U14 Progress

The Gaels U-14 team are up and running this year in the Division 3 County U-14 League. The team have got off to an encouraging start with victories against Elphin by (3-10 to 3-5) and St. Michaels (6-17 to 0-4). They also had a narrow one point defeat to Kilbride when a draw would have been the better result (4-14 to 3-16).

There is one complaint about this league - managers James Deane and Cathal Sweeney have had tough decisions to make as the three teams they have played can/will only play 11-a-side. It means that the managers had to drop two players after analysing their 13 a-side game plan five minutes previously. Compliants a-side, this is a well balanced team. Their effort cannot be questioned and when the players click they can be devastatingly good.

Jimmy Burke is a rock in the goals. Drew Bell and Jonathan Beirne always have the situation in control in the full-back line.

David Mc Donnell, Matty Mulvey and Keelan O'Dowd control the half-back line and can turn defence into attack instantly.

The work rate of Daniel Marron and Conor O'Dowd is encouraging with Daniel a very able captain of the team.

The half-forward line players of Matthew Mc Dermott, Mickey Murtagh and Cian Harmon fight for every ball and can hit some pinpoint accurate scores. The full-forward players of Niall Morohan and Morgan Conway have become more than capable of chipping in some crucial scores.

In the recent St.Michaels game the management decided to use their bench and none could have predicted what damage these boys did.

Shane Mc Donnell, Morgan Quinn, Dara O Dowd and Matthew Burke were introduced to the field and their work rate and effort was outstanding. They fought for every ball and the fact that the four boys each got a score shows their true effort.

One of the most heart warming plays during the game was near the end when Dara O'Dowd had a chance to kick his own score from a free but seen Shane Mc Donnell free. A simple pass by Dara ensured Shane got his name on the scoresheet.

Credit must be given to the older players for giving the boys these chances. What this means now is the bench has options and Gay Dowd will have some tough choices where to play these four lads at u-12 level.

The team have three remaining games in the league:
V Kilglass(A) 21st May
V Kilmore(H) 28th May
V St. Faithleachs (A) 4th June.

(James Deane)