Gaeil Na Daibheidí 9-6  The Neale 6-11

Gaeil Na Daibheidí and The Neale met in a cracking U-14 League Div 4 Shield semi-final in Ballindine on Wednesday evening, with the home team just coming out on top after a tremendous battle. GND needed every one of the the nine superb goals they netted to get the better of a gallant Neale team whose tally of 6-11 would win most games.

The visitors started very brightly and they scored 2-1 in the opening ten minutes. A magnificent save by Kaden Heneghan prevented a third Neale goal before the home team opened their account with two goals in quick succession in the 15^th minute, scored by Niall McDermott and Tadhg Kirrane. A 20^th minute point by Cormac Devane, who was very impressive at midfield alongside Johnny Prendergast, and an opportunist goal from Blake Bradley seconds later, put GND three ahead but The Neale pointed in the 22^nd, 26^th and 29^th minutes to leave the sides all-square, 3-1 to 2-4, at the interval.

The visitors shot the opening score of the second period, a first minute point, but two fine Niall Duggan points in the next minute put GND ahead again. A fantastic Blake Bradley goal, following exceptional work by Cathal Cummins, Tom Roche, Jack Duggan and the hard-working Conal Boyle, put GND further ahead in the 33^rd minute. The dust had hardly settled when Tadhg Kirrane finished his second goal, a spectacular soccer-style effort that gave the keeper no chance. The Neale pulled a point back in the 38^th minute but the home side replied with Blake Bradley firing home his third goal a minute later. The Neale pointed in the 41^st minute but this score was quickly cancelled out by GND sub Luke Roche. The next four scores were well-taken goals, two from each side, with The Neale netting in the 43^rd and 47^th minutes sandwiching similar scores from Blake Bradley and Niall McDermott in the 44^th and 45^th minutes respectively. The home side were now ahead by nine points but The Neale were not finished. Three points in as many minutes and a 53^rd minute goal reduced the deficit to three. A 55^th minute Niall Duggan goal and a 56^th minute Seamie Roche point gave the home side some breathing space but The Neale pointed in the 60^th minute and added a goal from the resulting kick-out, to narrow the gap to three points again. In a very tense four minutes of injury-time the GND defence stood firm, with Cathal Cummins and Tom Roche outstanding, and they got the final score of the match, a Cormac Devane point, just before the final whistle.

GND will play Hollymount Carramore in the final next Monday evening in Ballindine at 7pm.

Gaeil Na Daibheidí: Kaden Heneghan, Joe Trench, Cathal Cummins, Nathan Turner, Jack Duggan, Tom Roche, Ruari O Dea, Johnny Prendergast, Cormac Devane (0-2), Conal Boyle, Niall Duggan (1-2), Tadhg Kirrane (2-0), Seamie Roche (0-1), Blake Breadley (4-0), Niall McDermott (2-0). Subs used: Tom Diskin, Luke Roche (0-1).