Charles is king of Cong for Neale county success
The Neale captain Oscar Gibbons receives the cup from Brian O'Malley, Bord na nÓg secretary. Picture: Mayo GAA
Goals win games and that was certainly the case for The Neale in MacHale Park on Tuesday evening last when the South Mayo side raised five green flags on their way to securing the county Under 14 ‘D’ Championship.
The impressive Evan Charles scored four of his side’s five goals, finishing the game with 4-5 to his name, all coming from play.
The boys in green got off to a flying start as they raced into a six-point lead inside the opening minute courtesy of two goals coming from the boot of Charles, as Gael na Daimheidi had no answer to his direct runs at goal.
Cormac Devane got the amalgamated side up and running in the third minute, but the lead was out to ten points shortly after.
Tom Costello scored a free and straight from the kickout Charles had his hat-trick after seven minutes when Keelan Walsh won the ball before setting the corner forward through on goal.
Charles notched his first point in the 11th minute, and it looked like The Neale would cruise to victory but that would prove to be their last score of the half.
Conal Boyle hit a point in the 13th minute to kickstart a run of 1-11 unanswered before the half-time break. Gaels pinned their opponents back inside their own half as Niall McDermott, Niall Duggan, Sean Duggan, Cormac Devane and Tadgh Kirrane all raised white flags to bring the teams level by the 28th minute.
Then on the stroke of half-time Blake Bradley found the net to put Gaels into a three-point lead.
The second half played out much like the first with The Neale pinning Gaels back for an extended period before the border men came back into the game.
This time The Neale made things count on the scoreboard even more as Evan Charles notched two points before Tadgh Kirrane pushed the lead back out to two points.
From the 41st minute, however, The Neale would score 2-2 unanswered to open up a six-point lead. Charles rifling his fourth goal of the game from a tight angle in the 41st minute before setting up Keelan Walsh to hit the net on 48 minutes.
Charles also added two points in between for good measure.
Bradley would raise a green flag in the 54th minute to bring his side back into the game and Niall Duggan and Tomas Maye would trade points as The Neale held out to pick up the cup with a three-point victory.
