Barnacarroll boys do the business
The Barnacarroll NS side after their win against Gaelscoil Raifteirí in the Division 2A Boys Final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. Picture: Michael Donnelly
A fast start was a false dawn in the case of Gaelscoil Raifteirí in their attempt to become Division 2A champions last Wednesday. Nor was their outscoring of Barnacarroll NS in the second-half of any use, as the result of this match had long been put beyond all doubt.
Gaelscoil Raifteirí might have raced into an early 0-4 to 0-2 lead but by the 19th minute they were eleven points in arrears – a deficit that in the end proved insurmountable.
Barnacarroll had threats from all over the pitch and no fewer than seven of their players registered scores from play, with the placed ball accuracy of Niall Kitching and Leo Kavanagh proving particularly useful also.
After Daithí Mac Cnáimhín had the opening point wiped out by Luke Duffy and Micheál Ó hAnnracháin had negated a point kicked by Dylan Burke, back to back points by Pól Ó Cearbhaill and Conchubhair Síbhear meant the Gaelscoil boys were in the ascendancy by two points after six minutes, with their foot passing style especially pleasing on the eye. However, by the time they were to score again, they had conceded 3-4 on the spin, as the Barnacarroll attack suddenly caught fire.
Niall Kitching had drawn an excellent save from Gaelscoil goalkeeper Eli Ó Dubhda but converted the ’45 before then getting the better of Ó Dubhda to score the game’s opening goal in the 13th minute.
An excellent block by Daithí Mac Cnáimhín denied Conor Bracken from also hitting the net, however, Kitching set up Brian Cosgrove to score Barnacarroll’s second goal while Luke Duffy scored their third, in the 16th minute, despite the gallant effort of Eli Ó Dubhda to keep his goal intact.
Points by Niall Kitching, a ’45, Dylan Burke and Luke Duffy moved Barnacarroll even further ahead before Roan Donaldson stopped the rot with Gaelscoil Raifteirí’s first point in almost 15 minutes. That still left them ten behind at the break, 3-06 to 0-5, and worse again, they were going to be against the wind in the second-half.
To be fair, the boys of Gaelscoil Raifteirí dug in, scoring three second-half goals from Micheál Mac Nioclás, two, and Roan Donaldson, and both players might even have added to those except that Mac Nioclás was thwarted by an excellent block from Benjamin Santos while Donaldson had a shot superbly tipped past the post by goalkeeper Darragh Kitching.
Donaldson did score a point and Aindí Ó Connachtáin raised a white flag too, but Barnacarroll reeled off second-half points of their own through Brian Cosgrove, Leo Kavanagh, two frees, Conor Bracken, Francis Tolan and Niall Kitching, a free, to always maintain a safe distance in front.
Barnacarroll NS: Darragh Kitching, Ian Torres Mulkeen, Benjamin Santos, Josh Glavey, Conor Bracken, Niall Kitching (1-03, 0-2 ’45, 0-1f), Luke Duffy (1-02), Leo Kavanagh (0-3, 2f), Alexander Torres Mulkeen, Brian Cosgrove (1-1), Dylan Burke (0-2), Charlie Higgins, Francis Tolan (0-1), AJ Neville, Kyle McGovern, Evan Regan, Rory Hollis, James Goggins, Noel Brennan, Arthur Jennings, Dovydas Sabaliauskus, Michael Regan, Oisin McCormack, Aidan McGuire, Kian North.
Gaelscoil Raifteirí: Eli Ó Dubhda, Senan Ó Catharnaigh, Finn Mac Gafraidh, Aindí Ó Connachtáin (0-1), Daithí Mac Cnáimhín (0-1), Micheál Mac Nioclás (2-0, 1-0f), Roan Donaldson (1-2), Conchubhair Síbhear (0-1), Eirnin Ó Sionóid Mac an Rí, Pól Ó Cearbhaill (0-1), Micheál Ó hAnnracháin (0-1), Seán Ó Cléirigh, Óisín Ó Gallachóir, Fionn Mac Cartaigh, Darragh Ó Caoimh, Oscar Mac an Fhailí.
REF: Kevin Connelly
