Sixmilebridge 1-09 St. Joeseph’s/Doora Barefield 0-6.

A floodlit O’Garney Park was the venue for this U16A BNÓG Shield Final Replay last Monday evening between Sixmilebridge and St. Joeseph’s/Doora Barefield. Played in ideal conditions with little or no wind advantage for either team, the ‘Bridge made the sharper of starts and were 3 points up after twelve minutes thanks to two excellent points from play from Evan O’Callaghan and a Noel Flynn pointed free. D/B finally got their opening score with an excellent Morgan Lahiffe pointed free on 18 minutes. Cian Gleeson got two more points back for the ‘Bridge with two pointed frees, both long distance as the ‘Bridge were in complete control of the game with ten minutes left in the first half. From there to the interval, the momentum started shift in D/B’s favour as they got on top at midfield and the half forward line and put the ‘Bridge backline under severe pressure. Morgan Lahiffe struck a lovely point on 22 minutes followed a minute later with another one by D/B full forward Donal O’Driscoll as they piled on the pressure. It was O’Driscoll again 5 minutes later who won possession in front of goal and struck a bullet of a shot at Conor Maxwell in the ‘Bridge net. To Conor Maxwell’s credit he showed lightning quick reaction to save it and four minutes later he prevented another goal making another brilliant save. This time he was judged to have fouled the ball and Morgan Lahiffe again tapped over the free to leave the bare minimum between the sides at half time. Half time score SMB 0-5 D/B 0-4.

D/B started the second half as they finished the first and were rewarded on 6 minutes when Matthew Power tied the game with a cracking long distance point. They took the lead 5 minutes later when the ever threatening Lahiffe popped over another point from play and they appeared to be in control. To the ‘Bridge lads’ credit they stepped up to the challenge and got stuck in all over the park but really excelled at midfield and half forward line positions. Noel Flynn tied the game once more 13 minutes in with an excellent point from play and this was followed two minutes later with a monster 60 metre free from Evan O Callaghan out on the wing. With the game now up for grabs both sides went at it with a greater degree of intensity and it was great to watch. For the next ten minutes both sets of backs were more than equal to the forwards as they snuffed out attacks at both ends. Cian Gleeson finally broke the stalemate on 25 minutes when he scored two brilliant points from play, both of them from midfield to put the ‘Bridge 3 points clear. The goal that ultimately finished the match as a contest finally came with two minutes left when Ferdia Ó Lionáin made a run at the D/B goal and while his shot was well hooked by Cian Lahiffe the ball had enough momentum for Ó Lionáin to pull on it first time low into the right corner of the net. There was no way back for D/B as they battled on and the ‘Bridge went on to win on a score line of 1-9 to 0-6.

For D/B Cian Moloney, Donal O’Driscoll, Morgan Lahiffe, and Luke Enright were excellent throughout.

For Sixmilebridge Cian Gleeson was superb not only his scores but his work rate at midfield. Conor Maxwell was also exceptional and kept his team in this game in the first half with two crucial saves. Ferdia Ó Lionáin put in a very good performance and his goal at the end just topped it off.

Sixmilebridge: Conor Maxwell, Adam O’Sullivan (captain), Conor Morey, Michael Carey, Morgan O Connell, Scott Kirkland, Adam Murray, Cian Gleeson 0-4, 0-2F, Noel Flynn 0-2, 0-1F, Seamus O Connell, Ferdia Ó Lionáin 1-0, Dara Casey, Eoin Morby, Conor Murphy, Evan O Callaghan 0-3, 0-1F, Oisin Breen, Jack Hughes, James Egan.

Sixmilebridge Mentors: Tommy Liddy, Brian O’ Connell, Mike Toomey, Jason Loughnane, and John O Meara.

St. Joeseph’s/Doora Barefield: Cian Hadden, Jack Power, Darragh Whelan, Daragha McMahon, Cillian O Riordain, Cian Lahiffe, Cillian Warner, Ciaran Jones, Matthew Power0-1, Mark Moloney, Cian Moloney, Byran Ruane, Morgan Lahiffe 0-4, 0-2F, Donal O’Driscoll 0-1, Luke Enright.

Referee: Pat O’Brien