Strabane Sigersons 4-7
Eglish St Patrick's 2-6
By Aodhán Harkin
The Under 13 footballers of Strabane Sigersons clinched the Tyrone Grade 2 League title with a well deserved win over a gritty Eglish side at the Tyrone Centre of Excellence at Garvaghey last Sunday with the game played in horrendous weather conditions. Both sets of players deserve great credit in coping with the blustery winds and heavy rain and in doing so hugely entertained the large crowd in attendance. Strabane were full credit for their victory but the East Tyrone boys made them fight all the way to gain such and I've no doubt that these sides will cross swords once again in the near future at youth level.
Eglish opened the scoring aided by a stiff breeze with a point from a free kick but Strabane responded in the sixth minute of the contest with Ryan Stewart hitting his side's first goal of the game. Eglish again scored from a free kick but Strabane's response was as before with Matthew Doherty finding the Eglish net for goal number two. Sigersons increased their lead with Anthony Crossan sending over a point from a free kick and then Aaron McGrath hit a fine point from play. The Eglish boys then hit their first point from play and quickly followed up with two points from close range free kicks to leave just three points separating the teams.
On the stroke of half time, Strabane midfielder Oran McGrath who was having a brilliant contest with Michael McGleenan of Eglish rattled over a superb point from play to leave the Sigersons boys four points ahead and turning around with the breeze now in their favour.
Half-time score; Strabane 2-3 Eglish 0-5
Eglish unperturbed by the gale like conditions that now ensued opened the second half in blistering fashion hitting two goals in the opening six minutes to race into a two points lead and pile the pressure upon the young Sigersons boys who now realised that they were in a contest and were going to have to work hard to ensure victory.
This they did accordingly with full forward Anthony Crossan showing that he is also a talented footballer as well as an outstanding hurler firing over two fine scores from free kick situations. With ten minutes of the second half elapsed Strabane hit goal three with the hard working Ryan Stewart once again finding the net. The score of the game followed when Anthony Crossan who was played through on a one to one with the Eglish goalkeeper cleverly chipped the ball over the advancing Jody Murtagh for a tremendous goal that drew huge applause from the Strabane supporters. Further points followed from the boot of Oran McGrath and again from a free kick via Anthony Crossan whilst Eglish tagged on a late consolation score. Moments later Aghyaran whistler Seamus Gallagher signalled for full time to scenes of great elation amongst the Strabane players, management and supporters whilst the young Eglish boys were understandably disappointed but I've no doubt that we haven't heard the last of this fine young side with so many talented players at their disposal.
Following the game the Strabane captain Eoin Barkley proudly received the Grade 2 League Shield from Tyrone C.C.C. Youth representative Niall McKenna completing a great weekend for the Barkley family as his father Sean who was also a member of the Under 13 management team helped Tyrone Masters to the All Ireland title less than twenty-fours earlier with victory over Galway at Drumlish.
The Strabane management team of Liam Sweeney, Dermot McGrath, Dean Molloy, Sean Barkley and Pax Love deserve the highest of praise for their hard work and determination over recent months with this very talented squad of players and hopes are high that they can nurture them in the years ahead to develop them into even better footballers and hopefully deliver more silverware at Grade 1 level.
Comhghairdeas to everyone involved with this great success for Sigersons ensuring that the 2015 season ended on a high and that silverware arrived at the club via club, college and county level over the course of a number of very special days. The Under 13's success came on the same weekend that Tyrone Master's won their first All Ireland title with three Sigersons men on board and Holy Cross College also clinched an Ulster title with ten members of the Sigersons club playing their part in that success. A big word of Comhghairdeas to everyone involved and special praise goes out to all the parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, sponsors and all the club supporters who rallied behind them to achieve this victory.
Strabane Scorers; Anthony Crossan 1-4, Ryan Stewart 2-0, Matthew Doherty 1-0, Oran McGrath 0-2 and Aaron McGrath 0-1
The winning Strabane Squad was as follows; Liam McElhinney, Ronan McGinley, Ben McGranaghan, Garbhan Brennan, Paul McColgan, Eoin Barkley, Dylan Edwards, Oran McGrath, Jordan Gallagher, Matthew Doherty, Conor Williamson, Aaron McGrath, Oisín McGillion, Anthony Crossan, Ryan Stewart, Danny Walsh, Shay Falconer, Ciarán McDaid, Daniel McDaid, Matthew Duffy, Tiarnan Gallagher, Shane Rouse, Cormac O'Kane, Caimin Conwell, Alex Bishop, Ryan McGrath, Ronan Snodgrass, Cadhla Mac An Chrosáin, Sean Mayse, Gary Quigg and Gerry McGettigan
Referee - Seamus Gallagher (Aghyaran)
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