Monaghan U16 Development Squad – Update on Gerry Reilly tournament
Below is an update on Monaghan U16 Development Squad participation in the Gerry Reilly tournament that is hosted by Oldcastle GFC in County Meath. Monaghan was drawn in a group with Longford, Westmeath and Dublin. In all 41 players got that opportunity to take in these games , representing 20 clubs throughout the county. Please see below a report on each of the games. Preparations will now be focusing on the U16 Ulster Buncrana Semi Final against Donegal on Saturday 13th August.
In addition to this, Monaghan Coaching & Games Development would like wish speedy recoveries to Aaron McGee and Padraig McGahon. Both players picked up serious injuries playing for the clubs over the recent weeks, hopefully it will not be to long before we see both players back playing.
Exciting climax to the ‘Round Robin’ section of the Gerry Reilly U-16 FT
Dublin 2-12 Monaghan 1-15
What a terrific game of football that all present were treated to in the last of the ’round robin’ games in the Gerry Reilly U-16 FT played on Sunday evening in Oldcastle. A draw between Monaghan and Dublin was a fitting result, though it was Monaghan that had more chances of claiming victory. Dublin had the advantage of the wind in the first half and were off target on their first 2 scoring chances. Monaghan too, had a shot wide before Tiernan Duffy got the opening point of the game in the 6th minute and he followed up quickly with another point.
Andrew McCaul went on a terrific run before finishing to the Monaghan net to give Dublin the lead.
A Sean Treanor point in the 12th minute had the sides level followed up by a Tiernan Duffy point to regain the lead for Monaghan. Eanna McCarney pointed for Dublin to level the sides again.
A terrific Monaghan move saw Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan finish to the Dublin net. 3 successive points from Dublin had the sides level yet again. Dublin had a great goal attempt saved by the Monaghan ‘keeper before Sam Jones’s point had Dublin ahead again.
Monaghan had chances with Ryan O’Neill’s point attempt off the post and then had two others into the goalie’s hands, which might have been scores.
Monaghan were on target for 3 successive points (Pauric O’Brien, Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan and Tiernan Duffy) for a 2 point lead. Stephen Braiden O’Byrne pointed for Dublin just before the break to leave the minimum between the sides.
H/T: Monaghan 1-7 Dublin 1-6
On the resumption Monaghan stretched their lead with 3 unanswered poits by Tiernan Duffy. Substitute, Aidan Kearney was making his presence felt and pointed for Dublin. Dublin had a shot blocked out for a 45 and Lennon Bracken pointed from the resultant free kick. Monaghan powered back to add 3 more points to give them a 5 point lead,
Dublin fought back and when Conor Kinsella got Dublin’s second goal they were really fired up. They went on to score 4 points without reply to take a 2 point lead. Monaghan did have a great chance, but their attempt was into the goalie’s hands again.
The game was intense with both sides giving their all, but it was Monaghan who got the last scores from Tiernan Duffy (1f) to have the sides level. Monaghan went all out for a winner, but the Dublin defence held strong.
It was a great game and a credit to both sides with great movement and tackling. A lot of players were in contention for the ‘Man of the match’ award, such was the standard.
Monaghan’s Tiernan Duffy was presented with the ‘Man of the match’ award by Eddie O’Reilly(Oldcastle GFC)
Scorers for Dublin: Stephen Braiden O’Byrne (0-4), Andrew McCaul and Conor Kinsella (1-0) each, Anthony Quinn (0-3), Lennon Bracken (0-2), Ryan Dunne, Sam Jones and Aidan Kearney (0-1) each
Scorers for Monaghan: Tiernan Duffy (0-9), Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan (1-1), Pauric O’Brien (0-3), Sean Treanor (0-2)
Dublin: Steven James, Michael Conroy, Eoghan Lyons, Daniel Bailey, Sean Farrelly, Eanna Torsey, Lee Gannon Whitehall, Luke Grady, Ciaran Murphy Whitehall, Sam Jones, Stephen Braiden O’Byrne, Andrew McCaul, Anthony Quinn, Conor Kinsella, Ryan Dunne
Subs: Jack Kinsella for James, Aidan Kearney for Torsey, Lennon Bracken for Dunne, Adam Kelly for Bailey, Fionan O’Sullivan for Lyons
Monaghan: Kian O’Connor, Alan Curley, Kieran Duffy, Ryan O’Toole, Tiarnan McSkeane, Craig Callan, Kieran Marron, Liam Og Murray, Ryan O’Neill,Sean Treanor, Andrew Woods, Eanna McCarney, Pauric O’Brien, Tiernan Duffy, Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan
Subs: Charlie Counihan for O’Toole, Tiarnan McCourt for Treanor, Conor McKeown for McSkearne, Shane Forde for McCarney
Longford 1-18 Monaghan 2-8
Longford seemed to be the much hungrier for success in the first half of this Rd.2 match of the Gerry Reilly U-16 FT played on Saturday afternoon in Millbrook, Oldcastle.They built up a 5 point lead over Monaghan at the break leading by 0-11 to 1-3.
