SE Under-14 A Football Triumph
SE Under 14 A Football Final (Replay)
Carrigaline 4-10 Valley Rovers 4-10 (aet)
The under-14 footballers of Carrigaline and Valley Rovers returned to Ballinspittle for the second instalment of the SE Under-14 A Football Final on Tuesday August 14th and following a titanic eighty-minute thriller in which both teams played themselves to a standstill in difficult underfoot conditions the issue remained unresolved with the sides tied at 4-10 apiece.
Despite being short a number of regulars due to injury and holidays, Carrig shrugged off the lethargy of their display in the first encounter and took the game to their opponents from the throw-in. David Drinan was instrumental in setting up points for John O’Keeffe and Robert O’Shea in the first couple of minutes. However, the Rovers fought back and led 0-3 to 0-2 after the first quarter. John O’Keeffe then won a great ball and fed Rob O’Shea who was grounded on his way to goal. Conor Gould expertly tucked away the resultant penalty-kick to give Carrig the lead once again. A minute later, only a superb save by Anthony O’Reilly kept the lead intact. That was to be Anthony’s last action in goal as a minute later Carrig had to reshuffle their forces because of an unfortunate hand injury sustained by centre-back Michael O’Grady, who had to leave the action. Jamie Buckley took over the goalkeeping duties with Anthony taking over at full-back and Kevin Kavanagh moving to the centre-back slot.
The team responded magnificently to this setback and in the closing ten minutes of the half outscored their opponents by 1-3 to 1-0, the goal coming when Conor Gould made a great run down the left wing and crossed the ball into the goalmouth for the inrushing John O’Keeffe to punch powerfully to the net. Robert O’Shea, Jamie Kind and Michael Lynch from a free were the Carrig point-scorers to give them an interval lead of 2-5 to 1-3.
Valley Rovers came out very determined for the second half and put Carrig under sustained pressure, scoring 2-3 without reply to lead 3-6 to 2-5 with five minutes remaining on the clock. Carrig were not beaten yet and responded with points from David Drinan and Michael Lynch. With time running out substitute Kevin Conlon won possession and played a great pass to Michael Lynch, sending him on a clear run on goal. Michael made no mistake and billowed the Rovers net to give his side a one-point lead. To their credit, Valley Rovers summoned up one final effort and in the final play of normal-time landed a point from a free to tie the scores at 3-7 apiece and bring the game to extra-time.
Carrigaline took the initiative in the first ten-minute period of extra-time and two pointed frees from Conor Gould and a well-taken goal by Michael Lynch gave them a one goal cushion to take into the final ten-minute period. Things could have been much different but for a super save by Jamie Buckley which denied the Rovers a certain goal.
Almost immediately following the restart the game was tied up once again when the Rovers goaled. A superb point from an acute angle by Michael Lynch gave Carrig the lead once more but the boys from Innishannon had the final say with an equalising point four minutes from the end. Both sides had chances to win it in the remaining time but in truth neither side deserved to lose after such a thrilling game.
This was a magnificent team effort by Carrigaline and each and every one of the eighteen players who saw action on the night made a major contribution in a superb game of football.
We wish Michael O’Grady a speedy recovery from his injury and hope to see him back in action before long.
Scorers: Michael Lynch (2-3), Conor Gould (1-2), John O’Keeffe (1-1), Robert O’Shea (0-2), Jamie Kind (0-1), David Drinan (0-1).

Team: Anthony O’Reilly, Shane Griffin, Kevin Kavanagh, Eoin O’Donnell, Michael Quinn, Michael O’Grady, Darragh O’Sullivan, Jamie Kind, Michael Lynch, John O’Keeffe, Robert O’Shea, : Conor Gould, David Drinan, Eoin Moynihan, Eoin O’Donovan.
Subs: Jamie Buckley for Michael O’Grady, Kevin O’Connell for Darragh O’Sullivan, Kevin Conlon for Eoin O’Donovan,
Philip Ahern, Andrew Thomas, Michael McIntyre, Brian Curran, Aaron Lynch, Michael Curtin, Tony Ncube.

