A huge well done to the Boyle Celtic U-14 boys team who won the Sligo/Leitrim U-14 Shield Final 3-2 against Merville in Merville last night (Wednesday).
Boyle took the lead in the opening 10 minutes against the run of play when Eoin Connolly scored curling the ball into the top corner directly from a corner kick. Merville pushed hard for an equaliser and were denied twice by some top class saves by goalkeeper Cathal Feely. Merville drew level through a penalty on 20 minutes. The score wasn’t level for long as Merville took advantage of Boyle’s failure to clear a corner and poked into the net making it 2-1 to Merville (25min).
The Boyle team stayed calm and continued to defend well as Merville had the upper hand and the majority of the possession for the next 5 minutes. A powerful run by Jim Harte down the left wing followed by a fantastic through ball played in Seamus Connolly who got ahead of his defender and slotted past the Merville keeper to make it 2-2. Boyle held out until half time, leaving it 2-2 at the break with Merville the more dominant side.
Boyle came out in the second half with a different attitude, not content with being second best. The Boyle players chased down every ball and pinned Merville into their own half for the opening 10 minutes. They began to play the ball and take on the Merville defence creating a number of chances. With 10 minutes to go centre back Shane Carroll won the ball just inside his own half, looked up and played a perfectly weighted pass through to Seamus Connolly who battled hard and held off 2 Merville defenders before burying the ball into the back of the Merville net. Boyle 3 Merville 2 (60min). Merville pushed forward trying to get an equaliser but could not get through a solid back four of Boyle who intercepted anything that came close. The Cregg brothers covered the ground in midfield breaking up the play and Shane Hayden, Danny Valentine and Seamus Connolly raced down the flanks in the final few minutes pushing for a fourth. The referee blew the whistle and it finished Boyle Celtic 3 Merville United 2.
There were too many exceptional performances from the Boyle team to single out any player as man of the match. It was a fantastic team performance in which every player gave it their all on a sunny evening in Sligo in warm, heavy conditions. Well done to the lads, their attitude, work rate and determination is a credit to the whole team.
Team: C. Feeley, D. Higgins, B. O’Dowd, E. Conneely, S. Carroll, A. O’Connor, D. Valentine, D. Cregg, E. Connolly, J. McAuley , S, Connolly, J. Harte, K. Reid , S. Hayden, O. Cregg, L. Liddy. A. Tiernan, H. Bruen, M. Heslin.
Congratulations to the team from management Micheal, Gary and Paddy on a great season. Thanks for all the hard work and commitment throughout the season and we are looking forward to working with all of ye again next season.
