainly look back on a very successful season with pride. They have had a
great year, winning Div 6 and getting promotion for next year and coming so
close in the Shield final. They also have provided the U15 A team with
several players throughout the year and have quite a few more pushing hard
to move up as well. Indeed the whole squad put aside their obvious
disapointment and assembled en masse later in the day to cheer on their
compatriots in the U15A final in Perigrines and join in the celebrations
that followed. Their day in sun will come !*
*Full Time: St Sylvesters 1:7 St Marys 2:6Team: 1 Robert Holmes 2 Niall
Mahon 3 Harry Barnes 4 Ryan McCarthy 5 Robbie O'Brien 6 Joe Shannon 7 Joe
O'Connor 8 Max Canny 9 Brian Murray 10 Barry Crosse 11 Gavin Hydes 12 Colm
Bride 13 Aaron McCormack 14 Joseph Haughey 15 Liam Shalloe.Subs: 16 Ciaran
Shields for Liam Shalloe17 David McCormack for Aaron McCormack18 Stephen
Lowe for Colm Bride19 Rory Nicol for Joe O'Connor*
*20 David O'Halloran for Barry Crosse*
*Scorers: Joseph Haughey 1:0, Gavin Hydes 0:2, David McCormack 0:2, Max
Canny 0:1, Barry Crosse 0:1, Brian Murray 0:1 (free)*