VALIANT EFFORT TO A STANDSTILL THAT COMES UP SHORT
In their second match played in the U-15 Roinn A League, Young Irelands of Gowran gave a massive effort but ultimately fell short against James Stephens at a dull & dreary Gowran last Tuesday evening, as their luck deserted them in front of goal.
Playing against a strong wind throughout the opening-half, the Village led 1-3 to 0-3 at the water break during the midway point of the half.
They began to accelerate & they had built up a 1-7 to 0-4 lead by the 25th minute, with Young Irelands very wasteful shooting throughout the opening-half with 9 wides against just two for their opponents.
However, the Gowran lads finished the half strongly with points from Jim Conlon(2 frees) & Thomas Langton, as they now trailed by just three points at the interval(1-7 to 0-7) & having to faced into the wind for the second-half.
To their credit, Young Irelands continued their momentum into the restart & further points from Cian Phelan & Jake Kelly(free) narrowed the gap to just the minimum – 1-7 to 0-9 – & they were now the ones showing the greater intent & playing the better hurling.
However, James Stephens steadied the ship with consecutive points to restore their three point advantage(1-9 to 0-9), before substitute Billy O’Keeffe pointed from play in the 46th minute. 1-9 to 0-10.
That point was Young Irelands final score as James Stephens added two points late on to secure victory. 1-11 to 0-10
As mentioned, the Gowran produced a massive effort throughout the second-half, but most importantly they couldn’t manufacture that all important goal.
They created several chances & enjoyed plenty of possession, but a combination of a lack of composure at vital moments & strong defending from their opponents was to be their undoing.
Overall, It was a low scoring second-half with scores difficult to come as defences were on top.
Young Irelands were best served by the brilliance of Shane Simpson at centre-back who gave a masterclass from start to finish, the equally outstanding Ruairi Phelan alongside him, while David Langton & Tim Brennan were highly immaculate also with Jim Conlon, Sam Brennan & Thomas Langton very effective around the middle sector.
Young Irelands now play away to Dicksboro next Friday Evening.
Former Young Irelands senior hurler James McDermott is part of the James Stephens Management Team who currently top the league table with three wins from three on scoring difference ahead of their James Stephens Green counterparts.
LANGTON GRABS GOLDEN BRACE
After close calls against the James Stephens Minors & U-15 As, Young Irelands U-15 B Team prevailed in a superb contest where they had to ride their luck following a pulsating conclusion on Thursday night.
At the water break at the midway point of the first-half, the sides were level at 0-3 each with the outstanding Tadhg Ahern(2) & Thomas Langton contributing to the scoreboard.
Ahern who scored 0-6(0-1 free) in total – 0-5 from play – pointed his free in the 23rd minute to put Young Irelands ahead, & they remained a point in the descendancy at the interval – 0-6 to 0-5 – as Michael Keating & Sam Brennan added further points.
O’Loughlin Gaels pointed twice in quick succession after the half-time break to edge in front(0-7 to 0-6), before Tadhg Ahern replied with the levelling point. 0-7 each.
Thomas Langton was a thorn in the O’Loughlins defence all evening & having been denied a goal on at least three occassions, he got his ultimate & deserved reward with a brilliantly taken goal in the 40th minute. 1-8 to 0-7.
However, O’Loughlins responded moments later as their full-forward smashed home a powerful goal.
Young Irelands refused to panic though showing great character throughout & Tadhg Ahern (2) with further points in the 46th & 52nd minutes respectively helped stay ahead heading towards the final 5 minutes. 1-11 to 1-9.
Victory appeared to be assured when Thomas Langton brilliantly finished off a superbly well worked move for another fantastic goal. 2-11 to 1-9.
However, they had to withstand a grandstand finish as O’Loughlin Gaels added three late points to narrow the gap to two points – including blazing over a goal chance – to leave the Gowran lads on tenderhooks entering the closing stages.
Deep into stoppage time, O’Loughlin Gaels had a close range free in which a goal was required to snatch victory,
The Young Irelands defence held firm as they did throughout -with Aaron Fenlon in particular superb – to hang on for a priceless victory as they have now made it three wins from 4 matches.
Meanwhile, also on Thursday night, the Young Irelands Intermediates were defeated 1-18 to 0-11 by Carrickshock in Hugginstown.
Carrickshock led 0-11 to 0-6 at the interval and 1-16 to 0-7 at the three quarter stage, & maintained control throughout the final quarter.
Before the match started, their was a minutes silence held in honour of the late Ollie Roche who passed away recently.
Ollie was a proud Carrickshock man & Treasurer of the County Bord Na Nog.
Deepest Condolences to his Family on his untimely passing.
The Intermediates next game is next Thursday night at home to Conahy Shamrocks night.
KEATING & CARROLL LEADS THE WAY TO VICTORY
An outstanding individual performance from Aidan Keating inspired Young Irelands to their second straight victory in the U-13 A1 Hurling League against Rower-Inistioge in Gowran on Friday night.
Keating scored 1-6 – 1-4 from play – as they built up a sizeable lead at half-time, with his goal coming in the 9th minute, while a late rally of 1-3 in the final 5 minutes of the first-half proved highly significant.
Kieran Carter pointed superbly from play in the 26th minute, while Aidan Keating & Conor Carroll added points to conclude the scoring for the half, but the undoubted highlight came in between those sequence of points.
Conor Carroll brilliantly pulled an unstoppable volley that flew past the goalkeeper, after great work from the full-forward line in the build up to the goal.
It was a sensational goal that produced a moment of brilliance & helped gain establish control.
The second-half saw scores restricted to a premium, as Young Irelands remained in control playing into the wind.
Defensively, they were dominant & authorative & it was only when Rower-Inistioge grabbed a goal near the end, that their advantage was narrowed.
Aidan Keating scored another superb point from play to conclude the Young Irelands scoring, as try & all Rower-Inistioge tried, they couldn’t reel them in further.
It will be a quick turnaround for the U-13s as they travel Suirside tomorrow afternoon(Sunday) to play Mooncoin.
