Cappagh and Loughmacrory served up a high scoring and very entertaining U-14 Grade 2 championship final at Greencastle on Sunday morning before the Killyclogher based team emerged 4-9 to 3-7 winners.
In such a high scoring game forward lines normally grab the headlines but in Sunday’s game it was the goalkeepers who were the real stars of this one with Oran Mc Aleer Cappagh and Conor Kelly Loughmacrory both outstanding for their teams.
Loughmacrory started well and by the fifteenth minute had opened up a 2-3 to 0-0 lead with Gareth Donaghy and Eoin Mc Elholm both finding the net. Playing into the breeze Cappagh were struggling to get the ball into the danger zone and when they did they found Kelly in goals impossible to beat.
A point from Patrick Corcoran and a fine goal from Dara Hayes in the 22nd minute however helped settle the Cappagh lads and with Cathair Conway, Tom Mc Morrow and Matthew Hayes gradually getting to the pace of the game they began to create chances. Michael Rafferty, Philip Hegarty and Caolan O’Hagan pushed forward at every opportunity and helped set up Conor Corcoran for Cappagh’s second goal.
With the clock ticking towards thirty minutes and two points between the teams it looked as if the sides would go in at the break with very little in it. However Loughmacrory won a penalty which was converted by Gareth Donaghy and Loughmacrory reached the short whistle leading 3-4 to 2-2.
The second half saw no let up in the pace or quality as both sides produced some fabulous end to end football. Cappagh made good use of the breeze but once again found Kelly in the Loch goals in outstanding form. Matthew Hayes gave his team the perfect start with a goal two minutes into the half. However Loughmacrory responded well with points from Zak Devine and Gareth Donaghy to lead by four.
Cappagh pushed up on the Loughmacrory kickouts allowing corner back Tom Mc Morrow to venture into the forward line. He got on the end of a fine team move to finish to the net in the 39th minute before adding a point a minute later. The Ballinamullen boys were beginning to make their size tell but Loughmacrory made them battle for every ball.
Further points from Hayes and Corcoran helped put Cappagh ahead for the first time as the game entered the final ten minutes.
The Loch lads showed great heart and Gareth Donaghy, Zak Devine, Eoin Mc Elholm and Oisin Mc Callan drove their side forward causing problems for the Cappagh defence. Devine and Donaghy drew brilliant saves from Oran Mc Aleer in the Cappagh goals to keep them in front and eventually they lifted the siege and added three late points from Corcoran (2) and Hayes to seal the win.
Final score: Cappagh 4-9, Loughmacrory 3-7.
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