Underage Finals 2016
August 29, U-16 Football Roinn 2 Final: Ferns St Aidans 2-13, St Joseph’s 0-3
Ferns St. Aidans put in a magnificent team performance in St. Patrick's Park on Monday of last week to claim the Gorey Guardian Coiste na nÓg Juvenile football Roinn championship 2 title at the expense of St. Joseph's.
The victors were tremendous. Powerful through the spine of the team, with ample speed in wide positions, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Bishopswater boys to stick with their quality-filled opponents.
St. Joseph's were playing their first championship final since re-forming their under-age set-up five years ago. It was far from their best performance, and they'll be disappointed with how it went, but there are plenty of positives to take from another strong year.
To their credit they never threw in the towel. It was clear the game wasn't going to end well midway through the second-half but they kept battling and were a credit to a management team, led by Wesley Kinsella, who are doing a fantastic job with these lads.
Ferns started off in dominant fashion but struggled with their accuracy. The excellent James Lawlor had a couple of scores on the board when Tommy Sheridan pulled one back for the Wexford town club.
Despite Robert Murphy kicking a nice point off the outside of his right boot, his side still had eight wides soon after. Lawlor made it 0-4 to 0-1 but St. Joseph's almost drew level when Kallum Broaders broke through on goal and brought a fantastic save out of Liam Murphy.
The miss was even more keenly felt when Ferns netted in first-half added time. Adrian Breen's ball into the edge of the square was fired goalwards by Kieran Murphy, and it could have already crossed the line but Patrick O'Toole made sure from close range (1-4 to 0-1 at half-time).
Ferns continued to dominate after the changearound. They kicked five points in a row, with Kieran Murphy (two), Tom Brown, Shane Breen and Niall Murphy on target. A Dale Convey point halted the momentum, but only momentarily as Lawlor bludgeoned to the net from close range.
Justin Butler scored a nice point for St. Joseph's boys but Ferns ended with four-in-a-row, three from Lawlor and one from substitute Glen Williams, to round out a fantastic win for the Gorey District club.
Ferns St. Aidans: Liam Murphy; Alex Rothwell, William Bolger, Steve Warren; Rory Scallan, Patrick O'Hagan, Adrian Breen; Niall Murphy (0-1), Robert Murphy (0-1); Michael O'Brien, James Lawlor (capt., 1-6, 0-2 frees), Patrick O'Toole (1-0); Tom Brown (0-1), Kieran Murphy (0-2), Shane Breen (0-1). Subs. - Tomás Breen for Brown (47), Glen Williams (0-1) for O'Toole (53), Kevin Stafford for K. Murphy (58), Charlie Carney for S. Breen (58), Evan Murphy for L. Murphy (60), Eoghan Murphy for Warren (60), also Barry O'Toole, Barry Murphy, Seb Rynhart, Pádraig Kinsella, Cory Dunbar, Bob Byrne, Kyle McHale, Joey McHale.
St. Joseph's: Jordan Murphy; Justin Butler (0-1), Gloudy McKenzie, Aaron Keane; Warren O'Connor, Gary Hall-Roche, Darragh Whelan; Dale Convey (capt., 0-1 free), Aaron Smith; Ciarán Paige, Kallum Broaders, Josh Guerrine; Eoin Kinsella, Tommy Sheridan (0-1), Darragh Howell. Subs. - Liam Doyle for O'Connor (37), Sky Moroney for Howell (47), Ryan Warren for Keane (52), also Adam Ennis, Jordan Farrell, Dylan Fowler, Dylan French, Jay Warren, Seán Breen, Liam Godkin.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).
September 18, Minor Football Roinn 2 Final: Ferns St Aidans 0-13, St Anne’s 1-9
Ferns St Aidans clung on to win the Wexford People Minor Football Roinn 2 crown for dear life, somehow repelling an almighty St Anne’s final quarter onslaught to be crowned champions in St Patrick’s Park on Sunday night.
The winners looked fantastic in the first half, kicking several superb scores, and were full value for their five-point interval lead.
However, the longer the game wore on, the better their opponents played, and only an inspired performance from goalkeeper Jason Maguire prevented them getting in front and staying there.
Midfield was a real strength for Ferns in the opening stages, with Ivan Meegan and Eoin Murphy pulling the strings. After falling an early point down, they responded with five of the next six to take a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after ten minutes.
