Coiste na nOg U-12 'A1 Football final

First Half Display Steers Ferbane/Belmont To U-12 Football Title

Ferbane/Belmont......... 2-7

St. Vincents................... 1-5

Ferbane/Belmont clinched the U-12 'A' football title when they overcame St. Vincent's in an exciting final in O'Connor Park on Sunday last. It was a deserved win by the Ferbane/Belmont team who had five points to spare over a spirited St. Vincent's team at full time.

Ferbane/Belmont had a nice lead in the second half of the match  before St. Vincents made a late comeback, but despite netting a late goal it wasn't enough to stop Ferbane winning the title. There were some good displays throughout the Ferbane/Belmont side, who used the football well and played well as a unit.

The winners were helped with a fine display from their forward line who kicked some great points and found the net with two goals before the end that was to give them the victory. They laid the platform for this during the first half when getting on top in the match. They scored both their goals in this half, sent to the net by Oisin Kelly and Ronan McEvoy. St. Vincent's often found  it hard to stem the flow of ball going into the Ferbane for­wards. St. Vincent's didn't have the same luck at the opposite end and their forwards were closed out. It meant Ferbane/Belmont took a sizeable nine point lead  with them at the halfway stage. St. Vincent's did have one or two goal chances in the first half and they came out battling in the second half.

Ferbane/Belmont had the advantage of a useful lead despite St. Vincent's raising a couple of white flags. However they had a lit­tle too much to do to try and cut back the Ferbane  lead. St. Vincent's scored a goal with twelve minutes left but the day belonged to the Ferbane/Belmont lads who were delighted with their win at the final whistle. Before the finish all five Ferbane/Belmont forwards had got on the score sheet on their way to victory.

 

Five minutes in Ferbane/Belmont found the net with a goal when a ball in by Dean Hogan was sent to the net by Oisin Kelly. Ferbane got the ball into the forwards and continued to create chances.  Minutes later Ferbane scored a fine point by Niall Higgins from an acute angle. A minute later St. Vincent's Alan Jordan went near with a chance but it was saved. The Ferbane/Belmont forwards looked lively in front of the posts and went very close to scoring a second goal but it was saved.  A minute later they did score a second goal when the ball was delivered in,  it clipped the post and fell for Ronan McEvoy who sent it to the net from close range. It was no more than Ferbane/Belmont deserved after some good attacks.

Ten minutes before the interval Ferbane/Belmont captain Michael Butler kicked a free over the bar to make it 2-2 to 0-0. Ferbane/Belmont were playing with confidence and put together a flowing move that was sent over the bar by Brian McEvoy. St. Vincent's had a chance soon after but the ball was kicked out for a '45.' After some good play in the half Ferbane/Belmont led by 2-3 to 0-0 at half time.

St. Vincent's had it all to do to try and get back into it and scored a point by Barry Mooney early in the second half. The sides traded scores again with St. Vincent's scoring a second point with a free by lan Scally.  St. Vincent's went close to a goal but the shot by Adam Mangan hit the side net. St. Vincent's scored a goal soon after when Barry Mooney collected a pass from David Dempsey to kick the ball to the net. It gave them a flicker of hope but Ferbane/Belmont after a strong display in the first half held out to win the U-12 'A' foot­ball title.

 

Scorers: Ferbane/Belmont; Ronan McEvoy (1-1); Oisin Kelly (1-0), Niall Higgins (0-2), Brian McEvoy (0-2), Michael Butler (capt) (0-1, 0-1 free); Dean Hogan (0-1).

St Vincent's; Barry Mooney (1-1); lan Scally (0-3, 0-2 frees), Shane Tierney (0-1),

FERBANE/BELMONT: Kevin Nugent; Anthony Seery, Mark Connaughton, Jack Clancy, Jack Egan, Christian Brazil; Colin Kenny, Michael Butler (capt); Dean Hogan, Brian McEvoy, Ronan McEvoy; Oisin Kelly, Niall Higgins. Subs: Kyle Higgins (for Jack Clancy, injured).

ST. VINCENT'S: Jamie Mangan; P.J. Daly, Cathal Mangan, Brian Ryan, James Bracken, David Dempsey; Adam Mangan, Barry Mooney; Scan Carroll, Shane Tierney, lan Scally, Barry Bracken, Alan Jordan. Subs: Peter Norris (for Barry Bracken).

REFEREE: Martin Carthy.

Report: Tullamore Tribune 17th September 2008