Connolly Meats U19 Division 2 Final
Scotstown 1-12 Castleblayney 1-6
A massive blue wave in the second half of this U19 final propelled Scotstown to the Division 2 title in front of a sizeable crowd at Cloghan on Wednesday night last. Having trailed by two points at half time, the Blues completed an eight point turnaround with a strong wind, also aided by a total of 1-5 from full forward Matthew Maguire.
The game was played in cold but dry conditions under lights, and it began with a fortuitous goal after 2 minutes for Castleblayney. The ball came in and bounced over the Scotstown defender’s head, leaving an easy one on one for David Irwin to fire in the goal. This was then followed up by a Robbie Hanratty free.
It was 9 minutes in before Scotstown scored their first point, a fine effort from the right wing by Patrick McCarron. Six minutes later, the aforementioned Maguire halved his side’s four point deficit with his first from play.
Gavin Kelly restored a three point lead for Blayney on 18 minutes, before Maguire’s second point and a white flag from Michael Meehan left only one between the sides after 25 minutes, 0-4 to 1-2 to Blayney.
The play at times was scrappy but Josh Mone worked a good point for Blayney on the stroke of half time to leave his side 1-3 to 0-4 ahead at the break, having played with the strong breeze.
On the resumption, Conor McMahon and Matthew Maguire reeled Blayney in with two fine points to leave the teams level after four minutes of the second half.
Josh Mone then added his second from play after 35 minutes for the Faughs to edge them in front once more, before Maguire levelled matters again just 60 seconds later.
Robbie Hanratty then won a close in free and converted it to nudge his side ahead once more with nine minutes of the second half played. It was the last time Blayney would be in fonrt however, as Scotstown then unleashed the Blue wave.
The burst began with a free from Matthew Maguire and a score from play by Patrick Connolly to put his side in front for the first time with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Then came the key moment. A kickout by Faughs keeper Kian O’Connor was intercepted by that man Maguire, who then raced towards goal and buried a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net, to leave Scotstown 1-9 to 1-5 in front with 12 minutes left. Patrick McCarron also tagged on his second point of the night, to leave the Blues five in front with as many minutes left.
Odhran McArdle pulled a point back for Blayney, but with time running out it was goals that they needed. They didn’t come however, as Gavin McPhillips and Darragh Murray scored two points to see out a comfortable six point win and the trophy for the men from Tydavnet parish.
SCOTSTOWN: Conor Caulfield, Aaron Murray, Donal McKenna, Joseph McKenna, Aaron Boylan, Tristan Moyna, Cathal Meehan, Michael Meehan 0-1, Gavin McPhillips 0-1, Lorcan Deery, Conor McMahon 0-1, Patrick McCarron 0-2, Darragh Murray 0-1, Matthew Maguire 1-5 (1f), Patrick Connolly 0-1.
Subs: Niall Corrigan for Conor McMahon.
CASTLEBLAYNEY: Kian O’Connor, Michael Hughes, Steven Beattie, Senan O’Brien, Rory McGlynn, Craig Callan, Christopher Donnelly, Joseph Hughes, Gavin Kelly 0-1, Conor Mulligan, David Irwin 1-0, Odhran McArdle 0-1, Niall Carville, Robbie Hanratty 0-2 (1f), Josh Mone 0-2.
Subs: Padraig Heavin for Niall Carville.
