Eglish 3-9 Fintona 3-8
Underage football has been the gift that keeps on giving this season and that was the case again in Dunmoyle on Sunday morning as Eglish had the minimum to spare over a gallant Fintona side to take the grade two U16 Championship title.
It was a contest between two well drilled sides played in perfect conditions with both sets of players deserve immense credit for the entertainment that they served up. Enda O’Donnell opened the scoring for Eglish before they had their keeper Damian Adam to thank for thwarting Caolan Donnelly, one of a number of superb saves that he made during the game. Cormac Watson opened the Pearses account with a goal before Donnelly and Cormac McElhatton traded points with PJ Daly and Turlough Muldoon. O’Donnell and Ryan Donnelly then edged Eglish three in front but it was all square in the 25th minute when Oran Hughes got his side’s second goal. Eglish though responded with points from Muldoon and Sheehan Fay to lead 1-7 to 2-3 at the break.
Callum Welsh had the sides level in the opening attack of the second half before a free from Tom Gavin edged Fintona in front. A Caolan Donnelly free then pushed Fintona two clear but Eglish responded with Ryan Donnelly converting a penalty. Ryan and Caolan Donnelly exchanged points before the former got his side’s third goal. Substitute Caolan Donaghy then struck a wonderful point to put Eglish five clear with time running out. To their credit Fintona kept battling away with Gavin finding the net from the rebound after his penalty had been saved by Adam. Pascal Donnelly then added a point but time ran out on Fintona as Eglish held on to take the silverware.
Eglish scorers – Ryan Donnelly 2-3 (1-0 pen, 1F), Enda O’Donnell 1-1, Turlough Muldoon 0-2, PJ Daly 0-1, Sheehan Fay 0-1, Caolan Donaghy 0-1
Fintona scorers – Tom Gavin 1-1 (1F), Caolan Donnelly 0-3 (2F), Cormac Watson 1-0, Oran Hughes 1-0, Cormac McElhatton 0-2, Pascal Donnelly 0-1, Callum Welsh 0-1
Referee – Mickey Quinn, Ardboe
Match report courtesy of teamtalkmag
