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Minors Capture County B Title |
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Minors Capture County B Title
Charlestown Minor team captured the county Minor B title for the first time since 1992 when they recorded an emphatic 2-14 to 1-7 victory over The Neale in an exciting final played at Ballyhaunis recently. This was a superb win for the Sarsfields and was fully deserved as they out thought and out manoeuvred the opposition in almost every sector most particularly in the second half when they really turned on the turbo. The Sarsfields had better calibre players in almost every line of the pitch and looked to be in control when they led 0-7 to 0-3 after twenty five minutes. Shane Gallagher and Paul Ward were the chief score getters for the Sarsfields with both finding the range with impressive ease as they enjoyed the bulk of the possession around the middle. The Neale however enjoyed a real purple patch in the final five minutes and managed to go in level at the break thanks to a 1-2 scoring burst with the goal coming from a penalty right on the stroke of half-time. The score line of 0-8 to 1-5 was scant reward for all the Sarsfields fine approach play and they looked to be in a little trouble as The Neale buoyed by their tonic goal had the advantage of a stiff breeze at their backs for the second half.
The expected The Neale onslaught never arrived however as the Sarsfields really upped their level of performance. The seeds for the Sarsfields power packed second half performance were sown in their total domination of the midfield sector where Brendan Parsons was the central figure. He ruled the skies with some magnificent fielding and fired home a great goal six minutes into the half which really ignited the Sarsfields challenge. Parsons really lifted his game to another plain and his inspiration had a knock on effect on the team as a whole. Paul Ward was pulling the strings at centre forward with his vision and distribution and shrewd positional sense ensuring a harvest of possession for a forward line which was too slick and skilful for an overworked The Neale defence. Shane Gallagher was their chief tormentor as he bagged an impressive haul of 1-10 and in the process paraded the full range of his skills with his accuracy unerring from play and dead balls. The defence too tightened up considerably in the second period and none was more impressive than the tenacious and tigerish Gareth O`Donnell who gave a first class display of vigilant and disciplined defending as he repeatedly dispossessed and turned over his immediate opponent with some top notch tackling. Conor Finn and Gary Cassidy were also very good and presented a formidable wall when threatened. The game as a contest was over long before the final whistle and there were also notable contributions from James Boyle, Darren Regan in the full back line with Alan Doherty, Stephen McIntyre Sean Mulvaney, Fergal Callaghan, Colin Kenny, Daragh Redmond, Cormac Henry Sean Walsh all playing their part in a memorable victory for the club and one which represents a right good boost for the underage structures in the club. Shane Gallagher was the victorious skipper and he was presented with the cup by Michael McKenzie representing Bord Na n-Og. Well done to the management team of Tommy Halligan, Tommy Ward, Patrick Breheny and Val Lenehan who put in a huge shift with the team and invested some time and energy in the training and preparation of the squad which all came to fruition on the day. The management team got everything spot on in terms of tactics, team selections and substitutions which make all the sacrifices and many dark and dreary nights on the paddock well worthwhile.
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