Desertmartin: 5-09
Ballymaguigan: 3-13
In the first League game of the season Desertmartin U16 Boys took on Ballymaguigan on a heavy sodden pitch at Longfield on Thursday 7th April. Both teams lining out at eleven-a-side as their section determines provided a thrilling encounter until the final whistle. Ballymaguigan against the wind and sun playing with great assurance dominated the first half scoring 2 – 7 to Desertmartin’s 0 – 6. The Saffrons had to thank Eunan McElhennon for keeping the home side in the game hitting five of Desertmartin’s six with Michael McLaughlin scoring the sixth.
Facing the breeze and sun in the second half Desertmartin were a team transformed. Their defence closed down a free moving Quigan forward line along with good play from Eunan McElhennon (who dominated throughout), Kelan Meharg, a beaverish Laclan Murray and the attacking half-back Martin Mackle, Desertmartin took a firm grip on the game. Within five minutes after the restart Desertmartin hit two goals cutting the defecit to one point. The Quigan replied with 1 – 1 to steady the ship and lead by five before Desertmartin followed with 3 -1 to another two points from Ballymaguigan giving the St Martin lads a four point lead going into the last seven minutes. It was nail-biting stuff to the finish with Ballymaguigan scoring three unanswered points cutting Desertmartin’s lead to one in injury time. But the home side sealed victory when Kelan Meharg soloed half the length of the field to score the insurance point giving Desertmartin a two point victory.
Desertmartin team: Caolan Croskery; Oisin Campbell, Dominic O’Connor; Martin Mackle, Dylan McGovern; Kelan Meharg(0 -1), Eunan McElhennon(4 – 7); Callam Ormsby, Laclan Murray; Michael McLaughlin(0 – 1), Oran Murray.
Subs used: Ryan McElhennon(1 – 0), Micheal Bradley
Subs not used: Sean Kelly, Ryan Henry