St Cuthberts 4 - 07
Dunshaughlin 2 - 10

St Cuthberts produced an amazing second half performance to overcome hosts Dunshaughlin in the semi-final of Division 3 of the Meath U-16 Summer League.

The Bohermeen side trailed 1 - 09 to no score at the interval but came back from the dead in Lazarus-like style to stun their opponents. Played in ideal conditions on a perfect playing surface, the home side dominated the first half with some sublime points and a goal 4 minutes before the interval appeared to leave the game completely out of reach for St Cuthberts. But for some fine saves from goalkeeper Cian Farnan and staunch defending from Ronan Breslin and Shane Dolan, the deficit could have been much worse.

The comeback commenced five minutes into the second have with a goal from Ryan O'Rouke that was followed 3 minutes later with another major from a superbly struck Ronan Galligan penalty. Points from O'Rourke, and the influential Conor Smyth (2) was followed by a 45 from Ronan Breslin to leave the home side only 2 points in front - 1 - 09 to 2 - 04. Amazingly the visitors took the lead on 18 minutes with the first of two goals from Andrew Barry quickly followed by a David Rispin point. The home side regained the lead on 21 mins with their first score of the second half leaving the score board reading Dunshaughlin 2 - 09 St Cuthberts 3 - 05. When Dunshaughlin doubled thier lead to 2 points it looked as if the fight-back had ended but Barry had other ideas with a magnificently timed flick to restore St Cuthberts lead by the minimum. Some heroic defending from the Bohermeen team prevented Dunshaughlin from equalising before a superbly struck free off the ground from Glen Kavanagh and a cheecky dummy from Ryan O'Rourke to score the final point sealed a memorable victory for St Cuthberts.

It was an unbelievable turn of fortunes for the victors for as well as trailing by 12 points at the interval the same opposition had inflicted a 10 drubbing on the saints two weeks earlier in the qualifying rounds. It was a terrific team performance and would be unfair to single out any individual for special praise as they wewre all stars on the day. St Cuthberts will now play neighbours Wolfe Tones in the decider of this inaugural u-16 Summer League competition.

St Cuthberts - Cian Farnan, Ronan Galligan (1-00), Sean Herwerd, Shane Dolan, Conor Smyth (0-02), Ronan Breslin (0-01), Gareth McGrane, Emmet Costello, Ryan O'Rourke (1-02), Sean Power, Andrew Barry (2-00), David Rispin (0-01), Glen Kavanagh (0-01). Subs - Cormac Farrell, Daniel Mulroe, Dylan Coyne, Ronan Costello. Tweet

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