Moate win U10 Community Games county final

If at first you don"t succeed, try, try and try again. Well, that certainly was the case for the Moate U10 football team in this year"s Community Games competition. Having been beaten in the final for the last two years, the management team were hoping for a decent run in this year"s competition. Last Monday night in St. Loman"s was the culmination of all the hard work that has been carried out with the U8"s and U10"s over the past few years when Moate met The Downs in the Community Games final. In the first round of the competition, Moate had travelled to Caulry for their opening game. The team played very well on the day being on top throughout the game and winning by 2-7 to 0-1. The second round was played in Moate Business College grounds. The team played well to overcome a competitive Coosan/Beechpark side. Moate advanced to the Area Finals by a 2-5 to 1-1 margin. The Area Final was held in Tubberclair and was a great game, always in the balance until the last few minutes. The belief the team showed that evening, fighting hard and fair to win the ball for one another was clearly seen and this team spirit took Moate forward to the third County Final in three years, final score Tubberclair 0-8, Moate 2-8. Next stop was the almost annual visit to County Final in St. Loman"s GAA grounds on Monday evening. This proved to be an intense evening full of every emotion. The team started well and scored a couple of early points in very windy conditions. The Downs levelled scores soon after and from there on the teams traded points and goals until the final whistle. Leading by two points with only a couple of minutes to go, Moate had played really well and it looked like this was going to be their year. Then disaster, with a minute to go, The Downs scored a goal and Moate trailed by one point. Great praise must be given to this team who never dropped their heads. They won possession from the kick out and moved the ball forward with great determination for one final attack, scoring the point needed to earn a draw and take the game to extra-time. Heart-stopping stuff! Five minutes extra-time each way was decided by the referee. The first five minutes were over in a flash with no score added. The coaches rallied the troops for the last five minutes and the team delivered a glorious move scoring a goal in the first minute of the second period of extra-time. Heads were up and everyone raised their game repelling all that The Downs could throw at them. The Downs pressure finally delivered a point but the determined defending by Moate"s blanket defence deprived them of any more scores. As soon as the ball was kicked out, the referee blew his whistle for the final time and Moate had captured the Crowley Perpetual Cup which they so richly deserved. Final score Moate 3-8 and a gallant Downs team 3-6. The entire team reacted with great delight running to one another with a great sense of joy, a moment to cherish for each team member, their parents and the management team. A huge crowd of supporters had travelled to the match and all travelled in convoy back to Tuar Ard Café for refreshments, kindly laid on by Frank and Donna. The joint captains holding the cup aloft on their victory tour of the town. A special word of thanks must go to the U10 management team of James (Blackie) Mullins, Donal Bracken, Kenny O"Brien and Jimmy Redmond, the Community Games Committee and all the parents for their support in helping us achieve this county title. One thing is sure, if the commitment, determination and dedication to football continues to be nurtured in this fantastic group of players, the future of football in Moate, both boys and girls, looks very bright indeed! Moate: Jack McCarthy, Aaron Heavin, Daniel Evans, Nicholas Hamm, Carla McManus, Sean Berry, Cathal O"Brien, Thomas Berry, David Mullins, Callum Jones, Ciaran Lynam, Brain Scully, Garbhan Cunningham, Rhys Rowlands, Jason Gillivan, Fiachra Cunningham, Owen Higgins, Philip King, Paul Heffernan