Cappagh 4 13 O'Tooles 1 11
Our Joe Mallon motors sponsored boys minor football team (u18) enjoyed their first win of their MFL Div 4 campaign defeating O'Tooles in New Tadg Downey park on Sunday morning.
On an ideal morning for football Cappagh made a quick start to the game with Glen Carter kicking and Shane O'Donoghue fisting the 1st two scores of the game respectively. The O'Toole's team who made the long journey north from Castledermot & Grangenolvin replied through a pointed free. Eoin Mulligan stretched the Cappagh lead from a free before O'Tooles hit the front through a well taken goal. Cappagh responded when Jack O'Connor got on the end of a good team move to score from play. O'Toole's came more into the game with two good scores from their pacey number 12. Evan Farrell at no6 for Cappagh and the speedy O'Toole's number 11 were enjoying a fantastic tussle with neither giving in. Ruairi Matthews was working hard in the full forward line and Cathal Doyle was proving an effective target man at number 14 for Cappagh and laid off the assist for points for Shane Donoghue and corner forward Aaron Clifford. Midfielder Eric O'Leary kicked a fine score before the game swung firmly in Cappagh's favour 20 mins in when firstly Shane O'Donoghue shot to the back of the net after his first effort was saved and then shortly after Cathal Doyle beat the O'Toole's keeper to the punch to send the ball to the net.
The young Cappagh back line was martialled superbly by Ben O'Brien at full back, with the Brogan brothers, Dylan and Ross either side at corner back putting in excellent displays of clean tackling and good distribution and repelled some strong O'Toole's attacking. Keeper Darragh Devine was finding wing forward Glen Carter from his Kick outs and Glen was solid under the high ball and repeatedly put Cappagh on the attack. O'Toole's finished the half with a pointed free to leave the half time score Cappagh 2-07 O'Toole's 1-06.
Eric O'Leary & Jack O'Connor were a hard working midfield pairing and kept Cappagh on top as the 2nd half began, allowing wing backs Dylan Maguire and Ronan Hennessy to push forward into attack and Ronan kicked a fine score. Shane O'Donoghue kicked a a second goal to put Cappagh in firm control on the scoreboard, and the Cappagh lads now playing with more confidence kicked further scores from Eoin Mulligan, Shane O'Donoghue and Adam Clifford.
Referee Michael Malone handed O'Toole's a lifeline when he pointed to the spot for a penalty following a collision in the Cappagh penalty area. The O'Tooles number 14 saw his powerful shot rise up and over the crossbar. O'Tooles came more into the game at this stage and kept constant pressure on the Cappagh back line, and did reduce the margin with two consecutive scores from frees, but with full forward Cathal Doyle along with Glen Carter sweeping back making a couple of vital interventions Cappagh were intent on keeping their goal in tact. Full back Ben O'Brien relieved the pressure initiating a move from the full back line and travelling the length of the field only to see his shot trail to the left and wide. Substitutes John Grogan and David Lynch were introduced to bolster the Cappagh effort. The two points were secured when Jack O'Connor broke through late on from midfield to finish impressively to the net to leave the final score Cappagh 4 13 O'Tooles 1 11.
Cappagh; Darragh Devine, Dylan Brogan, Ben O'Brien, Ross Brogan, Dylan Maguire, Evan Farrell, Ronan Hennessy (0-1), Eric O'Leary (0-1) Jack O'Connor (1-1) Eoin Mulligan (0-4 (2f)) Shane O'Donoghue (2-3) Glen Carter (0-1) Ruairi Matthews, Cathal Doyle (1-0) Adam Clifford (0-2). Subs John Grogan for Dylan Maguire, David Lynch for Ruairi Matthews.
