Louth U17 - Damien Reid Cup Winners
9 November 2011
LOUTH U-17 SQUAD DAMIEN REID CUP WINNERS 2011
Louth are the first holders of
the Damien Reid Cup for the Under 17 Inter County Tournament and they have
beaten great rivals Meath in the final having accounted for Armagh and Meath in
the group games.
Louth
1 - 13
Meath 2
- 4
This was a good game of football
between the Under 17's of Louth and Meath in this inaugural Damien Reid Inter
County tournament. Louth were deserved winners having dictated the play for the
greater part of the game, Meath were strong at the start and finish of each
half but they were well held by the Louth defence for long periods
including fifteen minutes in the second half when Louth scored
seven unanswered points to put the result beyond doubt.
James Stewart got his side on the
scoreboard after three minutes but they were rocked back on their heels by a
Meath goal a minute later when Meath's best forward Conor O'Brien worked
the ball to Donncha Fitzpatrick who cut in along the end line and his parried
shot fell to Conor Rooney who had an easy task.
Colm Giggins got a point to help
Louth recover from this lapse, the defence was tight for the rest of
the half and able to cope with the Meath attacks, Thomas McCann and Colm
Giggins had a slight mid field edge at this stage and the Louth forwards were
getting a good supply of ball but making poor use of it. This was down to some
good defending by Meath who forced them into shooting two wides and
dropping three balls into the keeper's hands. Conor Rooney put Meath ahead for
the second time with a fine point, Stephen Kilcoyne had a chnace of a goal
before Ciaran Byrne settled Louth's nerves with a point from a free. The
best Louth move of the half came on twenty six minutes when Thomas McCann,
James Stewart and Ciaran Byrne combined to put Stephen Kilcoyne in on goal, he
was hauled down and Robert Quigley scored from the penalty spot. Conor O'Brien
and stephen Kilcoyne from a free left the half time score at 1 - 5 to 1 - 2 for
Louth at the end of a half that saw good football played by both sides.
Meath enjoyed the better start to
the second half and Louth conceded a number of frees one of which was converted
by Fiachra Ward in the second minute. They had a good ten minute spell but crucially
the Louth defence stood firm and didn't concede more scores. Louth
were on top for the next fifteen minutes and with seven points coming without
reply and stretching the lead to nine points and with five minutes to go
they had a hand on the trophy.
Colm Giggins started this scoring
spree with a cracking point from play, a Ciaran Byrne free, Robert Quigley and
Stephen Kilcoyne with two each from play and another Ciaran free made it
seven.
Meath in customary fashion came with a storming finish and Dale Larkin got their second goal after more good work by Conor O'Brien. Louth responded positively and found a little more in the tank and they mounted two more attacks which resulted in wides. Conor O'Brien and Stephen Kilcoyne swapped points in the final minutes and the game finished with Louth six points in front.
Darren McMahon at centre half
back was chosen as man of the match, Kieran Lenaghan, Darren Marks, Conor
McMenamin, Andrew English and Sean Crosbie completed a good defence on the
night and Thomas McCann and Colm Giggins can be pleased with their contribution
at mid field. The full forward line scored 1 - 10 which is a good tally,
the experienced Ciaran Byrne accounted for three points from frees and his
incisive off loading was a huge advantage to Robert Quigley and Stephen
Kilcoyne. James Stewart had a good game on the forty and his flankers Ciaran
Ward and Terry Donegan linked up well in a good attack.
Sean Reid presented the man of
the match award to Darren McMahon and Sally Reid presented the trophy to Darren
as Louth captain.
Mattock Rangers G.F.C. proposed this tournament in memory of Damien Reid and Terry Donegan chairman of the club thanked Leinster Council for authorising the tournament and Louth GAA for facilitating it.
Louth; Luke Haggins, Oliver Plunketts; Conor
McMenamin, Dk Young Ire; Kie ran Leneghan, N Fionnbarra; Andrew English, N
Mochta; Seab Crosbie, St Kevins; Darren McMahon, N Mochta; Darren Marks, Cooley
K; Thomas McCann, St Patrick's; Colm Giggins, Stabannon P; Ciaran Ward, Wolfe
Tones; James Stewart, Dk Gaels; Terry Donegan, Mattock Rangers; Stephen
Kilcoyne, Sean O'Mahony's; Robert Quigley, O'Connells; Ciaran Byrne, N Mochta.
Substitutes; Conall Cooeney for s
Crosbie and Conor Grogan for T Donegan ( both 50 mins).
Cathal Costelloe, N Martin; Liam
O'Leary, St Joseph's; Karl McDonnell, St Fechins; Gideon Lugoye, W Tones; Gary
Keogh O Plunketts; Michael Kane, Cooley K; Mark Cunningham, Mattock; James Doherty St, Mochtas ,Michael Martin,
Westerns; Darren Breen, St Brides;
Meath; Jack Hannigan,
Donaghmore/Ashbourne; Conor Carton, D more/Ashbourne; Brian Power, Rathoath;
Stephen O'Brien, Nobber; Paul Donnellan, Batterstown; Shane McEntee, Dunboyne;
James Heaney, Simonstown; Fiachra Ward, W Tones; Harry Rooney, Screen; Conor
O'Brien, Screen; Niall Carolan, Dunboyne; Aidan Hughes, D more/Ashbourne;
Donncha Fitzpatrick, Gael Colmcille; Conor Rooney, Rathoath; Tony Smith,
St Cuthberth's.
Substitutes; Caoimhin Griffen,
Clan na Gael; Dale Larkin, Nobber.