Below is a brief match report written by two of our first year students who attended the game.
St Mac Dara’s 3 – 8 Lucan C.C. 1-4
“The under 14 C Championship final took place on a cold day in Abbotstown last Wednesday. The time of throw in was quarter to eleven. The game was contested between St. Mac Dara’s from Templeogue and Lucan C.S of Lucan. The St. Mac Dara’s team lined out in Green and White with Lucan in Red. The game started at a fast pace with Pádraig McNally playing Michael Lawlor through to score the opening point for the Templeogue outfit. Lawlor quickly doubled his tally to put Mac Dara’s two points up inside the first few minutes. Mac Dara’s furthered their lead when Pádraig McNally took on the Lucan defence before side footing home with his weaker left foot. The game then slowed somewhat before the Lucan sides number 11 opened their scoring with a point. Killian Carolan then answered with a phenomenal point from distance. The Lucan free taker closed the gap as he tipped over a point from just outside the 21. The half time whistle sounded and the score was Mac Dara’s 1-3 to 0-2 points. Four clear of their Lucan opposition.
The two teams were brought to their respective managers for a half time talk. The teams returned to the field of play unchanged for the second half. The game resumed and Mac Dara’s took charge with a quick run from Michael Lawlor before he passed across the square to leave Adam Danaher with an easy finish passed the helpless keeper. The Lucan side rallied for a period of the half and scored 1-1. The point came from a free in the centre of the goal. Their goal was a fortunate one after the ball ricocheted off the boot of Mac Dara’s defender Ciaran Hyland before nestling in the bottom left corner of the Templeogue teams net. Mac Dara’s weathered the Lucan storm and replied with a flurry of points from full forward Michael Lawlor. Mac Dara’s defence led by Cillian Farrell and Luke Bentley had to work very hard to keep Lucan at bay during this period before the game was put beyond doubt through a fantastic goal by Ciaran Keogh. He took possession of the ball on the wing in front of the Mac Dara’s crowd. After a powerful run Keogh rocketed the ball into the top right corner of the Lucan goal.
The substitutes began rolling on for Mac Dara’s with all playing a part in the final part of the game. Cuán Manning, who came in for Seán Kirwan, made an immediate impact setting up the days top scorer Michael Lawlor for the final point of the game. The final whistle blew with Mac Dara’s winning 3-8 to 1-4. As the two sides shook hands Mac Dara’s supporters poured onto the pitch to celebrate their school’s win before Cillian Farrell and Padraig McNally lifted the trophy on behalf of the squad of 40″.
