U14A Match Report: Sixmilebridge v Ballyea on Sat 3rd of Sept in O’Garney Park at 11:30.

Full time: Sixmilebridge 1-20, Ballyea 3-10

Half time: Sixmilebridge 0-12, Ballyea 0-03

Scorers: Rory Chaplin 0-13 (0-12 from frees), Cian McInerney 1-0, Stephen Gavin 0-03, Conor Gleeson 0-01, Luke Deegan 0-01, Jack McNamara 0-01, Donal O’Leary 0-01.

Team:

1. Conor Keogh

2. Conor Peacock

3. Dylan Keogh

4. Ross Kearney

5. Cuan Mac Giolla Cearra

6. Jack O’Halloran

7. Conor Fitzpatrick

8. Zak Phelan

9. Luke Deegan

10. Jack McNamara (Vice Captain)

11. Rory Chaplin

12. Dylan McInerney

13. Donal O’Leary

14. Cian McInerney

15. Stephen Gavin (Captain)

Subs used: Conor Gleeson, Tommy Healy, Cillian O’Connor

Subs: Charlie Keane, Oisin O’Brien, Dylan Tobin

The U14 championship started on Saturday last with Sixmilebridge taking on last year’s U13 beaten finalists. Ballyea are a quality side and this encounter would be a great test. Barry Coffey and Tadgh Keogh have done a lot of work with this group throughout the year and the style of play that was practiced in training was evident throughout the match.

Sixmilebridge raced into a six point lead before Ballyea registered a score. Luke Deegan and Dylan Keogh were outstanding throughout the game and led the charge with huge work rate. Donal O’Leary also was in fine form, he won lots of frees and scored a wonder point near the side line after a smart pass off the ground from Rory Chaplin. Stephen Gavin proved to be a handful for the Ballyea backs and he got some lovely scores. Sixmilebridge had a half time lead of nine points.

Ballyea were always going to find form and they showed why they are championship contenders in this second half. Zak Phelan and Jack O’Halloran worked very hard to keep the Ballyea forwards from running through the middle third. Jack McNamara scored a lovely point. Cian McInerney finished off a well worked move into the back of the onion bag while Luke Deegan ran the length of O’Garney Park before slotting the ball over the bar from his left side.

Rory Chaplin kept the scoreboard ticking over with some well taken frees and Conor Gleeson came off the bench to relive some pressure with an excellent individual point. The score was 1-20 to 1-10 coming into the final seven minutes when Ballyea scored a well worked goal. This score energized Ballyea and it brought a siege to Conor Keogh’s goal for the remaining minutes. The Sixmilebridge defence put their bodies on the line and they must be commended for their honesty and hard work. Ballyea scored another goal in the final puck of the game from a 30m free to leave the final score at 1-20 for Sixmilebridge and 3-10 for Ballyea. The management team were very happy with the groups honesty, hard work, twenty one scores and seven scorers. The challenge for the group will be to maintain these attributes over the remaining games.

Next up is Clarecastle and then Cratloe. These games will be tough tests that the boys will have to overcome to reach the knockout stages.

The U13 season is nearing completion and this is holding up the U14 Academy competition as there is a large cross over of players from all clubs. It is hoped that the U14 Academy season will be underway very soon.