U-17 Division 4 League Final
Cill Oige 5-10 Esker Gaels 2-14
A first half goal blitz from Cill Oige proved the difference in the division 4 league final played last Monday in Castledaly, as a gallant Esker Gaels side lost out by 5 points. The home side opened with 2 early goals and were denied a third by a smart Sean Elliffe save. Pointed frees from Nathan Corcoran and Ben Martin settled the away side into the game and an Adam Smyth goal in the 15th minute reduced the deficit back to 3 points. However, Cill Oige grabbed another 2 quickfire goals to put daylight between the sides. Points from Alex Johnston, Daniel Taplin and another free from Corcoran paired the gap back, before a converted penalty from Smyth on the stroke of half time left the score at 4-6 to 2-5.
A few changes at half time shored up the defence in the second half, with Cathal Reilly impressing at full back. Esker made the early running after the interval courtesy of pointed frees from Martin but Cill Oige once again found the net in the 40th minutes to undo this good work. To their credit, Esker kept going and chipped away at the lead with points from Corcoran, Smyth and substiture Eoin Conlon. With a numerical advantage on the pitch, a goal was required but a combination of bad luck and resolute Cill Oige defending prevented the away side from getting the 3 pointer needed. In the end, the home team ran out winners by 5-10 to 2-14.
Team: Sean Elliffe, Matthew Savage, Michael Cummins, Kyle McCormack, Cathal Reilly, Dylan Drake, Tristan Montgomery, Daniel Taplin (0-1), Alex Johnston (0-1), Adam Smyth (2-3, 1-0pen, 0-1f), Ben Martin (0-4f), Keelan Blom, Nathan Corcoran (0-3, 0-2f), Mark Seery, Nathan Downes.
Subs: Eoghan Fallon, Eoin Conlon (0-2), Evan Maloney, DJ Connaughton, Gabriel Barros, Rafael Barros, William Geraghty, Owen Blom