Monaghan came out firing on the resumption and with 3 unanswered points and a goal had taken the lead by 2-6 to 0-11. Longford responded with 2 fine points to regain the lead.
Monaghan were denied a goal having had 3 attempts on goal in the same play. A Mark Keenan free for Monaghan had the sides level again. However they failed to score again while Longford’s second goal helped to set up their 5 point victory.
Overall a great game played at a hectic pace.
Scorers for Longford: Aidan Mc Guire 0-6, Dylan Farrell 0-5, Player 28 0-4, Oran Kenny 1-0, Jamie Bermingham, Eoin Grey and Diarmuid Sheehan 0-1 each
Scorers for Monaghan: Oisin O’Neill 1-4, Pauric O’Brien 1-1, Francis McGeough, Shane Forde and Alan Corley 0-1 each
Longford: Eoin Mc Guinness, Evan Farrelly, 6 Michael Mc Cann, Paulius Merkelis, Eoin Grey, Kian Gilmore, Niall Finneran, Dylan Farrell, Ronan Lynch, Lee O’Leary, Aidan Mc Guire, Jordan Shields, Jamie Bermingham, 28, Diarmuid Sheehan
Subs used: Liam Sheridan, Conor Gilna, Oran Kenny, Maitiu O’Donohoe, Paul Brady, Eoin Hawkins
Monaghan: Conor McCloud, Conor McKeown, Christopher Hanratty, Ryan Lynch, Gavan Kelly, Sean Markey, Aaron McGee, James McCaughey, Kieran Duffy, Francis McGeough, Kieran Duffy, Shane Forde, Sean Treanor, Sean Finn, Oisin O’Neill
Subs: Pauric O’Brien, Eoghan Treanor, Dylan Finnegan, Mark Keenan, Conor McCrystal, Alan Corley, Eanna McCarron
Westmeath 1-16 Monaghan 0-10
Monaghan certainly took advantage of the strong wind in the opening period of their game against Westmeath in the Gerry Reilly U-16 Ft played in Oldcastle on Saturday afternoon, They had 4 fine points on the board from 4 seperate scorers before Westmeath’s Sam Maxwell point. Padraig Hughes added 2 points to Monaghan’s tally before Shane Coughlan found the Monaghan net after a great move by John Tumelty. 2 more Westmeath points gave them the lead for the first time. Points were exchanged twice to give Westmeath the lead at the break.
H/T: Westmeath 1-6 Monaghan 0-8
John Tumelty pointed on the restart, but 2 converted frees by Ryan O’Neill had the sides level again. However they turned out to be Monaghan’s last and only scores of the half. Westmeath added 5 unanswered points to go 5 up and were making much better use of wind advantage. Monaghan had 2 great opportunities of a goal foiled by a great Westmeath ‘keper and defence, which turned out to have a major bearing on the result.
Westmeath went on to add 4 more points before the final whistle for a deserved victory..
It was a terrific game, played at a hectic pace and full committment from both teams. We were treated to a great game of football from both sides.
Westmeath’s, Conal McKiernan received the ‘Man of the match’ award
Scorers for Westmeath: Sean Coughlan (1-5), Conan O’Hara (0-5), John Beaumount and John Tumelty (0-2) each, Sean Maxwell and Shane Allen (0-1) each
Scorers for Monaghan: Ryan O’Neill and Padraig Hughes (0-3) eachSean Finn (0-2),Kieran Treanor and Sean Treanor (0-1) each
Ref: Colm McManus (Meath)
