Delvin/St Paul's down Inny Shamrocks with fine showing

Delvin/St Paul's 4-8 Inny Shamrocks 2-7

Multyfarnham GAA was the venue for the U16 Division 3 final last Sunday morning where the combined Delvin/St Paul’s side overcame Inny Shamrocks thanks to a flurry of first-half goals which propelled them over the line. Neither side let themselves down in terms of effort and determination but despite Shamrock’s full-forward, Finn Maher, firing 2-1, it was another Finn, Higgins this time, who was the star for his victorious side with a superb individual showing on the day.

The opening was fast and were it not for the crossbar, the Delvin side would have been in for a goal in the opening minute but Jamie McGuinness saw his effort rebound back into play. The strong attendance was treated to plenty of attacking football but equally astute defending when needed. They did have to wait for a while before the opening score and it was a wonder-goal from McGuinness who gave Jack Keena no chance with his low finish to the corner of the net. The second score was yet another green flag but in different circumstances as Shane Hendrix saw his long-range effort at a point lob into the net, leaving Keena helpless. Inny then got themselves back into the game with points from midfielder Patrick Wallace and corner-forward, Peadar Baird. The deficit was widened soon after though when a third Delvin goal went in. Caylyb Douglas quickest to read that Cian Smith’s effort was dropping short before taking control and firing to the net. Leading 3-0 to 0-2, Delvin went in search of more scores and Seán Vaughan kicked their first score of the day following their trio of green flags.

Inny did not fall and buoyed by the efforts of Tristan Boyce-Jordan they mounted a physical comeback, putting their bodies on the line. It was Boyce-Jordan, younger brother of Westmeath ladies star, Kelly, who pointed from long distance before being involved in their first goal moments later from Finn Maher. The full-forward finishing expertly to the net after Jack Atkins played the final pass to him. At Mick Gordon’s half-time whistle, it was 3-1 to 1-4 in favour of Delvin/St Paul’s.

Boyce-Jordan whipped over the first score of the half seconds after the throw-in but despite his, and his clubs’ efforts, that would be their only score in nearly half an hour of football which, given their endeavours, seems almost unfair on them. But the day belonged to Delvin/St Paul’s and their talisman, Finn Higgins, orchestrated from the middle. His point heading to the 40th minute was a thing of beauty, curling over from distance. A score befitting a player of much more mature age. Both the McGuinness brothers, Jamie and Jack, got on the points list before Higgins popped up for another goal in a scrappy goalmouth melee before confidently hitting two more points.

Inny deserve immense credit for refusing to quit and even managed to reduce the deficit considerably in the final quarter. Boyce-Jordan and Wallace both added to their individual tallies with points as Fionn Lesley and Liam Óg Maxwell continued to fight for every ball. In attack, Finn Maher did add another goal near the end with a well-taken strike past Cayden Sheppard. The final whistle may have signalled the inevitable result that had been coming for a while but did not take away from both sides giving a great display of attacking football. Joint captains Finn Higgins and Dillon Ryan accepted the silverware from Westmeath Minor Board Chairman, Barry Kelly with the crowd showing their appreciation for both sides.

Scorers – Delvin/St Paul’s: F Higgins 1-4, Jamie McGuinness 1-1 (1f), S Hendrix, C Douglas 1-0 each Jack McGuinness 0-2, S Vaughan 0-1.

Inny Shamrocks: F Maher 2-1, T Boyce-Jordan 0-3, P Wallace 0-2, P Baird 0-1.

Delvin/St Paul’s: Cayden Sheppard; Seán Carroll, Dillon Coonan, Marcus Delaney; Dillon Ryan, Shane Hendrix, Dillon Mooney; Caylyb Douglas, Finn Higgins; Cathal Darby, Alex Walsh, Jack McGuinness; Jamie McGuinness, Cian Smith, Seán Vaughan. Subs used: Conor Smith for Vaughan (45), Éanna Kiernan for Coonan (58), Seán Coyne for Mooney (58), Jack Barry for Hendrix (60+2).

Inny Shamrocks: Jack Keena; John Lyons, Fionn Lesley, Thomas Kerrigan; Liam Óg Maxwell, Jack Atkins, Oisín Keena; Tristan Boyce-Jordan, Patrick Wallace; Ben Forde, Cathal Keena, Ryan Tormey; Peadar Baird, Finn Maher, Aidan Heduvan. Subs used: Aidan Keane for Forde (39), Jack Cahill for O Keena (55), Adam Coloe for Heduvan (55).

Referee: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).