St Colmcille's were decisive winners of the North-Eastern Health Board-sponsored Under-16 FC at the expense of a Round Towers side that faded in the second-half of the final at Pairc Tailteann on Tuesday, July 6. St Colmcille's 0-13 Round Towers 1-6 After trailing 0-4 to 1-5 at half-time the team from the Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington area outscored their opponents by 0-9 to 0-1 in the second-half while all bar two of their scores came from play. While the east county side looked the more likely winners for most of the second-half there was still only one point between the sides with four minutes remaining and it was only late flourish that yielded a brace of points >from the impressive Wayne McCluskey and outstanding midfielder Graham Reilly which copper fastened a merited success. St Colmcille's looked stronger and fitter than the team representing Kells, Kilmainham and Drumbaragh that was forced restructure their line-out in the absence of midfielder Sean Brosnan with a knee injury. Backed by a slight breeze, Round Towers made the early running and posted three unanswered points in the opening seven minutes through the best players Colm Carry and midfielder Gavin Butler. Carry opened the scoring with a pointed free in the third minute before adding one from play while Butler landed his sole score after combining well with John Morrissey. However, after the break Butler couldn't replicate his first half form to provide Carry with the service required to add to the 'Towers' tally. Graham Boyle registered St Colmcille's first score in the eighth minute after a jinking solo-run and shot that went over with the aid on the left upright at the town end. But the corner-forward appeared to go to ground easily in the opening half, something that didn't seem to impress referee Tom Lorton, while on a couple of other occasions he was penalised for over-carrying the ball. Reilly and his midfield partner Eoin Woods combined well to set up strong running centre-forward John Tuffy for the Cilles second score.  The sides were on terms for the first time when the Reilly claimed his second score just after the quarter hour mark. Round Towers goalkeeper Gary McGovern was the busier of the two goalkeepers and fielded well under pressure in the opening half before making a spectacular diving save to deny Boyle a certain goal midway through the second-half. Boyle and McGovern was fortunate to escape caution after a brief 'exchange' a few moments earlier but overall the Simonstown official had a good outing and was quick to penalise infringements. St Colmcille's direct approach paid dividends when McCloskey put them in front for the first time in the 20th minute but seconds later they were rocked by the only goal of the game when netminder Donal O'Sullivan allowed a Michael Newman effort slip by him. Carry rounded off the half with two excellent scores but amazingly he failed to add to his tally in the second-half. The seasiders were a transformed side in the second-half and regained the lead by the 48th minute with five unanswered points into the hospital end with Boyle and Reilly registering two each and Tuffy the other. Woods doubled the Cilles advantage before a brief Round Towers rally threatened a thrilling climax. First, full-forward Darren Burke fisted a Daniel Madden centre over the bar for their only score of the second half. Then substitute Darren Skelly had the ball in the net but the effort was correctly ruled out for a 'square' infringement. Moments later another Skelly was deflected out for a '45' and that signaled the end for Round Towers. St Colmcille's sealed a merited success with three unanswered scores and after the game their captain Colm Reilly received the Benny Caffrey Cup from North Eastern Health Board representative Lesley O'Sullivan. St Colmcille's - Donal O'Sullivan; Colm Reilly, John Levins, Lorcan Smith; Brian Murphy, Robert Madden, Dean Adamson; Graham Reilly (0-4), Eoin Woods (0-1); Niall Black, John Tuffy (0-2), Peter Lambe; Graham Boyle (0-3), Wayne McCloskey (0-3), Michael Gallagher. Sub - Mark Eagleton for Adamson. Round Towers - Gary McGovern; Ian Walsh, Darren Morgan, Phillip Mooney; Darragh Gogarty, Gerard Morgan, Christopher Lynch; Denis Newman, Gavin Butler (0-1); Michael Newman (1-0), John Morrissey, Daniel Madden; Colm Carry (0-4), Darren Burke (0-1), Mark Kavanagh. Sub - Darren Skelly for Kavanagh. Referee - Tom Lorton (Simonstown Gaels). Tweet

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