The U-14’s have clinched a league title. Ardglass knew going into last week’s game against Bright that avoiding defeat would be enough to clinch the East Down 11-aside league, while Bright knew that a victory for them would force a play-off to determine who would become champions.
The Ardglass lads had lost U-12 play-offs in 2014 and 2015 and were determined to leaving to chance on the night. The game started at a fast pace as Bright raced into an early lead however Ardglass responded quickly through a 3 goal salvo from target man Jamie McDarby. As the game ebbed and flowed from start to finish the one constant was the form of the Ardglass two-man full forward line off McDarby and Dara O’Shea who combined to score 9-5 between them as Bright struggled to handle their pace and movement on and off the ball.
There were some terrific individual battles all over the field, especially in the middle of the park where Conor Devlin and James Crangle mixed their defensive duties with some fine attacking play. The half forward line of Gavin O’Shea and James McConkey hoovered up a serious amount of break ball and were always an outlet for the defence. The full back line of Dylan Addis and Shea Dorrian were immense and dominated their directed opponents throughout the game while the half back line of Jack O’Shea and Ryan Cusack balanced their defensive duties with their natural attacking tendencies.
Over the last two games Conall O’Shea has had to fill the boots of regular goalkeeper Michael Walker and he did so showing a full array of skills from shot stopping, comfortable under high ball and superb distribution from kick outs. Conor Addis entered the fray with ten minutes remaining and his size, pace a direct running gave the Bright defence more problems to answer.
As the game entered the final few minutes Bright pushed on for a win and each side scored three goals apiece in a hectic finish Ardglass held out or a fully deserved victory on the night to secure the club’s first East Down title since 2009, from everyone at the club congratulations to the entire squad and their coaches Paul O’Shea and Mark Lennon.
ACFL Div 4 Ardglass 10-23 Aughlisnafin 0-4.
Ardglass went on a scoring rampage last Friday evening against a Fin side low on numbers and confidence. Ardglass were able to call upon a full 25 man panel for the first time since late June and many of the players returning from injury and holidays will certainly have benefitted from 60 minutes game time, next match will be against Drumgath this coming weekend in the preliminary round of the Junior Championship, time and venue to be confirmed – please keep an eye online and in local press for fixtures details.
THIS WEEK: ‘GoGames’ training continues on Thursday evening out at Ardtole from 6.30pm until 7.30pm.
On Saturday morning, at 10.30am, our U-10’s travel to Balllykinlar for the East Down Blitz. On Sunday the U-12’s have a bye and then next Monday night our U-14 side are away to St John’s for their Championship game @ 7.15pm – best of luck lads!
