Match Reports

U16 HC Roinn B quarter final Vs Graigue Ballycallan

05/09/2014
U16 HC Roinn B quarter final Vs Graigue Ballycallan 6th Sept 2014
The Dunnamaggin U16 team took on Graigue Ballycallan in the quarter final of their championship in a sun drenched but windy John Locke park on Saturday last. Taking on a physically larger Graigue team Dunnamaggin took the game to them immediately from the start when Ian Walsh won a free which resulted in Luke Fitzpatrick slotting the ball over the bar. Graigue however responded immediately with one of their own. Then came the first of what was to be eight goals in this match. Victor Costello who was extremely busy throughout at centre back fed the ball to Rory Lodge who sent it into the nippy Luke Fitzpatrick who spotted Conor Hoban free and he duly rattled the net. However Graigue struck back nearly straight away on the 12th min when they eventually kicked the ball into the net after an initial ball in. Victor, Jack Crehan and the ever solid Darragh O’Keeffe were starting to impose themselves on the game which resulted in a ball being sent into Adam Fitzpatrick who slipped the ball over his marker and then put it into Conors path and the net was rattled yet again. Ballycallan responded with a point immediately but a Morgan Thomas free kept the advantage. Robbie McCauley was alert in goal to avoid a comeback before half time and Adam pointed again just before half time to send them in Dunnamaggin 2:3 Graigue Ballycallan 1:3
Morgan opened the second half scoring with a free after the ever running Luke Fitzpatrick was fouled nearly straight from the throw in. Rory Lodge and Dara Keane were working tirelessly around the pitch with Brian Farrell, Victor and Ian mopping up ball, the game seemed to be continuing to head Dunnamaggin’s way. However, 10 mins in, Graigue for about 10 mins made some positional switches and hit their purple patch scoring two frees and a point from play. They then had an excellent shot on goal blocked by Robbie only for a Graigue player to bat it to the back of the net. They followed this up with another super point from their nippy wing forward. They then broke inside for a 1 Vs 1 on the Dunnamaggin Goalie and there was little he could do. Dunnamaggin 2:04 Graigue Ballycallan 3:07. The Dunnamaggin men however were not about to give in that easy and a Roy Cullen goal from a ground shot with ten mins remaining brought them right back into the game. Unfortunately, the resulting puck out saw Graigue scoring yet another goal. Victor Costello stood up and pointed to keep the Dunna boys in it. This was followed up with another cracking Roy Cullen goal in the top corner followed by a good point from Conor Hoban, now playing at centre forward. This put the minimum between the teams but unfortunately that was how it finished – heart break for the Dunnamaggin Men after a great battle and fight back. FT Dunnamaggin 4:06 Graigue Ballycallan 4:07.
Panel :- Robbie McCauley, Darragh O’Keeffe, Jack Crehan, Eddie Dunne, Ian Walsh, Brian Farrell, Dara Keane, Jamie McLoughlin, Roy Cullen, Rory Lodge, Luke Fitzpatrick, Adam Fitzpatrick, Conor Hoban, Morgan Thomas. Nicky O’Shea, Shane Ivory-Corr, Conor Lawlor, Killian Lafford, Alex Moore, Conor Brett, Harry Walsh, Dylan Crehan. Mentors Mark Heffernan, Aidan Farrell and Andrew Hickey