MINOR FOOTBALL: John Mitchels 1-9; Austin Stacks 0-6.
With both sides on level terms at half time (three points each) Mitchels turned in a very good second half to win this opening round of the Co. League played in Connolly Park on this Saturday evening (26th Feb).
The score that really turned the game came four minutes after the resumption when a high speculative shot by Mitchels just dipped under our crossbar for the only goal of the game.
Darragh O’Brien with points from a free and from play and Kyle Fitzgibbon from play were our first half scorers.
Our three second half points came from the same two players – Darragh’s two on this occasion coming from frees and Kyle’s one from play.
Team: Patrick Fitzgibbon, Tom McLoughlin, Alan Crean, Joseph O’Kelly, David O’Sullivan, Niall Commane, Ciaran O’Connell, Darragh O’Brien (0-4 – 3 frees), Shane Crowley, Conor Jordan, Scott Monaghan, Greg Horan, Danny Carroll, Alan Duggan, Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-2).
Subs: Michael Godley (26m), Eamon McAllen (48m), Breandán Caball (58m).
In round 2 of the League we travel to Killarney on this coming Saturday (5th March) to play Dr. Crokes with a 4.30pm start.
Match Report submitted by Kevin in our Juvenile club news reports February 28th.
KEVIN REPORTS: (i) Our Minors v Mitchels: this game was played on Saturday last in Connolly Park. It was a good clean competitive match. We know from previous matches over the years that Mitchels have a nice strong team, and I’m sure in years to come many of their team from Saturday’s game will have important roles in The Mitchels’ senior team in years to come. The match started lively for The Rock, with Dara O’Brien getting the opening point after 4 minutes and he followed by another point from play in the 9th minute. Stacks were dominating at this stage in the encounter but the scores on the board are what counts. With all our possession we only got our 3rd point in the 16th minute when Kyle Fitzgibbon expertly with precision availed of a scoring opportunity. Mitchels then started to show how well they can play and took the next 3 scores to level the match at 3 points each, scoring in the 21st, 23rd and 26th minutes. Level pegging at half time. The match was very much up for grabs in the 2nd half but, as the old saying goes, goals win games…and that was to prove very true in this match. 6 minutes into the half a high dropping ball deceived our ‘keeper and ended up in the net. Dara O’Brien tagged on 2 more points in the 40th and 46th minutes but then Mitchels took command, scoring 4 unanswered points. Young Kyle scored another fine point in the 54th minute before Mitchels got the final cúilín in the 56th minute…to win by 6 points…1 -9 in aghaidh 6 phointe. The Rock team: Pa Fitzgibbon, Tom McLaughlin, Alan Crean, Joe O’Kelly, Dara O’Sullivan, Niall Commane, Ciarán O’Connell, Dara O’Brien, Shane Crowley, Greg Horan, Scott Monaghan, Conor Jordon, Danny Carroll, Alan Duggan Kyle Fitzgibbon. Subs: Breandán Caball (for Kyle), Michael Godley (for Alan), Éamonn McAllen (for Danny), Pól Galvin, Barra Walsh, Boris Ivanov, Eoghan Mac Iomhargáin, Shane Begley. (ii) Training: Monday and Wednesday in preparation for our next Co. League match v Crokes in Killarney next Saturday. Go n-éirí go geal le William, Kevin, Seán agus an fhoireann go léir v Na Crócaigh.