Castlegar 4-7 Pearses 3-5: Although our U14’s suffered their third loss of the U14 campaign to Castlegar in Ballymacward this evening, they put in a tremendous second half performance to come near enough to turning the game around.
Castlegar were the superior and hungrier side and dominated the opening half as they put some flowing moves together to lead 2-5 before Pearses registered their first score on 14 mins; a goal which originated from an Oisin Donoghue line ball to Conor Moran whose long distance point effort dropped at the last second to find the net. Castlegar responded immediately with a goal of their own.
Cian Murphy then scored 0-2; his first well taken after he gathered the ball well and burst through the middle, shaking off a few tackles before unleashing a mighty effort over the bar. Paddy Kenny and Ethan Lally were involved in the build up to his 2nd from play taken on the run. Castlegar 3-6 Pearses 1-2 at half time.
Cian Murphy pointed from a free straight in front of the posts after the restart after he himself was fouled. Castlegar found their scores more freely and raised a green flag for the fourth time when they scored from an acute angle into the top corner. 4 mins into the second half and Ciano netted a spectacular goal with an unstoppable shot after a great run down the left side of the field, 4-6 to 2-3.
Murphy added another goal this time from a free to further reduce the deficit while a mini revival seemed to be turning things in Pearses favour. Both teams then exchanged points, Cian Murphy the provider for Pearses from play after the ref played advantage. Murphy kept plugging away and scored again after a neat pick up; burst through the centre but just couldn’t keep his shot down as it just swooshed over the crossbar.
The momentum was with Pearses for the final exchanges as Cian Murphy stood between the posts for a penalty making a spectacular save and clearing from the goal line. In the end, time ran out as the best efforts of Brian Kelly, Robert Hynes, Luke Mitchell, Ethan Lally, David Hillary and of course Cian Murphy who scored 2-5, could not further progress the great second half comeback.
Despite this result Pearses still finish fourth in the group and qualify for the semi-finals. Other teams progressing to the last four are Ardrahan, Castlegar and Tommy Larkins.
By Martina Donnellan