Sarsfields Capture Under-21 B Title in Great Style
Charlestown Sarsfields under-21 team rounded off the 2018 season
on a real high when they captured the county under-21 title in scintillating
fashion with a 2-17 to 2-5 victory over Ardnaree in good quality encounter
played at the Connacht Centre of Excellence Headquarters in Bekan recently.
The green and white showed their quality throughout in a match that
was played at a brisk and frenetic pace with the Sarsfields of the Charlestown
variety holding all the aces as they showed all their class and pedigree when
the game was there to be won in the second half.
The opening half was pretty evenly contested with Ardnaree more
than holding their own with their inside line in particular providing the
Sarsfields full back line with several anxious moments.
Scores flowed freely on both sides with green and white just
holding sway as they went into the break three in front 0-9 to 1- 3 which was
just about a fair reflection on the overall balance of play.
Jack Mahon was unerring from frees as he knocked over five
from a variety of angles and positions with Patrick Lenehan, Paul Towey and
Conor O`Donoghue also on target as Charlestown dominated the closing stages
of an enjoyable and entertaining first thirty minutes.
Charlestown Sarsfields hit the ground running in the second half
as a brilliant first ten minutes saw them take the game completely away from
their opponents. The green and white blitzed the North Mayo side for 1-4
without reply with the goal machine that is Paddy Lenehan once again
underlining his penchant for hitting the net with a stunning finish after a
terrific pass from Paul Towey.
Points from Mahon with two, Lenehan himself and Paul Towey
saw the Sarsfelds surge clear as Ardnaree were utterly unable to cope with the
running power and athleticism of the green and white who swarmed all over
them and took complete control of the match.
Ardnareen did manage to stem the tide with two points but any
hopes that this might ignite a comeback were swiftly dashed as the
Charlestown lads moved up another gear and hit another 1-4 in matter of
minutes to wrap up the contest and leave their opponents chasing shadows
such was the chasm between the two teams.

Mattie Lenehan got the green and white`s second goal and this was
just reward for a superb performance as he displayed his full array of skill,
fielding majestically, carrying with real pace and intent, always delivering the
correct pass and making the right decisions when in possession of the football.
Patrick Lenehan kicked two further points to complete a great day for
the Lenehan brothers with Paul Towey, Thomas Holton and Jack Mahon
completing the scoring for a happy Charlestown camp with the final whistle
giving rise to wonderful celebrations among players, management and
supporters alike on what was a red letter night for all connected with the
Charlestown Sarsfields club.
Charlestown Sarsfields captain Conor O`Donoghue was presented
with the cup in front of an ecstatic and jubilant band of Charlestown
supporters .
It was a terrific team performance keeper Kenneth Brennan steady
anbd composed between the sticks with Eoin Beirne and Aidan Hopkins solid
and uncompromising in the full back line as they dealt admirably with all that
came their way. The half-back line was equally impressive with Ben Conway
belying his tender years to deliver a quality performance at centre back, well
backed up by David McLoughlin and Conor O`Toole who manned the wing back
positions with great vigilance and authority.
The midfield duo of skipper Conor O`Donoghue and Thomas Holton
were imperious throughout. Holton dominated the skies and fielded
magisterially while O`Donoghue did the hard yards on the deck and was a
constant link between defence and attack.
The attack was full of danger and menace with their pace, movement
and support lines causing all ends of problems for an Ardnaree defence that
could never get to grips with the Sarsfields quintet.
The Lenehan brothers, Patrick and Matt were magnificent with Matt my
man of the match as he covered every blade of grass and was perpetual
motion from start finish. He was Brian Dooher like in the way he went about
his work with Paddy no less impressive . Paul Towey, Jack Mahon and Ryan
also enjoyed some splendid moments and made big contributions on the
scoreboard with Mahon accounting for 0-8 of the green and white`s final total.
The subs Cian Craig, Cian McCudden, Darragh Casey, Niall Drudy and
Ruairi Cullen all showed up well and displayed some good individual cameos to
round off a stellar night of football for the club as they once again showed

their pedigree and class on the big stage. Honourable mention also Paddy
Goldrick who was ruled out for almost the entire campaign with injury but he
remains a shining talent with a big future ahead of him while John Drudy
completed the panel
Special mention to the management team of Ronan Kenny, Gareth
O`Donnell and Patrick Walsh who got the best out of the squad and re-focused
the panel after the disappointing end to the season at senior level. The
management trained the panel hard and had the team playing in a very direct
and fast moving style all the time adhering to the classic Charlestown tradition
involving feeding the ball through the hands with lots of support play and off
the shoulder movement key to their success. It was this cocktail of clever
interplay, speed and pace which proved far too good for all the teams they
came up against in the B grade as the shrewd management trio got the best
out of each and every player available to them at this grade.
The Sarsfields have a proud tradition in the under-21 competiton and
must be one of the few clubs in Mayo who have won titles at all three grades.
This latest victory ranks right up there with the best of them as the senior
management for 2019 look to use this victory as the building block and
springboard for success at senior level with many of these players already well
established on the senior team. This success should empower them to drive on
and propel the club forward for the new season with lots of talent and
potential to be tapped into and utilised going forward.
A great night for the Charlestown Sarsfields club as they continue to
punch well above their weight at county level with this latest victory further
proof of their ability to mine gold out of scare and sparse resources.