Charlestown bridged a gap of over a decade in claiming the East mayo U14 ‘A’ title last evening in mixed conditions at the Centre of Excellence in Bekan. It was the firepower of the Sarsfields’ forwards that ensured the men in green and white would claim their second title of the year, having previously won the division 2 league title in May. Having said this, the game was in the balance right up until the final quarter, ensuring that the large crowd in attendance were treated to an entertaining hour’s football.
The ‘town, playing into a stiff breeze in the first half; started brightly, controlling possession around the middle third but it was their inability to work the ball into scoring positions that cost the men in green and white. Jack Mahon got his first major inside the first ten minutes but this was not to deter Aghamore as they replied with a goal of their own. Ciaran Honeyman was called in to action to make a save after this and was consistency personified throughout the hour, often mopping up any attacks that came into his area.
Aghamore grew in confidence as the half progressed but Charlestown were winning plenty of possession thanks to the hard work of Ben Conway and Martin McCormack in midfield. This in turn allowed the likes of Ruairi Cullen, Niall Drudy and Ben Crean to get on the ball up front. Charlestown bagged a second twenty minutes in. Good work by Drudy and Niall Fleming set up Cullen who calmly dispatched the ball low to the corner of the net. Aghamore were not going to go away and aided by the strong breeze, kicked two minors in succession to level the game, 2.00 – 1.03. Then came the game’s turning point. A fine flowing move starting with Darragh Casey and Luke O’Donohue at the back ended at the hands of Jack Mahon who was taken to ground while trying to round the goalkeeper. A penalty was awarded and Mahon fired the ball to the roof of the net to ensure that the Sarsfields led at half-time: 3.00 – 1.03.
The young men in green and white came out like a team possessed on the resumption and quickly added three points to their total through Cullen, Crean and the impressive Mahon. Jack Corley and David Doherty pushed up the pitch from their wing back berths at this time and this resulted in Aghamore being suffocated and coughing up possession on various occasions. Charlestown were clinical and added another major during this time. At this stage, the Sarsfields led by 8 and looked to be one more score away from putting their opponents to the sword. Aghamore had other ideas however and came up the field to add a goal and a point of their own.
This left the game in the melting pot with 15 minutes to play but that was as close as Aghamore were to get as Mahon added another goal, coupled with tidy finishes from Drudy and Crean. Cullen also added a point in his weak foot together with scores from Fleming and a monster free Mahon. There was no fear of a revival from the opposition this time as Marty Beirne and Brendan McCormack sniffed out any foray Aghamore made up the pitch in the dying minutes and good link play from Jack Brennan ensured Charkestown made use of the ball in the second half, which had not been the case in the first thirty. Aghamore did finish the game with a well taken goal but it was not to deny our young men as the referee signaled the final whistle upon the resumption. Final score Charlestown 8.08 – 4.07 Aghamore.
It was a great end to a fantastic year for our U14s who competed well at county and Connacht Feile competitions on top of claiming the league and championship double. This achievement was reflected in the huge crowd that travelled to Bekan to roar our lads home to victory. Captain Ben Conway accepted the plague on behalf of the team and brought to a close, a fantastic season that had started in not so promising circumstances on a wet evening in Balla in March. Huge credit to the lads for the progression they have made over the season.
Team: Ciaran Honeyman, Marty Beirne, Darragh Casey, Brendan McCormack, David Doherty, Luke O’Donohue, Jack Corley, Ben Conway, Martin McCormack, Ben Crean, Ruairi Cullen, Niall Drudy, Niall Fleming, Jack Mahon, Jack Brennan, Sean Dunleavy, Micheal Durcan, Dylan Marren, Oran Duffy, Tomas Goldrick, Jamie Duffy, Eoin Goldrick, Dillion Curry.
