Report by Philomena Brennan.
The eagerly awaited first round of the u-14 Roinn B Championship took place in Dunnamaggin on Tuesday last. GBC were pitted against southern side Mullinavat. When these two sides had met last in early May the local boys recorded an easy victory, but the team management had the boys well warned against being complacent.
GBC got off to a great start with an early goal by Aaron Brennan, playing at centre-forward. Mullinavat got on the score board with a point before GBC added another quick goal. With the backs, led by Adam O’Brien and Killian Egan on top, GBC added great points from Daniel Lawlor, Finn Lanigan and Oisín Egan. The expected back-lash from Mullinavat materialised and they hit back with two goals in quick succession which brought the difference back to four points. Just before the stroke of half-time, a good run through the Mullinavat defence, with a good pass to Stephen Keoghan saw him blast the ball to the net and GBC went into the break seven points up.
Half-Time: GBC 3-7 Mullinavat 2-3.
After the break, with confidence growing, GBC started to hurl well and the scores quickly added up. The defence were in total control and throughout the second half conceded only two further points from play. The mid-field pair of Finn Lanigan and Oisín Egan, before he was injured, was in top form and their delivery of the ball to the forwards was instrumental in GBC recording a fine victory.
Full-Time: GBC 5-14 Mullinavat 2-5.
The boys have now qualified for the quarter final which will be against Conahy Shamrocks.
Scores: Aaron Brennan 2-8 ( 2f, 165), Stephen Keoghan 3-2, Oisín Egan 0-2, Daniel Lawlor, Finn Lanigan 0-1 each.
Panel: Jason O’Brien, Kevin Ging, Adam O’Brien, Alex McCluskey, Eoin Delahunty, Killian Egan, Eamonn Corcoran, Finn Lanigan, Oisín Egan, Alan Wall, Aaron Brennan, Daniel Lawler, Simon O’Dwyer, Stephen Keoghan, Paddy Brennan, Scott Lawlor, Brendan Dunne, JJ Ryan, Jack Walton, John Muldowney.