St Vincents/Curraha 2-12 Na Fianna 3-8

Na Fianna suffered a heartbreaking one point defeat to a St Vincents / Curraha in the final of the Meath U16 Division 2 Summer League at a damp Pairc Tailteann on Thursday night. 

Na Fianna got off to a whirlwind start with a soccer style goal from Sean Martin in the first minute but the St Vincents/Curraha team had the better of the first half exchanges. Points from Ryan Hand (45), Sean Keogh and three fine efforts in a row from the left boot of Conor Moriarty gave the combination side a 0-5 to 1-1 lead after 20 minutes.Then in a three minute spell full forward Andrew Battersby scored 2 goals followed almost immediately by a 4th Conor Moriarty point to give the East Meath side an 8 point lead coming up to half time. However on the stroke of half time Michael Keogh stole in behind the Saints defence to score a great goal to leave the interval score St Vincents/Curraha 2-6 Na Fianna 2-1.

Battersby opened the second half scoring with a point. Ethan Devine replied with 3 points but further white flags by Sean Keogh and Patrick McGill had the winners 5 points clear with 15 minutes left to play. However the Enfield/ Baconstown/ Rathmoylan parish team were coming more into the game and points by Sean Martin (2), Cian Slattery and another Devine free in the next 10 minutes against 2 pointed free by St Vincents/Curraha left only 3 points between the team with full time approaching. Then following a couple of minutes of sustained pressure on the town goal that St Vincents/Curraha were defending, Ethan Devine fisted a loose ball to the net to leave the teams level and the possibility of extra time looming. However in injury time a pointed free from midfielder Sean Keogh was to prove the difference between the sides and the final score line read St Vincents/Curraha 2-12 Na Fianna 3-8.

Best for the winners were Ryan Hand, Brian Joyce, Sean Keogh, Conor Morarity and Andrew Battersby while Ciaran Holton, Sean Rafferty, Ethan Devine, Will Flynn and Sean Martin tried hard for Na Fianna.

After the game Meath Minor Board Secretary Damien O'Reilly presented the Under 16 Division Division 2 Summer League Shield to St Vincents Curraha captain Conor Moriarty.

St Vincents/Curraha: Brandon McMahon; David Morgan; Mark Phelan; Andrew Moriarty; Andrew McEntee; Ryan Hand (0-1); Conor O'Farrell; Brian Joyce; Sean Keogh (0-4); Patrick McGill (0-1); Conor Moriarty (0-5); Ian Battersby; Adam White; Andrew Battersby (2-1); Gavin McKane.

Na Fianna; Conor Heffernan; Oisin Coffey; Daniel Devine; Owen McDonnell; Ciaran Holton; Ronan Byrne; Sean Rafferty; Cian Slattery(0-1); Ethan Devine(1-5); Michael Keogh(1-0); Jack McNally; Angus Clarke; Will Flynn; Sean Martin(1-2); David Maher. Subs Shane Walsh for Clarke; Kean Flynn for Maher; Oran Smullen for Coffey; Angus Clarke for Byrne; Kevin Coffey for Clarke (blk card)

Referee Colm McManus Gaeil Colmcille

Tweet

Most Read Stories