Frank Young U10 Memorial Tournament

 

On Saturday 26th , Our U10s welcomed Casteltown Geoghan and Ahascragh Fohenagh (Galway) to our annual U10 Frank Young memorial tournament. 

It was fantastic that each club had the numbers to field two teams , so we fielded an U10 and U9 team so all of our U10 panel were involved.

Dermot and Danny took the older group while Gearoid managed our younger group. Each clubs older  team would play each other  for the honour of lifting Frank Young Cup.

The day started with Southern Gaels and Castletown producing a very competitive and entertaining game. Team. GoalKeeper : Cillian Geary  Back Line Diarmaid Murtagh, Luke O'Connell, Calum

Devaney. Midfield : Dano McMonagle,Johnny Martin, Luke Whelan. Forward Line Luke Farrell, Zach Meegan,Kian Mitchell.

Southern Gaels got off to a good start and were 2 scores up thanks to Dano McMonagle and Luke Whelan. Our back line was very determined and thwarted many Casteltown Geoghan attacks.

Our forwards had a number of good chances in first half but good work from the  before Castletown back line prevented any scores. Cillian Geary  was solid in goal and cleared a number of dropping balls before the attackers could score.

At start of second half Johnny hit a great long range score to push us into lead. Luke O, Diarmaid and Calum were pulling on everything that moved and made many interceptions and clearances.

With the aid of the wind in the second half we  prevented any further scores in second half.

Zach Meegan was really making life difficult for a fantastic Casteltown fullback and tackled and harried at every opportunity.

Our midlfied line were winning lots of ball and Johnny and Luke Whelan making some fantastic hooks and blocks and making it very difficult for Casteltown midfield.

Our backs and midfield were directing great passes into our forwards so it was no surprise when Kian added a fine score after great work in the corner before Dano added a second.

Luke Farrell then added a final score from close range with a fantastic pull to send the ball high over the crossbar and nearly into the next field to finsh on a scoreline of 6 scores to 2.

Southern Gaels  Man of the match was Calum Devaney  for some fantastic defending and clearances.

In the second match of the day Casteltown took on Ahascragh-Fohenagh. In another highly entertaining game,Castletown just got the better of Ahascragh winning by 6 scores to 4.

In the final game,we took on our Galway visitors. The game was on a knife edge at half time on a score of 2-1 in Gaels favour.

Dano and Luke Farrell contributed both of our first half scores before Ahascragh hit back for a fine score. Our back line of Luke O, Dairamid and Calum was again to the fore with some fantastic clearances and prevented many scoring opportunities.

In the second half with the aid of the wind Southern Gaels pushed on again. Calum drove puckouts into corners to set our forwards up and Zach and Kian benefitted.

Dano was first to add a score in the second half. Score of the day came from Zach Meegan , while being covered by a number of defenders , he took a tap on the hurl and turned back onto his weaker left side and drove a fine point over the bar from well out the field. Ahascrah hit back with a well taken score.

Kian Mitchell then cut in from the right to get a fine score while under pressure to leave us 3 up. Cillian was flawless in goal and cleared any danger when it arose. Our back line gave the attackers very little space or room in the second half.

Our midfield trio  (Luke W, Johhny and Dano) tackled , hooked, blocked and setup our forwards throughout. Johnny was unlucky not to score with some fine shots. Dano added another 2 scores near the end for Southern Gaels to run out winners by 7 scores to 2.

Dano was rock solid as free taker throughout the day after hard work from our midfield and forwards  had earned frees in good positions.

Southern Gaels Man of the match was Dano McMonagle for a fantastic contribution from play and set balls.

 

The Frank Young tournament proved to be a double success for the club as both the Under 10s and the Under 9s recorded victories in all their matches. The under 9s have been using what has become the B tournament of this great event to set out their stall for next year when they will take on the mantle of Under 10s formally and there was no lack of talent on display.

Castletown-Geoghan as always proved great rivals and an enjoyable match was played out with Southern Gaels running out winners after a galant defence by Castletown was beaten down by the dynamic duo, brothers Lee and TJ Turley, and Seán Cosgrove whose work rate was impressive and yielded some opportunistic scores when Castletown failed to clear the long ball in.

The Southern Gael defence line was particularly impressive and Castletown had to battle hard to register scores. From the back up, Gearóid McCarthy in goal, Ruairí Ó Duibhir, Kyle Mahon, Donal McDermott and Seán O'Donoghue proved solid I the face of attack and proved the launch pad for all Gaels scores. Seán O'Donoghue shone in this performance sweeping up loose ball and driving forward - what a revelation this year!

For Gaels' second game against new rivals Ahascragh it was again the defence that provided the platform for a comfortable victory with Shane Wheatley and Cormac Bradley deftly scoring from quality ball delivered consistently from the back. The versatile Ellis Hynes played a pivotal role throughout this match switching from target man in the front line to support player at the back allowing Gearóid McCarthy the chance to make an impact up the field.

All in all a great performance from a blossoming under 9 team who are tugging at the bit to represent their club in the A tournament next year. Tús maith leath na hoibre!

Afterwards Club Chairman Kevin Jordan and Emily Young presented medals and treats to all participants.

Zach Meegan was rewarded for his great attendance at training and matches throughout the year by being selected to receive the Cup on behalf on Our U10 team.

A big Thank you  to all the parents and Clubs that took part. We would like to especially thank all parents for your help/effort involved in bringing children to training and matches throughout the year.

Without your support we would not be able to develop or field competitive teams at underage level.

 

Minor 'B' Championship

 

Southern Gaels 0-9    Fr. Dalton's  1-6

 

This hard fought group game was played in Ballymore last Sunday. Gaels now top the table with five wins prior to this draw and look set to make the final.

Gaels had the best of the opening quarter with three points all from midfielder Fionn Dowd. The home side got back in the game with two points before Eoin Fahy extended Gaels lead with a wonderful point from way out on the sideline. Fr. Dalton's struck for a goal and a point to lead for the first time in the twenty fifth minute. However points from Dermot Treacy and Sean Dowd tied the scores at half time.

The second half was a closely fought contest as the sides swapped points on three occasions to finish level. Foinn Dowd pointed and brother Sean, pointed two frees, the last one in the fifty ninth minute to level the match. Southern Gaels showed great commitment throughout and their defense was particularly impressive. Cathal Mc Givern, Dermot Treacy and goalkeeper Breen Elliott played well throughout. Eoin Fahy and Fionn Dowd were a well balanced midfield pairing with Joe Finucane and Sean Dowd working hard in the forwards.

Team: Breen Elliott, Cathal Mc Givern, Fergus Gronenendijk, Myles Duffy, Dermot Treacy (0-1), Diarmuid Martin, Fionn Dowd Capt. (0-4, 1'65), Eoin Fahy (0-1), Gary Fitzpatrick, Joe Finucane, Kevin Dolan, Joe Reidy and Sean Dowd (0-3, 2f)

Sub: Austin Murphy for Reidy.

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