SE Under 14 A Football Final (Second Replay)
Carrigaline 4-8 Valley Rovers 3-2

At last a result after three great battles! These two sides met for the third time in a week at Ballinhassig on Friday last to determine the outcome of the 2007 SE Under-14 A Football Championship. Carrigaline, getting better with each game, deserved their victory if only for their never say die attitude and the great heart they have shown throughout this three-game saga.
The outstanding John O’Keeffe opened the scoring with a point which was quickly followed by another from Robert O’Shea. These two points were quickly cancelled out by Valleys when they scored a goal and a point without reply. Carrig, finding the much firmer ground to their liking, started to dominate and did so till the break with goals from Stephen Dwane and Robert O’Shea and two points from the boots of John O’Keeffe and Eoin Moynihan.
David Drinan and Michael Quinn had excellent games in the wing-back positions on Valleys danger men. Both were held scoreless throughout which played a huge part in Carrig’s ultimate victory. Carrig, minus a number of first team players due to holidays and injury, were again in trouble before the break when full back Kevin Kavanagh limped off. The half time score was 2-4 to 1-2 in Carrig’s favour.
Having been caught by Valleys straight after half time in the first replay the Carrig lads weren’t about to make the same mistake this time and they drove forward time and time again with Jamie Kind and Michael Lynch fielding some brilliant ball around the middle of the pitch and Jamie scoring two wonderful points. When Eoin Moynihan was up-ended in the large rectangle Conor Gould brilliantly slotted the penalty to the net. Valleys came back into the game for a period and looked for goals but Anthony O’Reilly pulled off numerous saves as shots came in from all angles. Valleys did manage a goal late on but this was quickly cancelled out by a goal from Kevin Conlon after a scramble in the Valleys goalmouth. As the final whistle sounded there was much relief all around from supporters and the management team.

Panel: Anthony O’Reilly, Darragh O’Sullivan, Kevin Kavanagh, Eoin O’Donnell, Michael Quinn, Stephen Dwane, David Drinan, Jamie Kind, Michael Lynch, Robert O’Shea, Conor Gould, John O’Keeffe, Eoin O’Donovan, Tony Ncube, Eoin Moynihan, Kevin Conlon, Philip Ahern, Andrew Thomas, Michael Curtin, Brian Curran, Jamie Buckley, Aaron Lynch, Aidan O’Flynn.

County Under-14 Premier Football Quarter-Final
St Michaels 4-4 Carrigaline 1-8
There was little rest for the under-14 footballers following their SE victory as they travelled to Blackrock on Monday last to take on the home side, St Michaels, in the quarter-final of the County Premier Championship. Following three hard-fought games against Valley Rovers in the space of a week, this game came a little too soon and proved a bridge too far, even though Carrig fought bravely but ultimately in vain.
St Michaels deserved their victory on the night and we wish them well in their quest for County honours.
We were hoping to give our footballers a few days extra recovery time and made representations to postpone the game against St Michaels for a few days but weren’t successful as the county board insisted on adhering to fixture deadlines.

St Michaels ability to score goals at vital stages of the game proved the difference between the sides on the night. They made the brighter start, registering 1-1 in the early exchanges before Carrig responded with two points from Michael Lynch and Conor Gould. A great passing move set up a goalscoring chance for Tony Ncube but his goalbound effort was blocked by the St Michaels defence and cleared to safety. St Michaels scored another point and got the decisive score of the half when they goaled in the 22nd minute. Points were exchanged before the interval, Carrig’s coming from Peter Mullane, to leave the half-time score at 2-3 to 0-3 in favour of the home side.
Carrig made some positional switches for the second half with Stephen Dwane coming to midfield, where he made a major impression, giving his team a period of dominance at the beginning of the half. Carrig piled forward in search of scores and were unlucky when John O’Keeffe had a shot cleared off the line. Points from Eoin O’Donovan and Stephen Dwane reduced the deficit to four points but completely against the run of play, St Michaels broke away for another goal. Carrig again responded with points from Conor Gould, Michael Lynch and Stephen Dwane. However, their revival was cut short when Michaels pounced for another goal and a point. Carrigaline finished well and shortly before the final whistle Robert O’Shea intercepted a short kick-out and finished to the net to leave the final score ; St Michaels 4-4, Carrigaline 1-8.
In a courageous team display Stephen Dwane, John O’Keeffe, David Drinan, Robert O’Shea, Michael Lynch and Michael Quinn gave excellent leadership.

Team: Anthony O’Reilly, Darragh O’Sullivan, Kevin Kavanagh, Eoin O’Donnell, Michael Quinn, Stephen Dwane, David Drinan, Jamie Kind, Michael Lynch, Robert O’Shea, Conor Gould, John O’Keeffe, Eoin O’Donovan, Tony Ncube, Eoin Moynihan.

Subs: Peter Mullane for Tony Ncube, Philip Ahern for Eoin O’Donnell, Brian Curran for Eoin O’Donovan, Michael Curtin for Eoin Moynihan
Kevin Conlon, Andrew Thomas, Jamie Buckley, Aaron Lynch.
Cork Under-14 Hurling
Congratulations to Robert O’Shea on being selected on the Cork Under-14 Hurling panel which will play an inter-county tournament in Waterford this coming weekend. This is a well-deserved honour for Robert.

Golf Classic
The Annual Golf Classic in aid of the Under-Age Section of the club will take place at Water Rock Golf Club on Friday August 31st. Tee off times are available from 8.00a.m. The cost is 200 euro for a team of three (cost includes dinner). Tees and greens can be sponsored for 50 euro. There are some tee times still available and can be booked by contacting any member of the organizing committee – Billy Walsh, Bernie O’Mahony, Patricia Hennessy, Christine Jenkinson, Alan Murphy.

Fixture
Monday August 27th
South-East Under-12 B Hurling Final v Ballinhassig
(See club notice boards for time and venue)