U16 C Final Match Report

Match Report

Castleconnor 2-10 Calry St Josephs 0-10

Castleconnors U16s were victorious today in the Sligo C Championship Final where an excellent first half display laid the foundations for a fully deserved victory despite a spirited fight back from Calry in the second half.

The boys from the west made the perfect start. The returning Colm Ruthledge filling, in for their injured top scorer Stephen Rogan in some style, got off the mark with a free inside 30 seconds. From the following play Sean Donegan latched onto a long through ball, rounding the keeper for a 4 point lead with 1 minute played.

Calry pulled back with 2 points in the next 10 minutes as both teams found it difficult to penetrate each other’s defence. However the Castleconnor players had a fantastic 2^nd quarter knocking over a further 6 points without reply – Ruthledge getting all bar one which was scored by U14 player Mathew Langan. At the half time break Castleconnor were in a commanding 1-7 to 0-2 lead.

There was always going to be a reaction from Calry and it duly came at the start of the second half. Pressure was applied to the Castleconnor kick out which had been flawless up to that point and Calry hit 3 points in 4 minutes. Mathew Langan won a free which Colm Ruthledge converted to keep the lead healthy but Calry came with another 3 in a row bringing it back to a 3 point game, 1-8 to 0-8.

Seamus Foody made the first of two critical second half saves, preventing the all-important goal Calry were looking for. With 10 to go Mathew Langan, a constant threat to Calry, hit his second point and Colm Ruthledge hit a fine score from play to bring his tally to 0-8 and Castleconnor looked home and dry. Yet Calry rallied again, countering following some wasteful play by the Castleconnor forwards and getting two points, a Seamus Foody save sandwiched in between meant Castleconnor still entered injury time a goal ahead.

In the 61^st minute Paul Ruane worked the ball to Ruthledge who floated the ball across the box and big midfielder Cathal Feeney met the ball with his fist, punching into the net and the deal was sealed.

While man of the match Colm Ruthledge will deservedly get much of the plaudits, he was brilliantly assisted by a solid performance at full back by Cian Flynn and intelligent running by Patrick Cooney. Cathal Feeney was excellent at securing primary possession at midfield and Mathew Langan tortured his man in the corner.

Castleconnor – Seamus Foody, Lee Gilmartin, Cian Flynn, Eoghan Durkan, Patrick Cooney, Darragh Flynn, Thomas Langan, Cathal Feeney, Colm Ruthledge, Sean Donegan, James Rafter, Mathew Langan, Jack Byron. Subs – Danny Donegan, William Foody, David Holmes, Paul Ruane, Michael Sheridan, Padraig Gavin, Oisin Quinn, Stephen Rogan

Scorers – Colm Ruthledge 0-8 (4F), Sean Donegan 1-0, Cathal Feeney 1-0, Mathew Langan 0-2