Moate overcome Rosemount to reach final in goal-fest

Moate 4-7, Rosemount 4-4

Moate overcame near neighbours Rosemount on Saturday afternoon in this U14 semi-final in Rosemount. Moate started well with Ruairi Cunningham combining with John Corbally, who opened the scoring with a point from a free.

Rosemount were well closed down by some great defending by Andrew Gorman, Gavin Murray and Jamie Malone. Moate broke forward again with a Billy Berry run who laid the ball off to Ruairi Cunningham to score a lovely point. Daniel Buckley then sailed through the Rosemount defence to score a well-taken goal.

Moate were in total domination for a ten-minute spell and should have scored more points but did not take their chances. Goal chances went a begging to before Shane Claffey sent the ball over the bar for a good point. John Corbally went on a great solo run and beat defenders easily with his pace and skill, before he sent a forty-yard shot over the bar for a superb point. Daniel Buckley was causing damage in the full-forward line with his great fielding and super strength on the ball but was denied a second goal by the Rosemount 'keeper. Rosemount came more into the game but again found Sean Bracken, Jack McCormack and Jason Ennis too strong in defence. Rosemount were given a somewhat soft penalty against the run of play, which the Moate keeper Dillon Ennis saved, only for the ball to just cross the line for a goal. Moate attacked again and were unlucky not to score a goal after good work between John Corbally and Daniel Buckley. Andrew Gorman and midfielder Ruairi Cunningham defended well to sniff out two goal chances for Rosemount.

Moate went all out to gain the upper hand and scored a second goal from the boot of John Corbally after a strong run. Ruairi Cunningham added his second point from a free two minutes later. Rosemount came back into the game with their second goal which was hit high into the top corner of the net. Moate made a switch by bringing Daniel Buckley out to midfield and putting John Corbally in at full-forward, and this worked well when Daniel played a good ball into the oncoming John, who turned his man and scored a great point on the run. Gavin Murray, sweeping up around midfield, sent in a low ball to John Corbally and his quick turn easily beat to defenders for a great point. Rosemount ended the first half on a high when they scored their third goal from three shots at the goals.

The second half started well for Rosemount as they ran at the Moate defence and picked up three points without reply. Jack McCormack picked up an injury and was replaced by Conor Claffey. Some solid defending by Jason Ennis and Sean Bracken kept the Rosemount forwards out but, finally, the black and ambers broke through and scored their forth goal. It looked like it was all over for Moate as the Roses were in control and stopped Moate scoring for 15 minutes.

But Moate never give up and were reward when Ruairi Cunningham played a ball to Owen Kelly who found Daniel Buckley, who left the defence for dead and blasted to the net. Within a couple of minutes, Daniel had another goal after he ran onto a long ball and showed his strength to fire a low shot pass the helpless keeper and bring Moate back into the lead.

The All Whites grew in stature as they won the battles in defence and midfield. A great move from defence by Sean Bracken squared the ball to Ruairi Cunningham; he played a lovely one two with Conor Claffey, and pointed for the final score. Moate won a great game with a firm belief in a never-say-die attitude, which the management team of Pe Gillivan, Cyril Gillivan and Tommy Gorman have instilled into the players.

Moate All Whites: Dillon Ennis, Jack McCormack, Sean Bracken, Jason Ennis, Jamie Malone, Andrew Gorman, Gavin Murray, John Corbally, Ruairi Cunningham, Conor Sheridan, Owen Kelly, Ivan Rattigan, Daniel Buckley, Billy Berry, Shane Claffey. Subs: Alex Ryan, Conor Claffey, David Meares, Owen Doyle, Damien Byrne, David McGinley, James Casey. Cameron Corbally.