While both midfielders scored during that spell, James Lawlor kicked a couple of quality points and Conor Jordan registered too, it was St Anne’s who found the game’s only goal. It came from Kyle Kennedy in the 13th minute and was the product of precise inter-play between Philip Rawson and Dylan O’Brien in the build-up.
Still, it didn’t halt the Ferns momentum for long. They outscored their opponents 6-1 in the remainder of the half, with Meegan (four) and Murphy (two) on target to help the Gorey District side into an 0-11 to 1-3 lead at the break.
When Meegan added his sixth point in the 32nd minute, it looked like business as usual. However, they would not trouble the scoreboard again until the 58th minute and by then they were well and truly in battle.
St Anne’s were quiet themselves until substitute Finn O’Driscoll kicked a nice point in the 40th minute. Philip Rawson’s rocket a minute later was initially saved by Maguire and then scooped off the line, over the crossbar, by Patrick O’Hagan, although the Rathangan boys were adamant that a goal should have been given.
Maguire made further stunning saves from O’Driscoll on two separate occasions as St Anne’s upped the tempo. A pair of O’Brien minors and an Andrew Kennedy free narrowed the deficit to just one by the 56th minute (0-12 to 1-8).
Meegan’s 20-metre burst and clinical finish over the crossbar in the 58th minute would prove vital. O’Brien again narrowed the gap to one, but then drilled wide when through on goal in the second minute of added time.
Brian Kavanagh’s strike later looked to have taken a deflection out for a 45 as time ran out, but a wide was waved. As Maguire kicked out, referee Paul Browne’s full-time whistle brought jubilant celebrations for a relieved Ferns side.
Ferns St Aidans: Jason Maguire; Rory Scallan, Patrick O’Hagan, Brian O’Neill; Niall Murphy, Conor Scallan (capt.), Adrian Breen; Eoin Murphy (0-3), Ivan Meegan (0-7, 5f); Jeff Tobin, Chris Turner, Conor Jordan (0-1); Shane Stafford, James Lawlor (0-2), Jordan Ryan. Subs: John Power for Ryan (53), also Liam Murphy, Steve Warren, Michael O’Brien, Jack Ryan, Patrick O’Toole, Eoghan Murphy, Kevin Stafford, William Bolger, Glen Williams.
St Anne’s: Dylan Kavanagh; Brian Kavanagh, Andrew Walsh, Luke Redmond; Barry Roche, Darragh Furlong, Kevin Redmond; Vincent Carroll, Ben Moore (capt.); Conor Ryan, Andrew Kennedy (0-2f), Philip Rawson (0-1); Adam Moore, Dylan O’Brien (0-4), Kyle Kennedy (1-1). Subs: Finn O’Driscoll (0-1) for A Moore (31), Philip Murphy for K Redmond (42), K Redmond for L Redmond (inj., 49), also Paddy White, Karim Byrne, Peter Clancy, Michael Carroll, Ian Bennett, Sean Staples, Billy Ryan, Sean Kirwan.
Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee)
October 16, Minor Hurling Roinn 1 Shield Final: Ferns St Aidans 2-11, Rathnure 2-10
A point from Eoin Murphy in the ninth minute of injury time earned Ferns St. Aidan's a dramatic victory in the Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 1 shield final in St. Patrick's Park.
Moments earlier Rathnure had looked to have pulled the game from the fire when Cathal O'Connor hit the back of the net to drag the black and ambers level, but Murphy edged Ferns back in front deep into time added on.
There was even time for another opportunity for Rathnure to get back on level terms, but Seán O'Connor saw his effort from a difficult 65-metre free drift agonisingly wide of the left upright.
It was fitting that Murphy should land the winning score as he was a bundle of energy throughout and contributed 1-3 from play in an all-action display.
In fact, only one other Ferns player got on the scoresheet, with free-taker Chris Turner adding the other 1-8 of their tally.
The deadly duo weren't long about making their mark, as Turner bagged the first goal with just two minutes on the clock and Murphy had the green flag waving again inside the opening quarter.
Micheál O'Connor had given Rathnure the ideal start when he opened their account with a point after 40 seconds, but Turner soon slalomed through their defence before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the net.
O'Connor doubled his tally in the sixth minute with a fine score, but Eoin Murphy introduced himself to the match by cancelling it out with a great long-range point.
Chris Turner then showed his acumen from placed balls by slotting over two frees, before Eoin Murphy raced on to a long delivery and hit the back of the net to put real daylight between the sides (2-3 to 0-2).
