Our Minors put on an excellent display last night, Monday October 4th to capture the Interdivisonal County Shield under lights in Convoy. Naomh Ultan started the game the brighter of the two sides racing into a two point lead in the opening 10 minutes. They were very efficient with their scores, Luke Gallagher started off their scores for the evening and made it two soon after. Convoy pointed their first attack but Shay Byrne popped up for a well taken score after good build up play to edge Naomh Ultan ahead. The water break came and went and that lead was increased by Gallagher again, getting his third score with a sweet effort from his left boot on 19 minutes. Gallagher could do no wrong in front of the posts getting his forth and fifth score of the game, the second of those being from a free kick 21 metres from goal. The lead was lengthening, now standing as 0-6 to 0-1. Convoy did attack and had a couple of wides during this period, the Naomh Ultan defence were pressuring every shot making it difficult to score.
Gallagher and Jack Hegarty swapped positions and it proved to be a great move as Hegarty took up the scoring mantel, he got arguably the score of the game on 26 minutes when he kicked a superb score from a tight angle. He added a second and a third on 28 minutes and just as the ref was about to call the half time whistle. That gave Naomh Ultan a convincing and deserved lead, going in at the break on a scoreline of 0-9 to 0-1.
Chances were few and far between in the opening minutes of the second half, Naomh Ultan were pinned back and defended excellently to overturn the ball and break out quickly. A long and high ball was sent up the field and it fell into the hands of Jack Hegarty who had only the keeper to beat, he did so brilliantly scoring the first goal of the game and stretching Naomh Ultan's lead to 11 points. Convoy responded to the goal with a point from a free and it seemed like there was a resurgence in them, however disaster struck for them on 40 minutes. A Jack Hegarty free kick from distance dropped short and wasn't dealt with by the Convoy players on the line. ending up in the net. That was his and his side's second goal of the evening and putting the result in absolutely no doubt.
Convoy pointed again on 42 minutes but that was matched a couple of minutes later by Gallagher who pointed a free again for his side. The referee called the second water break and Naomh Ultan had a lead to hold out on which they had to work hard on to keep. Convoy started to get the ball go in to their dangerous full forward but Naomh Ultan full back Aaron O'Shea was very much on his game, cleaning up any sniff of danger. They did get a free for the efforts on 49 minutes, time was however starting to run out for them. Gallagher kicked his last score of the evening almost immediately after the Convoy free, then minutes later substitute Brian Carey pointed excellently to top off a great all round performance. Convoy did rally well in the last 5 minutes and were rewarded getting two goals, the first was a penalty expertly put away and the second came after a constant press on the Naomh Ultan goal.
Great way to finish off the year for this team, a credit to themselves and their families. They played brilliantly on the night and it was obvious they've put in a huge amount of work over the past couple of months. Captain Daragh Gallagher was presented the shield in front of a good crowd of supporters. We'd like to congratulate all the players and a special mention must go out to their management team of Michael Hegarty, Daragh Murrin, Jack Boyle and Samantha Gallagher. Their efforts were greatly appreciated this year!
NAOMH ULTAN ABร
Full Time - Naomh Ultan 2-12 Naomh Mhuire, Conmhaigh 2-05
Naomh Ultan Team & Scorers -
Caoimhin O'Neill
Pauric Cunningham
Aaron O'Shea
Owen Cunningham
Jamie Cunningham
Matthew Huntley
Daragh Gallagher
Tiernan Boyle
Barry Murray
Morgan Cassidy
Shay Byrne (0-1)
Jack Hegarty (2-3)
Corey Boyle
Luke Gallagher (0-7, 2f)
Finley Gavigan
Substitutions
Brian Carey (o-1) for Morgan Cassidy
Caolan Reynolds for Corey Boyle
