Goals, goals and more goals served up by Under 20s

U20 League Round-Up

Damien Donhoe

The O’Reilly’s Concrete U20 football championships got underway last Sunday morning around the county. There were no games played in Division 1 but in the second division there were wins for Crosserlough, Castlerahan and Knockbride.

Crosserlough travelled to Cootehill and came away with a comprehensive 6-11 to 1-10 win. Crosserlough got off to a great start with Oran Rehill (who finished with 3-3) causing damage on the inside line. Ryan Stuart and Carl Stuart added Crosserlough’s other majors while Mark Farrell got Cootehill’s goal, but it provided only consolation as Crosserlough never looked troubled.

Castlerahan got the better of Cavan Gaels in Terry Coyle Park in a feisty affair that saw John Linnane and Joseph Gaffney sent off for Castlerahan while Favor Shehu was also shown red in the same incident before half-time. The visitors held a two point advantage at the break with Ciaran Caldwell and Rory Smith’s goals the crucial scores. Despite being a player down Castlerahan’s added three more goals from Thomas McGearty and a second each for Rory Smith and Ciaran Caldwell and kept a clean sheet which was enough to see them come away with an impressive win 0-16 to 5-7.

Knockbride recorded an eye catching win over Ballyhaise 4-15 to 0-9 in a display of collective hard work. There goal scorers were Niall O’Reilly, Micheal Smith and Jason Reilly (2) while Lorcan Reilly finished the game with ten points to his name. Knockbride got off to a flying start and in wild conditions held a commanding lead at the break which they never relinquished throughout.

In the only game in Division 3, Kingscourt travelled to Killinkere and came away with a ten point victory on a score line of 4-8 to 1-7. Conall Mooney finished off the home side’s goal in the first half from full forward while mid-field Cormac Yore replied with two majors for the stars against the wind before the break. With the wind in the second half, Kingscourt took control of the game and after two more goals for the blues, the game was over as a contest with a little over ten minutes remaining.

In Division four there were two games played as Cornafean and St Finbarr's had their fixture postponed.

Ballymachugh hosted St Thomas’s in Sheelin Park in a goalfest where 12 green flags were raised. The hosts lead by 12 points at the break and extended their lead to 16 before the Ballinagh and Denn amalgamation produced a comeback.

With Shane Tynan on a hattrick, Peter Devine bagging two goals and Oisin Daly getting their sixth, Ballymachugh looked out the gap but the final 15 minutes were filled with drama. A number of the Ballymachugh player were sent to the sideline for not wearing gumshields, and in the resulting chaos St Thomas got back within touching distance. Tristen Graham converted three penalty kicks for the visitors while Caolán McCabe and Oisin O’Reilly also hit the net. The final score was Ballymachugh 6-10 St Thomas 6-4.

Belturbet hosted Naomh Brid in the second game in the Division 3 with the Drumalee Redhills amalgamation coming away with a 3-9 to 2-10 victory. The home sides who trailed at the break after playing with the wind hit a goal in each half from Liam Vesey. Naomh Brid, who lead by five at half time thanks to Padraig Smith and Daragh Byrnes goal, held on in the second half to win by two.

Round Two takes place this coming weekend with two games on Friday night and the remainders on Sunday at 12.30pm.