Murphy followed it up with a good point on the run, but Rathnure began to eat into the lead and scored three of the next four points through Michael Martin, Micheál O'Connor and Seán O'Connor (free).
However, Ferns held a seven-point advantage at the interval (2-7 to 0-6), with Turner converting two more frees and Seán O'Connor adding one in reply.
Rathnure had the aid of the breeze after the break and they reduced the deficit to four points by the 45th minute, with Michael Martin opening the second-half scoring and Seán O'Connor adding three points.
Two minutes later they were right back in the game when Seán O'Connor played a ball across the face of the goal and substitute Stephen Martin fired a ground stroke beyond goalkeeper James Lawlor.
Ferns responded well though and two injury time frees from Chris Turner stretched their lead out to three points, but Cathal O'Connor looked to have rescued Rathnure when he buried the ball to the back of the net with 65 minutes on the clock.
However, three minutes later the impressive Eoin Murphy got his chance when he won possession in front of the posts and manufactured enough space for himself to slot the ball over the bar.
Ferns St. Aidan's: James Lawlor; Seán Fortune, Patrick O'Hagan, Shane Stafford; Rory Scallan, Conor Scallan, William Bolger; Eoin Murphy (1-3), Niall Murphy; Conor Jordan, Chris Turner (1-8, 0-8 frees), Jeff Tobin; Steve Warren, Brian O'Neill (capt.), Patrick O'Toole. Subs. - John Power for O'Toole, Jack Ryan for Tobin, also Jordan Ryan, Michael O'Brien, Eoghan Murphy, Liam Murphy, Kevin Stafford, Glen Williams.
Rathnure: Kyle Martin; Cameron O'Leary, Donal McGahan (capt.), Philip Redmond; Dylan Hogan, Eoghan Byrne, Ben Ronan; Michael Martin (0-2), Thomas Furlong; David Dunphy, Cathal O'Connor (1-0), Darragh Reddy; Seán O'Connor (0-5, 4 frees), Niall Dillon, Micheál O'Connor (0-3). Subs. - James Tobin for Dunphy, Stephen Martin (1-0) for M. O'Connor (temp.), Stephen Martin for Reddy, also Rory Higgins, Adam Carty, Brendan Foley.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).
Ferns St. Aidans put in a magnificent team performance in St. Patrick's Park on Monday of last week to claim the Gorey Guardian Coiste na nÓg Juvenile football Roinn championship 2 title at the expense of St. Joseph's.
The victors were tremendous. Powerful through the spine of the team, with ample speed in wide positions, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Bishopswater boys to stick with their quality-filled opponents.
St. Joseph's were playing their first championship final since re-forming their under-age set-up five years ago. It was far from their best performance, and they'll be disappointed with how it went, but there are plenty of positives to take from another strong year.
To their credit they never threw in the towel. It was clear the game wasn't going to end well midway through the second-half but they kept battling and were a credit to a management team, led by Wesley Kinsella, who are doing a fantastic job with these lads.
Ferns started off in dominant fashion but struggled with their accuracy. The excellent James Lawlor had a couple of scores on the board when Tommy Sheridan pulled one back for the Wexford town club.
Despite Robert Murphy kicking a nice point off the outside of his right boot, his side still had eight wides soon after. Lawlor made it 0-4 to 0-1 but St. Joseph's almost drew level when Kallum Broaders broke through on goal and brought a fantastic save out of Liam Murphy.
The miss was even more keenly felt when Ferns netted in first-half added time. Adrian Breen's ball into the edge of the square was fired goalwards by Kieran Murphy, and it could have already crossed the line but Patrick O'Toole made sure from close range (1-4 to 0-1 at half-time).
Ferns continued to dominate after the changearound. They kicked five points in a row, with Kieran Murphy (two), Tom Brown, Shane Breen and Niall Murphy on target. A Dale Convey point halted the momentum, but only momentarily as Lawlor bludgeoned to the net from close range.
Justin Butler scored a nice point for St. Joseph's boys but Ferns ended with four-in-a-row, three from Lawlor and one from substitute Glen Williams, to round out a fantastic win for the Gorey District club.
