U-15 C’ship Semi-final v Islandeady match report
Davitts 3-15 Islandeady 5-10
A never say die Islandeady team produced a storming last four minutes, scoring a goal and three points, to see them advance to the County U-15 G Championship final after a cracking match against Davitts in Ballindine on Tuesday evening. The same two teams had met a week earlier in Islandeady with Davitts winning by a very wide margin, but underage football can be very unpredictable and this game certainly proves that. Poor shooting by the home side and terrific displays from Islandeady’s keeper and one outstanding forward in particular proved to be major factors towards the outcome of this game.
After the visitors opened the scoring with a first minute point, Davitts shot two goals and four points in a six minute scoring blitz, Adam Rattigan and Noah O Brien with the goals and Aaron CB (2), Cillian Kearns and Noah O Brien notching the points. Islandeady replied with an eighth minute point but the next score was an Aaron CB goal, after a fine run in the 12th minute. A 15th minute goal for the visitors narrowed the deficit but further points for Davitts by Tadhg Feerick, Adam Rattigan, Sean Clarke, Noah O Brien and Aaron CB had extended Davitts lead to ten points with five minutes remaining in the first half. Islandeady finished the half well and a goal in the 25th minute followed by two quick points halved the Davitts lead before an Aaron CB point in the 29th minute left Davitts ahead by 3-10 to 3-4 at halftime.
Islandeady started the second half well and a goal and three points in the opening eight minutes had the sides level. Davitts were rattled but they responded well with unanswered points from Tadhg Feerick (2), Aaron CB, Cillian Kearns and Aaron O Dea between the 39th and 54th minute. A terrific late salvo by the visitors which yielded a goal in the 57th minute and points in the 58th and 60th minutes levelled the match before they took the lead to grab a place in the final a minute into stoppage time.
Davitts will be very disappointed and although all of the team played very well in spells, their performance was also quite flat at times and Islandeady capitalised.
Davitts: Aaron O Dea (0-1), Sean Clarke (0-1), Jason Boyle, Luke Rattigan, Tadhg Feerick (0-3), Malachy Devane, Noah O Brien (1-2), Dylan Gormally, Peter Kilkenny, Aaron CB (1-5), Odhran O Conaire, Adam Rattigan (1-1), Cillian Kearns (0-2). Sub used: Pierce Diskin.