Glenravel 2-8 V St Endas 5-6
A cracking game of football was served up on Friday night against the league leaders. Both teams were affected by the holiday period but went at it from the start. St Endas lined out very strong with all of their development squad players on show along with the Northern Ireland football captain at midfield. Indeed at midfield both Ryan and Jack had a ding dong battle throughout and more than broke even. Connor Doran ended up man marking Ryan such was the concern they had to let Ryan roam free. Niall Swann was our captain for the night and he got the first point with a good battling attack. This was to set the tone for the game as we had to work hard to get free and move the ball quickly. St Endas replied shortly afterwards with a strong shot which ended up in the net. To the teams credit we battled back and Declan McAfee toe poke the ball past the keeper for the lead. For the next 10 mins we dominated and Ryan slotted 2 wonderful long-range frees. The defence was working hard to contain St Endas and we had to blood-substitute Michael for the rest of the first half with Caolan Mullan coming on for his first taste of U14 football and played brilliantly, a credit to the U12 coaching. We held St Endas to 2 late points and look to be going in as leaders at half time only for a late strike to hit the net. Halftime score, St Endas 2-3, Glenravel 1-4.
In the second half the team dug deep and produced an excellent half. St Endas struck early with another goal and looked to be getting on top but again we came right back at them. Sean McCann and Jack Martin started to run at the St Endas defence and soon we opened them up for few points and frees. Jack Higgins came on for his first taste of U14 football and once again put in an excellent shift at corner back on one of the St Enda’s target men.With 10 minutes to go we were 4 points down and then Ryan struck a goal from long-range. We worked hard to get the equaliser and had 3 good chances but took the wrong option and were quickly closed down by the St Endas defence. St Endas the struck another goal after a fine block by Jonathan Fyfe but the rebound landed in the St Endas man’s hands who tapped to the goal. Still we battled back and Ciaran McKay slotted a good point from a narrow angle but too late. A tremendous game and one which got away in the end but hopefully we will have another chance to meet St Endas later in the summer.
Panel: Timmy McNeill, Jonathan Fyfe, Michael Laverty, Ciaran McKay, Eamonn Fyfe, Jack Martin, Sean McIlroy, Niall Swann, Conal Kerr, Aidan O’Donnell, Sean McCann, Conan Harvey, Ryan McIlroy, Brendan Lynas, Declan McAfee, Caolan Mullan, Jack Higgins.