Ferns St. Aidans: Liam Murphy; Alex Rothwell, William Bolger, Steve Warren; Rory Scallan, Patrick O'Hagan, Adrian Breen; Niall Murphy (0-1), Robert Murphy (0-1); Michael O'Brien, James Lawlor (capt., 1-6, 0-2 frees), Patrick O'Toole (1-0); Tom Brown (0-1), Kieran Murphy (0-2), Shane Breen (0-1). Subs. - Tomás Breen for Brown (47), Glen Williams (0-1) for O'Toole (53), Kevin Stafford for K. Murphy (58), Charlie Carney for S. Breen (58), Evan Murphy for L. Murphy (60), Eoghan Murphy for Warren (60), also Barry O'Toole, Barry Murphy, Seb Rynhart, Pádraig Kinsella, Cory Dunbar, Bob Byrne, Kyle McHale, Joey McHale.
St. Joseph's: Jordan Murphy; Justin Butler (0-1), Gloudy McKenzie, Aaron Keane; Warren O'Connor, Gary Hall-Roche, Darragh Whelan; Dale Convey (capt., 0-1 free), Aaron Smith; Ciarán Paige, Kallum Broaders, Josh Guerrine; Eoin Kinsella, Tommy Sheridan (0-1), Darragh Howell. Subs. - Liam Doyle for O'Connor (37), Sky Moroney for Howell (47), Ryan Warren for Keane (52), also Adam Ennis, Jordan Farrell, Dylan Fowler, Dylan French, Jay Warren, Seán Breen, Liam Godkin.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).
September 18, Minor Football Roinn 2 Final: Ferns St Aidans 0-13, St Anne’s 1-9
Ferns St Aidans clung on to win the Wexford People Minor Football Roinn 2 crown for dear life, somehow repelling an almighty St Anne’s final quarter onslaught to be crowned champions in St Patrick’s Park on Sunday night.
The winners looked fantastic in the first half, kicking several superb scores, and were full value for their five-point interval lead.
However, the longer the game wore on, the better their opponents played, and only an inspired performance from goalkeeper Jason Maguire prevented them getting in front and staying there.
Midfield was a real strength for Ferns in the opening stages, with Ivan Meegan and Eoin Murphy pulling the strings. After falling an early point down, they responded with five of the next six to take a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after ten minutes.
While both midfielders scored during that spell, James Lawlor kicked a couple of quality points and Conor Jordan registered too, it was St Anne’s who found the game’s only goal. It came from Kyle Kennedy in the 13th minute and was the product of precise inter-play between Philip Rawson and Dylan O’Brien in the build-up.
Still, it didn’t halt the Ferns momentum for long. They outscored their opponents 6-1 in the remainder of the half, with Meegan (four) and Murphy (two) on target to help the Gorey District side into an 0-11 to 1-3 lead at the break.
When Meegan added his sixth point in the 32nd minute, it looked like business as usual. However, they would not trouble the scoreboard again until the 58th minute and by then they were well and truly in battle.
St Anne’s were quiet themselves until substitute Finn O’Driscoll kicked a nice point in the 40th minute. Philip Rawson’s rocket a minute later was initially saved by Maguire and then scooped off the line, over the crossbar, by Patrick O’Hagan, although the Rathangan boys were adamant that a goal should have been given.
Maguire made further stunning saves from O’Driscoll on two separate occasions as St Anne’s upped the tempo. A pair of O’Brien minors and an Andrew Kennedy free narrowed the deficit to just one by the 56th minute (0-12 to 1-8).
Meegan’s 20-metre burst and clinical finish over the crossbar in the 58th minute would prove vital. O’Brien again narrowed the gap to one, but then drilled wide when through on goal in the second minute of added time.
Brian Kavanagh’s strike later looked to have taken a deflection out for a 45 as time ran out, but a wide was waved. As Maguire kicked out, referee Paul Browne’s full-time whistle brought jubilant celebrations for a relieved Ferns side.
Ferns St Aidans: Jason Maguire; Rory Scallan, Patrick O’Hagan, Brian O’Neill; Niall Murphy, Conor Scallan (capt.), Adrian Breen; Eoin Murphy (0-3), Ivan Meegan (0-7, 5f); Jeff Tobin, Chris Turner, Conor Jordan (0-1); Shane Stafford, James Lawlor (0-2), Jordan Ryan. Subs: John Power for Ryan (53), also Liam Murphy, Steve Warren, Michael O’Brien, Jack Ryan, Patrick O’Toole, Eoghan Murphy, Kevin Stafford, William Bolger, Glen Williams.
