Garrycastle stage stunning comeback to take the title

Garrycastle 4-9, Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-11

By Robert Kindregan

Garrycastle produced a remarkable second-half turnaround to overcome Coralstown/Kinnegad by two points in a thrilling U16 Division 2 League Final in Kinnegad last Wednesday evening.

Trailing by nine points midway through the opening half after a blistering start from the hosts, Garrycastle looked to be facing an uphill battle. However, two well-worked goals helped them regain a foothold before the break, and they carried that momentum into the second half, tightening up defensively while continuing to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Coralstown/Kinnegad dominated the opening stages and were driven throughout by star forward Eric Leonard, who finished with 1-6, but they were unable to reproduce the form that had put Garrycastle under such early pressure.

A long-range effort from Leonard inside the opening minute dropped short for Killian Dardis to punch into the net from close range and raise the green flag for the first of many times in the match.

Winning the ball back from the kick-out, Leonard kicked over from inside the arc. Garrycastle’s Cristian Necil looked to make amends for the hosts’ fast start with a ball over the top of the defence into Conor McCormack, who was pressured into kicking over with his back to goal to get one in reply.

Kinnegad wing-back Dylan McNevin surged 40 yards down the right flank and played Andrew Leavy in on goal. He went for the corner, forcing ‘keeper James Cahill into an excellent save.

Garrycastle missed a couple of opportunities at the other end, with balls dropping short, before possession was worked back to Leonard, who sold his man with a dummy on the right foot before sending the ball over on his left.

The deficit was stretched to five when Dardis kicked over from 30 yards in acres of space. As Garrycastle continued to try to get into the game, Leonard ran through the middle past four defenders before burying the ball in the net after 10 minutes.

A period of missed attempts for both teams followed until Leonard placed a beautifully weighted pass into the hands of Alvin Daly, who kicked over to atone for a missed goal opportunity moments earlier.

Senan Kelly added Garrycastle’s second score of the night after an 18-minute scoring drought for his side, which seemed to rally his team. Conor McCormack collected the ball out wide, turned his man and ran towards the centre of the pitch before kicking the ball straight over the black spot.

Finding momentum, Luke Stankard went long with a kick to put Daniel Murphy one-on-one with the keeper, and he found the centre of the net above the goalkeeper’s hands to reduce the deficit to five.

Winning the ball back from the kick-out, the purple patch continued as Tadgh Mulvihill sent the ball into Senan Kelly, who kicked low to the net past the keeper for his side’s eighth point in five minutes.

Coralstown/Kinnegad returned to the scoreboard with a strong effort off Leonard’s left boot, followed up with a tidy point from corner-back Luke Gray after a long run forward.

Aaron Mulvihill sent one over for Garrycastle before the half-time whistle sounded, setting up an exciting second half with just two points separating the teams at Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-6, Garrycastle 2-4.

A nervy return to proceedings saw both sides exchange wides. It was Daniel Murphy who opened the second-half scoring for Garrycastle with a point after 35 minutes.

They went ahead for the first time in the match when an excellent pass from Murphy landed into the hands of the onrushing Necil, who finished to the right corner of the net.

Callum Campbell burst through the centre for Kinnegad in search of a goal of his own after 38 minutes, but James Cahill did well to keep it out for a 45’, which Campbell converted expertly.

Leonard put Kinnegad back in front with the game’s only two-pointer; his shot dropping short and bouncing over the ‘keeper before sailing over the bar to raise the amber flag.

Senan Kelly levelled proceedings with a tidy point under pressure. At around the 50-minute mark, Garrycastle turned over the Coralstown/Kinnegad kick-out and worked the ball to Brendan Nally, who blasted to the net.

Leonard, showing his quality once again, kicked over at the other end after some fantastic footwork.

Senan Kelly and Peter Gorman, off the bench for Kinnegad, exchanged scores, leaving two points between the teams going into the final five minutes.

Tadgh Mulvihill stretched the lead to three for Garrycastle with a powerful effort under pressure from two Kinnegad defenders, taking a step back before driving the ball over the bar. It took the wind out of Kinnegad’s sails and, though they continued to search for a goal, it wasn’t to be, with Kelly adding another point for the visitors in the final minute.

Coralstown/Kinnegad will be scratching their heads over how the game slipped from their grasp after such a dominant opening spell, but a well-organised and resilient Garrycastle side deserves enormous credit. Both teams are sure to cross paths again in the upcoming championship.

Scorers - Garrycastle: Conor McCormack 0-2, Senan Kelly 1-4, Daniel Murphy 1-1, Aaron Mulvihill 0-1, Brendan Nally 1-0, Cristian Necil 1-0, Tadgh Mulvihill 0-1.

Coralstown/Kinnegad: Eric Leonard 1-6, Killian Dardis 1-1, Alvin Daly 0-1, Luke Gray 0-1, Callum Campbell 0-1 (45’), Peter Gorman 0-1.

Garrycastle: James Cahill, Jan Pozarowski, Caleb Lynch, Eoghan McCormack, Luke Stankard, Daniel Crosbie, Darragh Donegan, Aaron Mulvihill, Cristian Necil, Shane Glennon, Brendan Nally, Daniel Murphy, Senan Kelly, Tadgh Mulvihill, Conor McCormack.

Coralstown/Kinnegad: Senan Murphy, Aodhan McDonnell, Luke Gray, William Leavy, Dylan McNevin, Ruairi Fleming, Liam Geraghty, Callum Campbell, Harry Speller, Alvin Daly, Eric Leonard, Adam Clinton, Andrew Leavy, Eoin Walsh, Killian Dardis. Subs used: Peter Gorman, Donnacha Farrell, Tyler Coyne.

Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).