Under 16s play out exciting draw

20^th April 2010

Cootehill Celtic        1 - 12               Belturbet       1 - 12

A late point from centre forward Ryan Reilly grab the Celts Under 16s a thoroughly deserved share of the spoils in the third round of the Division 4 league against table toppers Belturbet in Hugh O’Reilly Park on Tuesday 20th April.  Following on from their first win of the campaign last week in Maghera against Blackwater Gaels, the Celts were up against a strong Belturbet side who had won both their earlier league games comfortably. 

In a thrilling game which was entertaining and full of good football, the home side will regret a number of missed chances which could have given them the win while Belturbet will be thankful for the performance of their goalkeeper who made some top class saves in the latter part of the game to prevent the Celts from getting a crucial second goal. 

Belturbet were quickest out of the traps and grabbed two quick points to put Cootehill on the back foot.  Cootehill began to hold on the ball with long defensive clearances from Dermie Connolly and Aaron Cosgrove providing good possession for the Celts around the middle.  Lively wing forward Fiachra Hughes got Cootehill off the mark with a nice point which was quickly followed up by a point with a converted free from Tom Hayes.  Another free from Hayes after he was fouled sent the home side into the lead around the ten minute mark.

Cootehill were on top of their opponents at this stage of the first half with Team Captain John Carney extending their lead firing over an excellent point after a powerful run through the heart of the Belturbet defence to double his side’s lead.  Another placed ball from Tom Hayes put Cootehill three points in front with 15 minutes played.

Belturbet, however, were not going to let Cootehill have it all their own way and came back into the match, scoring two quick points to leave just a point between them.  The Celts hit back with the perfect reply – Tom Hayes hitting the back of the net after Ryan Reilly played the ball through to him.

Belturbet once again responded kicking the next three points of the game which left just the one point between the teams at the half time break with Cootehill leading one goal and 5 points to Belturbet’s 7 points.

Belturbet levelled the game almost straight away after the restart but the Celts had them on the back foot for the most part after that.  The home side recorded three wides in quick succession before a point from Dean McMullen put them back into the lead.  Cootehill were enjoying plenty of possession at this stage with Barry Smith, Ryan Reilly, Christopher Ellis and John Carney dominant in the “diamond positions” around the middle of the field.  But despite this dominance, it was being reflected on the scoreboard, with another three shots going wide of the mark.  Belturbet’s goal keeper was also called into action to produce an excellent double save first from Tom Hayes then the rebound from Caominhín Carney.

Barry Smith calmed Cootehill nerves somewhat with a nice point from 30 metres out and John Carney put the Celts three in front with a sweet left footed effort after some nice passing between the forwards.  Belturbet answered back with a point and then completely against the run of play a goal and another point put them two points in front despite all Cootehill’s possession and chances. 

Tom Hayes converted a free soon after but it was soon cancelled out a Belturbet point to still leave two points between the sides as time was running out.  Fiachra Hughes got an important point to just put the bar minimum as the game was heading for injury time.  But just as it looked like Belturbet would hang onto the win, Ryan Reilly got on the end of a great team move and point to ensure a share of the spoils.

Team: Alex Hamilton; Aaron Cosgrove, Dermie Connolly; Fintan Roche, Barry Smith (0 – 1), James McKitterick; John Carney, Capt. (0 – 2), Christopher Ellis; Fiachra Hughes (0 – 2), Ryan Reilly (0 – 1), Joseph Freeman; Darragh McCarney, Tom Hayes (1 – 5).
Subs: Dean McMullen (0 – 1) for J. Freeman (Half time) and Caoimhín Carney for D. McCarney (Half time).