Nobber 5-16
Blackhall Gaels 5-14

An epic encounter that swung one way and then another ended with the Blackhall boys narrowly falling to Nobber in their first encounter of the Summer League E final.

With their performances in the Spring League earning them promotion, the boys were facing an uphill task in taking on Nobber, themselves semi-finalists in this division earlier in the year.

With the Summer League comes inevitable absences and holidays deprived the Gaels of 7 of their regular panel, with Davy Sheeran making a debut in goals, behind a new look full-back line of Adam Tighe and Tony O'Connor; Fearghal Kiernan captained the team from the centre half back position, flanked by James Kelly and Patrick Kneafsey. Patrick Sheeran and Adam McHugh were in midfield with Eddie Carr starting on the 40 beside Dylan Cranley and Eoin O'Toole, leaving Conor Duffy and Patrick Kneafsey up front.

Nobber applied all the early pressure and dominated the opening 5 minutes and it looked like the Gaels were in for a tough night when they went two points behind in the early stages. However they gradually got to grips at midfield and some good early ball into the forward line helped Conor Duffy put the boys in front with 3 points, 2 from frees. Nobber levelled matters before Duffy took a grip on proceedings and snaffled two goals in two minutes, with a point from the all action Dylan Cranley in between, to give the Gaels a 2-4 to 0-3 lead. Nobber replied with three unanswered points before Duffy got his hat trick with a superb goal into the top corner from about 20 yards out. Cranley added two points in a minute to put the Gaels 9 points ahead.

However Nobber then turned the screw at midfield and had their own period of dominance, scoring 2-2 without reply in a 3 minute spell to leave just a point between the teams, with 5 minutes remaining in the first half. Then it was the Blackhall boys time to dominate and 4 points without reply, shared between Conor Duffy and Adam McHugh with Nobber getting the final point of the first half to leave the half-time score an incredible 3-10 to 2-9.

The first half showed Blackhall's forwards at their very best, with some very efficient shooting, only one wide being registered in the whole first period.

Nobber scored an early free to leave three points between the teams before Eddie Carr produced a rival for goal of the match with a lovely low show to beat the Nobber keeper, one of their best players on the night. Cranley added another point and with the Gaels 7 points to the good with just over 20 minutes remaining, confidence was high that the points would be secured.

However Nobber continued to pile on the pressure and dominated the next ten minutes, accumulating 2-4 without reply. Their final goal was the subject of some controversy with the referee blowing the whistle in the run up to the score, causing the Blackhall defenders to stop when Nobber, seemingly playing to a different whistle, played on and got a goal.

Three points down with no subs and 15 minutes to play, it would have been easy for the boys to fold, but they showed great tenacity and spirit. Adam Tighe provided great cover for Davy in goals, Tony O'Connor stuck tight to his marker who was Forrest Gump like in his inability to ever stop running. Fearghal led by example and produced some great clearances.

Duffy moved out towards midfield and gradually the tide turned again and after winning possession he followed up a number of passes to finish to the net for his fourth goal to level the match. When Patrick Sheeran got the next point the Gaels, incredibly, led again. Then the tide swung back to Nobber, and they got the next 1-1 to leave the score 5-16 to 5-12 with 9 minutes to play. Blackhall pressed forward against a massed Nobber defence and tacked on points from Eddie Carr and Adam McHugh but hit a couple of bad wides and took some bad options when attacking and were unable to close the gap further.

An epic encounter finished 5-16 to 5-14. With performances like whilst playing with a much reduced panel, the Gaels can have great confidence of their ability to make a serious impact on this division, with the local derby against Moynalvey coming up next Thursday in Batterstown at 7:00.

Best for the Gaels were Conor Duffy, Dylan Cranley, Adam McHugh, Fearghal Kieran, James Kelly, Tony O'Connor and Adam Tighe.

Scorers: Conor Duffy 4-5, Dylan Cranley 0-4, Eddie Carr 1-1, Adam McHugh 0-3, Patrick Sheeran 0-1

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