Red letter days
March 01, 2010The village-based starlets notched the first of their excellent double with consummate ease, defeating Killeshandra by 5-18 to 0-14 in the final at Kingspan/Breffni Park in August last.
While the border club's winning margin may have been a tad flattering, there was no doubting the merit of their triumph and the excellence of their performance on the night.
The title triumph was nothing less than joint team-manager Seamus McSherry anticipated though:
"We were very strong in a handful of positions and because the competition was only eleven-a-side, we felt that our stronger players would at least be as good as anything we might come up against during the year," says McSherry, who linked up with fellow manager Pat Smith along the line.
"We had beaten Killeshandra earlier in the league by quite a bit so we kinda felt that it was more likely that we'd be meeting Kildallan in the final.
"We were surprised when Killeshandra beat Kildallan but felt that unless all of our key men had an off-day we'd be good enough to take them in the final."
To their credit, Killeshandra were in sleeves-rolled-up mode from the opening seconds of the final but from the time a goal apiece by team-captain Killian McSherry (6th min) and Paul Martin (10th min) helped Redhills into a 2-4 to 0-2 lead, an air of inevitability wafted its way over proceedings.
Redhills played with a stiffening breeze at their backs in the first half and wasted no time in cashing in on the leg-up afforded them by the elements and their natural enthusiasm and skills.
The Leaguers bravely clung to their opponents' shirt tails and thanks, in part, to a hat-trick of points from the strapping Conor McGearty between the 17th and 20th minutes, eyed a glimmer of hope as they sought to eat into their opponents' 0-6 to 2-9 lead at that juncture.
Redhills remained well ensconced in the comfort zone as the opening moiety raced to a close and the winners had the luxury of relocating their main agitator Killian McSherry into the full-back line in a tactical switch with Ryan Smith.
And when Eddie Masterson had his goal-bound shot blocked by young McSherry in the 26th minute, Killeshandra's finest seemed to sense that their goose was being cooked.
Things didn't get any better either for Killeshandra as they emerged from the half-time break facing into a 0-8 to 2-13 deficit but without the services of their main playmaker and score-getter Conor McGearty who had to retire due to a back injury.
"Once they lost their best player, I thought the whole pattern and shape of the match changed from then on because they were so much weaker without him," Seamus reflected.
The spectre of a right drubbing for the Saffrons became more vivid after Peter Smith's goal in the 34th minute left a whopping 15 points separating the sides.
Killeshandra desperately sought a way out of their predicament but apart from a point in the 36th minute had nothing to show for their efforts in front of goal in the third quarter.
In contrast, Redhills became more and more confident and assured in going forward and Mark Jenkins' goal in the 40th minute propelled his side into a 4-16 to 0-9 lead and any question mark there might have been over the destination of the spoils was well and truly erased there and then.
Killeshandra never looked like throwing in the towel but the concession of a final goal to sub. Aaron Monaghan in the dying embers of the game completed their tale of woe.
A fine evening's work then Seamus?
"Definitely. There was a slight danger that the lads might have went into the league final a bit too cocky but they knuckled down to what they had to do and got everything they deserved.
"They were on top in nearly every sector for most of the match and at no stage was I worried that they wouldn't do the business."
Redhills (v Killeshandra) U14 Roinn E League final:
Oisin Reilly; Daniel Fay, Ryan Smith (0-1), Chris McCann, Cormac Quinn (0-1), Killian McSherry (1-5), Richard Murphy (0-1), Peter Smith (1-2), Darragh Duggan (0-2), Paul Martin (1-4), Mark Jenkins (1-1).
Subs used; Colin Carragher (0-1); Cathal Kelly; Peter Clarke; Aaron Monaghan (1-0); Kevin Bannon.
On September 23rd, the same crew - minus the injured Mark Jenkins - survived a sterling second half comeback from Ballymachugh to claim the U14 Roinn D Championship title courtesy of a 3-10 to 3-7 win in a dramatic decider, also at Kingspan/Breffni Park.
