Pearses 5-8 Caltra 2-10. Report by Martina Donnellan. Fresh from their 1 point win over Tuam Stars last weekend, Pearses U13 footballers were magnificent yesterday evening throughout the entire game and were full value for their 7 point win over Caltra; two wins over two big football stongholds now earns them huge respect. It was Caltra who opened the scoring with a point from No. 12 but Pearses responded immediately with a bullet of a goal from Anthony Feeney after the ball was worked from defence in a move involving James Queeney, David Walsh, Harry Mitchell, Cilly Fahey, Conor Hillary and perfectly executed by Feeney. Cilly Fahey tagged on a point as the ball took a deflection off the crossbar on its way. Diarmuid Ryan was quick to advance off his line to avert a certain goal which was helped on by Cathal Hynes and Kyle McDonagh and at this early stage one could have been forgiven for thinking this was going to be a one sided affair.
Caltra replied with 1-2 before Cilly Fahey’s hard work earned the next score as he blocked down a Caltra clearance in defence, sprayed the loose ball across to Conor Hillary and he tapped over. Harry then kick passed a ball into space for the pacey Fahey to run on to and he lashed to the net on 11mins. Within 2 mins Caltra replied as a dropping free was parried out by Diarmuid Ryan in goal but the squirming ball appeared to take a touch on the way as it was sent back in for a soft sloppy goal to concede. Pearses levelled matters with a diagonal kick pass from Jonah Donnellan to Hillary who in turn fed Fahey and he squared the game with a fantastic goal to make it 2-3 apiece. Two Caltra points from play in quick succession put them back in the driving seat by 17mins but this was the last time they were to hit the front.
Pearses knuckled down and stopped the rot. Harry Mitchell blasted to the net as Donnellan sent a ball into space in the corner for Ross Lally to latch on to and while Conor Hillary andamp;amp; Cilly Fahey were effective in the move, the ball was buried to the net by Harry to make it: Pearses 3-3; Caltra 2-5 by 22mins. Caltra levelled matters again as a free dropped short, was cleared by a combination of Diarmuid Ryan andamp;amp; Conor Walsh and the loose ball was sent over on the second attempt. David Walsh had a vital rob as Caltra were on the attack and then Pearses youngsters reeled off 1-1 in the space of 2mins. Cilly Fahey dispossessed his player and passed to Harry who throttled in on goal and buried his effort past the hapless goalie. The aforementioned combined again as the assured
Harry tapped over on 25mins to give Pearses a 4point margin at the break. 4-4 to 2-6.
Both sides traded points on the resumption; Harry from play and Caltra with a free. Two successive Pearses scores helped Pearses pull away. Harry with another glorious goal after Feeney, Conor Walsh, Donnellan andamp;amp; Cilly all had a hand in the move. Cilly added another point from play after young Fionn Donohue set him up and the momentum was firmly with Pearses with 8mins gone in the 2nd half. There were 9mins of a barren spell before Caltra tapped over two close range frees in quick succession. Harry made simple work of a free after he himself was fouled to make it 5-7 to 2-9. Both sides exchanged scores in the last 3 mins; Caltra with a free and Harry with his 3rd point from play after lovely interaction from Ross Lally, Feeney andamp;amp; Donnellan before Mitch squeezed it inches over the crossbar.
All across the field, Pearses exerted huge pressure on Caltra which paid dividends with a well-earned 7 point win on a scoreline: Pearses 5-8; Caltra 2-10. The U12’s play Northern Gaels in Williamstown this Sunday at 11am while the U13s next outing is Friday evening next.
Scorers: Harry Mitchell 3-4 (0-1F); Cilly Fahey 1-3, Anthony Feeney 1-0; Conor Hillary 0-1.
Panel: Diarmuid Ryan, James Queeney, Cathal Hynes, David Walsh, Conor Walsh, Kyle McDonagh, Anthony Feeney, Jonah Donnellan, Fionn Donohue, Harry Mitchell, Conor Hillary, Cilly Fahey, Ross Lally, James Feeney, Ciarán Hogan, Daniel Lydon.