Report by Adrian Ronan
Within a week of O’Loughlin’s being crowned U16 Roinn A County Champions, GBC had the opportunity of playing them in the League Final. Having been beaten in the first round comfortably by O’Loughlin’s in August, GBC were eagerly looking forward to the League Final. We had worrying injures going into the match but Conor Flynn, Jesse Roberts and Sean Ryan ignored these and made huge contributions.
So all headed to Freshford knowing that a huge performance was demanded and if we got that performance, well, we would ask questions of this excellent O’Loughlin’s team. This O’Loughlin’s team were unbeaten in two years in all competitions so we knew the task was massive.
This was the first Roinn A final at juvenile level that the club had featured in over 13 years so it was a big day for all concerned.
From the off the boys went ‘hell for leather’ into each other. Both teams fought bravely and it was score for score for the first 25 mins when O’Loughlin’s scored a goal from a 21 yard free to leave the score GBC 0-5 O’Loughlin’s 1-6. GBC’s response was excellent, as just before half time Ciaran Hogan got a hurl to a high ball and flicked to the net.
Half time score: O’Loughlin’s 1-6 GBC 1-5.
At this stage we were leading the charge from the backs, with exceptional displays from Tommy Ronan, Conor Flynn, Jesse Roberts and Killian Egan sticking to their duties. Beside them, Ger Doheny and Luke O’Brien gave their best performances of 2015. The highlight of the first half was the handling skills of goalie Stephen Keoghan and of course how could we forget the skill the 13 yr old showed when flicking a dangerous ball over the head of the O’Loughlin’s on-coming forward out for Killian Egan to clear.
The second half was no different, with GBC playing into the Freshford town end. With the backs and midfielders in outstanding form, a plentiful supply of ball was going into our forwards. It is fair to say that both sets of backs gave huge performances. That being said, Sean Ryan and Aaron Brennan started to get a grip on midfield and hurled consistently, GBC starting to look like a team who could cause a huge upset.
It was now the work rate of Tom Dunphy, the speed of David Maher and the skill of Oisín Egan that was asking hard questions of O’Loughlin’s. As more ball was reaching our full forward line, Ciaran Hogan scored 2 smashing points to bring his tally to 1-3. The honesty and determination of Adam O’Brien, Peter Murphy and Eamonn Corcoran causing huge problems to their more vaunted opponents.
With 5 mins to go and the game in the melting pot, O’Loughlin’s scored a controversial point to put them 1 pt ahead. They quickly added to that and with 3 mins to go were now 1-14 to 1-11 ahead.
GBC management decided to go for broke and made some positional changes that quite frankly didn’t work. O’Loughlin’s responded by scoring 2-1 in those final 2 mins.
Final score: O’Loughlin’s 3-15 GBC 1-11.
The scoreline is not an accurate reflection of the game.
Scorers: Ciaran Hogan 1-3, Sean Ryan 0-5 (4f), Tom Dunphy 0-2, Aaron Brennan 0-1
What a match! What an effort! What a display from all the GBC players, they can hold their heads up high, the spirit and heart shown by all was heart-warming for the future.
To O’Loughlin’s, well, they showed why they’re an excellent team because they stayed calm, soaked all the pressure and then pulled the trigger in the final minutes.
The future is bright, we hope. Thanks for a great year lads, beaten only twice all year in over 18 competitive matches and beaten by the county champions O’Loughlin’s both times.
Beidh Lá Eile ann!!
Thanks to all who helped this group in 2015, Philomena Brennan, John Cuddihy, Mary Keoghan, Maurice Ronan, Paul Muldowney and Eamonn Butler. Final thanks to our Umpires who never let us down all year.
TEAM
Stephen Keoghan,Ger Doheny, Conor Flynn, Luke O’Brien,Tommy Ronan, Jesse Roberts, Killian Egan, Sean Ryan, Aaron Brennan, David Maher, Tom Dunphy, Peter Murphy, AdamO’Brien, Ciaran Hogan, Oisín Egan.
Subs used: Eamonn Corcoran, Alan Wall, Simon O’Dwyer, Eoin Delahunty, John Muldowney, Paddy Brennan & Finn Lanigan.
Management Team: John Hoyne, Adrain Ronan, Tom Hogan, Johnny Ronan.