Carras courage not enough as Neale lads get job done
The Neale team celebrate with the trophy after they saw off Carras to become U16 'B' champions of South Mayo. Picture: Andy Walsh
A heroic comeback from Carras was ultimately in vain as a late flurry from The Neale saw them claim the South Mayo U16 ‘B’ title last Thursday evening.
Despite trailing by eleven points at the break, Carras – an amalgamation of Garrymore and Kilmaine – got themselves back level with ten minutes remaining thanks to the powerful forward duo of Darragh O’Connor and Nathan Dooley, who combined for 3-8 between them.
The energy required on a humid evening to claw back that deficit took its toll however, as the border boys took advantage of some tired challenges by Carras late on to punish them from frees, scoring six of the last seven points to claim the local bragging rights.
The Neale scored the first of their four goals almost immediately from the throw-in, with Jamie Naughton finishing off a great move from a tight angle.
Ben Hopkins and Sean Canny, a free, followed up with their first points before Carras got up and running with Nathan Dooley’s first score of the evening with almost eight minutes played. Canny responded with another free before Dooley was picked out by a great ball from the middle of the field, evading challenges from Alex Glynn and Robert Walsh before rounding Neale goalkeeper Cillian Vahey to roll the ball into the net on 13 minutes.
The Neale responded in style, striking two goals in two minutes. Jack Walsh supplied the pass and Patrick McKenzie finished brilliantly for the first, followed by a thunderous strike by Ben Hopkins into the top corner after a quick free by Sean Canny.
All Carras could muster in the final eight minutes of the half was a point each from Nathan Dooley, a free, and Robert Forde whereas their opponents struck 1-2, the goal coming from George Conroy Beirne on 24 minutes after a flowing move involving Sean Canny and Lee Hughes. This put The Neale 4-5 to 1-3 up at half-time.
The respective number fourteens, Nathan Dooley and Sean Canny, traded frees early in the second-half before The Neale had a chance to put the game to bed on 38 minutes with a fifth goal, only for Jack Walsh’s strike from a tight angle to come back off the post.
Dooley got the Carras comeback on the road by responding with three points, including the game’s sole two-pointer, before a pinpoint pass by Ryan Jennings picked out Darragh O’Connor for the first of his goals on 41 minutes to halve the deficit.
Cillian Fitzpatrick had reduced it further when Dooley had a chance to score his second goal of the evening. It was kept out by Cillian Vahey, but Darragh O’Connor was there to convert the rebound on 46 minutes as the Carras supporters roared their delight.
The game was all square by the 50th minute thanks to Dooley’s fourth free but The Neale would score the next three points through two Lee Hughes frees – the first being their first score in almost twenty minutes – and a free from Sean Canny.
Another Carras comeback appeared on the cards when Dooley took his tally to 1-8 for the evening with another free but there was nothing left in the tank as frees from Hughes and Canny either side of a third Ben Hopkins point saw the trophy make its way to Cong.
Scorers – The Neale: Ben Hopkins 1-0-3, Sean Canny 0-0-6 (5f), Jamie Naughton, Patrick McKenzie and George Conroy Beine 1-0-0 each, Lee Hughes 0-0-3f.
Carras: Nathan Dooley 1-1-6 (5f), Darragh O’Connor 2-0-0, Robert Forde and Cillian Fitzpatrick 0-0-1 each.
The Neale: Cillian Vahey; Jack Sweeney, Alex Glynn, Fionn Byrne; Eoin Lydon, Robert Walsh, Jamie Naughton; Keane Hughes, Patrick McKenzie; James Feerick, Ben Hopkins, Sean Canny; George Conroy Beirne, Lee Hughes, Jack Walsh. Sub: Tommy Feeney (for Feerick 43).
Carras: Shane Heaney; Robert Forde, Aaron Gill, Eoghan Delaney; Ryan Walsh, Glen Dooley, Eoghan Loughney; James Tierney, Ryan Jennings; Declan Joyce, Cillian Fitzpatrick, Eoin Hession; Darragh O’Connor, Nathan Dooley, Luke Munroe. Subs: Sean Corcoran (for Joyce 24) D Joyce (for Hession 54).
REF: Christopher Burke (Hollymount-Carramore)