St Anne’s: Dylan Kavanagh; Brian Kavanagh, Andrew Walsh, Luke Redmond; Barry Roche, Darragh Furlong, Kevin Redmond; Vincent Carroll, Ben Moore (capt.); Conor Ryan, Andrew Kennedy (0-2f), Philip Rawson (0-1); Adam Moore, Dylan O’Brien (0-4), Kyle Kennedy (1-1). Subs: Finn O’Driscoll (0-1) for A Moore (31), Philip Murphy for K Redmond (42), K Redmond for L Redmond (inj., 49), also Paddy White, Karim Byrne, Peter Clancy, Michael Carroll, Ian Bennett, Sean Staples, Billy Ryan, Sean Kirwan.
Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee)
October 16, Minor Hurling Roinn 1 Shield Final: Ferns St Aidans 2-11, Rathnure 2-10
A point from Eoin Murphy in the ninth minute of injury time earned Ferns St. Aidan's a dramatic victory in the Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 1 shield final in St. Patrick's Park.
Moments earlier Rathnure had looked to have pulled the game from the fire when Cathal O'Connor hit the back of the net to drag the black and ambers level, but Murphy edged Ferns back in front deep into time added on.
There was even time for another opportunity for Rathnure to get back on level terms, but Seán O'Connor saw his effort from a difficult 65-metre free drift agonisingly wide of the left upright.
It was fitting that Murphy should land the winning score as he was a bundle of energy throughout and contributed 1-3 from play in an all-action display.
In fact, only one other Ferns player got on the scoresheet, with free-taker Chris Turner adding the other 1-8 of their tally.
The deadly duo weren't long about making their mark, as Turner bagged the first goal with just two minutes on the clock and Murphy had the green flag waving again inside the opening quarter.
Micheál O'Connor had given Rathnure the ideal start when he opened their account with a point after 40 seconds, but Turner soon slalomed through their defence before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the net.
O'Connor doubled his tally in the sixth minute with a fine score, but Eoin Murphy introduced himself to the match by cancelling it out with a great long-range point.
Chris Turner then showed his acumen from placed balls by slotting over two frees, before Eoin Murphy raced on to a long delivery and hit the back of the net to put real daylight between the sides (2-3 to 0-2).
Murphy followed it up with a good point on the run, but Rathnure began to eat into the lead and scored three of the next four points through Michael Martin, Micheál O'Connor and Seán O'Connor (free).
However, Ferns held a seven-point advantage at the interval (2-7 to 0-6), with Turner converting two more frees and Seán O'Connor adding one in reply.
Rathnure had the aid of the breeze after the break and they reduced the deficit to four points by the 45th minute, with Michael Martin opening the second-half scoring and Seán O'Connor adding three points.
Two minutes later they were right back in the game when Seán O'Connor played a ball across the face of the goal and substitute Stephen Martin fired a ground stroke beyond goalkeeper James Lawlor.
Ferns responded well though and two injury time frees from Chris Turner stretched their lead out to three points, but Cathal O'Connor looked to have rescued Rathnure when he buried the ball to the back of the net with 65 minutes on the clock.
However, three minutes later the impressive Eoin Murphy got his chance when he won possession in front of the posts and manufactured enough space for himself to slot the ball over the bar.
Ferns St. Aidan's: James Lawlor; Seán Fortune, Patrick O'Hagan, Shane Stafford; Rory Scallan, Conor Scallan, William Bolger; Eoin Murphy (1-3), Niall Murphy; Conor Jordan, Chris Turner (1-8, 0-8 frees), Jeff Tobin; Steve Warren, Brian O'Neill (capt.), Patrick O'Toole. Subs. - John Power for O'Toole, Jack Ryan for Tobin, also Jordan Ryan, Michael O'Brien, Eoghan Murphy, Liam Murphy, Kevin Stafford, Glen Williams.
Rathnure: Kyle Martin; Cameron O'Leary, Donal McGahan (capt.), Philip Redmond; Dylan Hogan, Eoghan Byrne, Ben Ronan; Michael Martin (0-2), Thomas Furlong; David Dunphy, Cathal O'Connor (1-0), Darragh Reddy; Seán O'Connor (0-5, 4 frees), Niall Dillon, Micheál O'Connor (0-3). Subs. - James Tobin for Dunphy, Stephen Martin (1-0) for M. O'Connor (temp.), Stephen Martin for Reddy, also Rory Higgins, Adam Carty, Brendan Foley.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).