29.04.2018 Match Report: Feile C Final, Eadestown vs Milltown

Pitch 4 Hawkfield was the venue for the Feile C County Final last Sunday with Eadestown playing Milltown for the title.  The team had already played Milltown in the third round in a very close affair and it's fair to say there was trepidation on both sides of the pitch as to what to expect.   Milltown opened the scoring with a point.  This was quickly answered when midfielder Cian Boran ran the length of pitch to deliver a perfect pass to Dara McGettrick who scored a goal.  Eadestown maintained the pressure and centre forward Dara McGettrick knocked a point over from a free.  Five minutes in and Eadestown had a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.   Milltown responded with a goal however and it was back level with 12 minutes to go.  Cian Boran took an assist from Aidan Walsh, scoring his first point of the match.  Niall Grainger also notched up two great points.  Daniel Dowling was unlucky not to score, falling to a questionable tackle from his Milltown counterpart to the protests of the Eadestown crowd.   Ardin Magee was as persistent in his tackling as a wasp and stung his way to completely out-marking his man in the first half.  Aaron Curtin and Mark Dockery were also very impressive.  Full back Darragh Jameson demonstrated great pace, strength and versatility in making multiple runs opening many of the chances that were converted into scores for Eadestown.   Half back Jason Brady also made some great runs deep into the Milltown half.   The rest of the half involved each team taking alternate point scores and ended Eadestown 1-6 to Milltown 1-5, with two of the Eadestown scores coming from frees.  

At half time, coaches Robbie Jameson and Tommy Dillon, aided by the local Hawkfield bulldog set the tone for the lads; hard work and commitment was what was now needed to get the result.   All of the training and long dark nights since last November would now pay off, it was 'money in bank' as Tommy put it that now had be withdrawn and spent in full. 

The second half was mostly a tight affair.  Full forward Niall Grainger helped open the scoring for Eadestown with a pass to Dara McGettrick who scored the first point of the second half.  Five minutes in however and potential disaster struck when the referee awarded Milltown a penalty.  Taking some advice from his father and umpire Emmet , Ben Loughlin stepped into the goal to face his foe hoping that his new goalie gloves would do the job.  However, to the delight and relief of Eadestown, the penalty was put wide and the two point lead remained.  Ben went on to have a super second half as goalkeeper clearing multiple balls with great precision. 

The lads had to dig deep.  Captain Mal Harney  led by example, fielding some great balls in midfield and from goalkeeper Ben Loughlin.  Darragh Jameson blocked and tackled ball after ball.  Corner forward Charlie Carroll took on his defender and did well.  Cian Borans work rate was exceptional and a big surprise to Milltown who had only seen 10 minutes of him in the previous match due to injury.  Some fresh legs were brought in with CJ Boran and Liam Brannelly making their mark felt within seconds of their arrival.  Despite being injured during the week, Tiarnan O'Rourke came on and became a key contributor to the half-back line, one of his best days yet.  Alvin Hayden put in a personal best performance of the season and did his club proud.   Adam Delaney dominated his position for the second half and wreaked havoc on a tiring Milltown defence.  

Things opened up when Cian Boran took off on yet another unstoppable run and lobbed the Milltown full back with a ball to a waiting Niall Grainger who scored a goal creating a 1-1 lead for Eadestown.  Niall was unlucky not be awarded a second goal when the referee called a square ball shortly afterwards.  This was quickly followed by Aidan Walsh who scored two beautiful points with poise and confidence demonstrating what a long way he has come as a player since joining the club following the family move back from Chicago just over four years ago.   The referee announced 4 minutes stoppage time and Eadestown had a 1-5 lead.  The extra time seemed to go on and on for an eternity and Milltown came at Eadestown in wave after wave of pressure which resulted in a goal, the last score of the match. 

The game ended 2-14 to 2-9, a 5 point margin.  Top scorer was Dara McGettrick with 1-6 (2 points from free kicks).  Other scorers were Cian Boran 0-4, Niall Grainger 1-2, Aidan Walsh 0-2. 

Credit must go to the Milltown players and mentors who really are a great, positive team and represented their club very well. 

The team will now travel to County Down for the All Ireland finals for a weekend of football at the end of June, more details to follow.  This is the second time for Eadestown to make it to the finals, the last time being in 2015. 

U14 Panel:  Niall Grainger, Mal Harney, Kieran Grainger, Dara McGettrick, Darragh Jameson, Patrick Hickey, Tiarnan O'Rourke, Alvin Hayden, Mark Dockery, Daniel Dowling, Cian Dowling, Aidan Walsh, Cian Boran, Jason Brady, Adam Delaney, Paul Gavin, Oisin Dillon, Ardin Magee, CJ Boran, Patrick Foley, Liam Brannelly, Aaron Curtin, Charlie Carroll, Joshua Noone, Ben O'Reilly, Ben Loughlin, Kieran Grainger, James Bedford, Calum Murphy, Hughie Doyle 

Mentors
Brendan McGettrick
James Grainger
Robbie Jameson
Tommy Dillon
Christy Dowling
Mick Delaney
 

Photo’s from the match and trophy presentation afterwards, courtesy of David Hickey to view or download here:

 https://tinyurl.com/yb2rm58o 

 With thanks to parents and the Eadestown club for your continued support,

 Brendan McGettrick and fellow Mentors.