In a slow-to-the-boil encounter, it looked look a case of 'mission accomplished' for Redhills five minutes into the second half when they opened up a whopping ten points lead.
However Ballymachugh lads had other ideas and between the 35th minute and the 48th minute they stormed into a one point lead, 3-7 to 2-9.
Earlier Redhills threatened to run riot as they led by 2-9 to 0-5 after 35 minutes.
Ballymachugh played catch-up for the entire duration save a two minute period between the 49th and 51st minute when top-scorer Mark Kiernan raced along the by-line before shooting to the net and propel his side into a shock 3-7 to 2-9 lead.
Earlier, thanks, in part, to a Killian McSherry goal in the 5th minute - which catapulted Redhills into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead - Redhills leapt into the driving seat and remained there for three-quarters of the match.
There still remained just a single goal (1-5 to 0-5) separating the sides by the 23rd minute when Ballymachugh's Mark Kiernan raced in on goal under pressure from the impressive Ryan Smith but the alert Redhills' 'keeper Oisin Reilly dashed from his goal to clear the danger.
After the influential Peter Smith converted a free, his team-mate McSherry again struck gold after the aforementioned Smith powered through the middle before parting to the midfielder who firmly found the Ballymachugh net.
The long-time leaders kicked on with great vim and vigour and after leading by 2-7 to 0-5 at the interval soon built up a ten points lead over the green and yellows.
But then in a 13 minute period, Ballymachugh sensationally notched 3-2 without reply with stand-out performer Mark Kiernan complementing a stirring rejuvenation in every sector of the field from his team-mates by bagging all those scores.
"They put one of their midfielders into full-back and started to play the direct ball all the time and it worked for them - helped by some poor defensive work by us," team-mentor McSherry explained.
"We were definitely worried when they went into a one-point lead with about ten minutes to go but, in fairness to our lads, they showed a lot of will-to-win and character to come back and get on top again."
As things panned out in the final quarter,Richard Murphy stopped the rot for the would-be winners, steadying the Redhills ship with a neat point in the 49th minute which levelled matters at 2-10 to 3-7.
However Ballymachugh continued to use their direct style of play and superior physical strength to bring out the best in their opponents as the game raced to a frenetic climax.
But Redhills oozed class at times and a slick move shot Peter Smith deliver a pin-point 30 metre pass to the in-running Killian McSherry who finished to the net with aplomb to leave Ballymachugh trailing by three points once again with just nine minutes left on the clock.
Moments later Ballymachugh's Mark Kiernan skimmed the Redhills post with a goal-bound shot and then at the other end of the field, Mark Mahon made a timely tackle to deny Peter Smith a goal opportunity.
One minute later a piledriver from Paul Martin was blocked by Ballymachugh 'keeper Jason Goldrick and then in the 28th minute Stephen Halton just failed to connect with Mark Kiernan's inviting ball across the Redhills' square.
That missed opportunity represented Ballymachugh's last hoorah as Redhills successfully shut up shop to take the spoils, and deservedly so.
Redhills (v Ballymachugh) U14 Roinn D Championship final;
Oisin Reilly; Daniel Fay, Ryan Smith; Cormac Quinn, Christopher McCarron, Kevin Bannon; Richard Murphy (0-3), Killian McSherry (3-3); Cathal Kelly, Peter Smith (0-2), Darragh Duggan; Paul Martin (0-2), Colin Carragher.
Subs used; Peter Clarke; Aaron Monaghan; Christopher Kelly.
Looking ahead, joint-manager McSherry is hopeful that a further dividend can be reaped from the current crop of under 14s in due course.
"I would be hopeful that at least a handful of those lads will go on and contribute a fair bit to the club up to minor level and further on.
"They've got the ability and they're keen but it's all down to them at the end of the day but I'd be hopeful they'll stick with it." Tweet
