The under 16?s played the last game in their section away to Magherafelt and despite a below par performance the team did just enough to earn a five point win. This win meant the team were undefeated in the section and topped the table with 6 wins from 6 games. A step up to grade one now awaits the team after the 3 week exam break.
Magherafelt 2-13 Desertmartin 2-18
The under 16?s played the last game in their section away to Magherafelt and despite a below par performance the team did just enough to earn a five point win. This win meant the team were undefeated in the section and topped the table with 6 wins from 6 games. A step up to grade one now awaits the team after the 3 week exam break.
During the opening 15 minutes Desertmartin totally dominated the game John Hughes once again had the opening score after about 3 minutes when he turned his marker to fire over the first point. Points followed this from Enda McGuckin and Sean Fullen. John Hughes added point number 4 after about 6 minutes at this stage the lads were dominating all over the field Cahir Madden in particular was having a great game in the middle of the field. Paul McGovern hit Desertmartin?s first goal after about 10 minutes two more points from John and another from Enda left the scoreline 1.07 to no score. Unfortunately that was as good as it got as the team took the foot of the pedal and allowed Magherafelt to get a foot hold in the game. Missed opportunities were also proving costly as the team started over carrying the ball instead of the first time direct football they had been playing. Magherafelt hit 1.04 in the period up to half time with Desertmartin only adding 2 more points through John and Enda.
Half time gave the team time to regroup and try and get things going again. They started the second half brightly with John Hughes unlucky to see a rasping shot rebound of the crossbar Enda McGuckin following up fired over. In the next attack John once again rounded his marker but once again another pile driver crashed of the crossbar. Buoyed up Desertmartin’s misfortune Magherafelt hit a purple patch firing over 6 consecutive points to only trail by 1 with about 15 minutes left.
Just as it looked as though the home side were going to snatch an unlikely win, Desertmartin found their form again and the team fired over 5 points on the trot from Enda McGuckin, Paul McGovern, John Hughes and 2 from Enda O?Hagan. Magherafelt replied with a point, which was cancelled out by a Greg McGovern point. Another point from Magherafelt left 5 between the teams approaching the last 5 minutes. A superb long range point from Enda O?Hagan was followed by a goal from Enda McGuckan. Magherafelt replied by scrambling a goal at the other end they followed this with a point before John Hughes fired over the last score of the game.
Despite never reaching the height?s they are capable of this was still a good win against an established Grade one club. Games like that will hopefully stand to the team later in the season. Christopher once again had a sound game in goals. Despite conceding 2-13, there were still some good performances from Cathal, Paul and Gerard in the full back line. In the half back line Paddy O?Neill had a great game at centre half back Conor and Ryan also played well. In Midfield Cahir and Greg never stopped working throughout. The half forward line of Sean, Enda O?Hagan and Joey were very good. The full forward line of Enda McGuckin, John and Paul will wonder how they didn?t score a bagful, John in particular having two pile drivers hitting the crossbar. With a 3 week break until the grade one league starts the team have time to try and iron out the mistakes.
The management want to thank all the boys for their efforts so far and congratulate them on achieving the goal of qualifying for Grade one.
Team
1. C Bradley
2. C Brown
3. P Kidd
4. G McElwee
5. R Murray
6. P O?Neill
7. C Monaghan
8. G McGovern ( C ) (0-1)
9. C Madden
10. S Fullen
11. E O?Hagan (0-3)
12. J Leyden
13. E McGuckan (1-5)
14. J Hughes (0-7)
15. P McGovern (1-1)
Subs
S McStravock
P McFlynn
P Trainor
M Murchan
D Hegarty
M Connery
F Higgins
Man Of The Match: Greg McGovern
Good luck to John, Greg, and Enda who are playing with the Under 16 development squad at the Golden Cow Games on Saturday.