Geraldines u14 played out a very competitive and toughly contested challenge game against N. Mairtin in Monasterboice on Saturday evening. From the throw in the game was keenly contested and Shea Neary got the Gers of to a good start with a very well taken point. The Martins hit back with a goal after a defensive mistake and tacked on an additional point. The Gers replied with some slick interplay by Shea, Jamie Soraghan and Cormac Broe to release David Clune on a characteristic incisive solo run that ended with a tremendous shot that came off the crossbar. Shea Neary then picked out an unmarked Evyn O Callaghan with a superb early ball and after a great catch Evyn was denied by a brilliant double save from the Martins keeper but Ralph Tinsley followed up to get a point. The Monasterboice lads responded with a couple of good points and Ralph Tinsley pointed a free, struck superbly from the ground, after Shea Neary was fouled. The game was real end to end stuff and Eoghan O’Brien and Eoin Rodgers put in some great work at wing half backs to deny the opposition goal chances and Ryan McCutcheon was very steady at full back winning some vital balls and clearing the ball upfield. Another Gers attack found Midfielder Jamie Soraghan in space and after a strong run he unleashed a signature unstoppable shot to the top corner from 25 yards out to put the Gers in front. The Martins struck back again with a couple of points before Jake Logan took a great point for the Gers. Another great counter attack and great passing from Cormac Broe and Jamie Soraghan put Padraig Corcoran through and he finished with some style to put the Gers back in front. It capped of a fine first half from Padraig who was a constant threat and link man at wing half forward. The Martins added another point to leave the Gers ahead by one at the break.
The second half continued at the same frenetic pace and the Martins went ahead with another two good points. Suraj Akhal steadied the ship with a commanding performance at no.6 and continually came out of defence with ball in hand. Ralph Tinsley followed up a great shot that was saved by the keeper to punch the rebound to the net and Jake Logan smashed a superb goal from 20m to the net after a great run from midfield and hand pass in by Jamie Soraghan. Shea Neary capped a fine performance with a great left foot finish to the net after a solo run that left several players trailing in his wake. The N. Mairtin boys came back again and scored another point and were putting the Gers defence under huge pressure but with some great tackling and tracking back by the boys in green prevented the goals they needed to claw back on the scoreboard and Evan Hoey Rodgers denied a certain goal with a finely timed interception at full back. With the Gers under increasing pressure, goalkeeper Darragh Kenny pulled off a string of superb saves. As well as his superb stopping, Darragh was exemplary in his kick outs throughout, continually finding his team mates with accurate kicks. Ralph Tinsley displayed his prowess with the dead ball with another superb free after Shea Neary was fouled after another fine run. In the final minutes, Darragh Kenny pulled of a fantastic full length save from a penalty to cap a man of the match performance. David Clune, Cormac Broe and Jamie Soraghan put in great shifts in the last quarter in midfield to limit the Martins chances and keep the Gers in front on the scoreboard to the end.
The Geraldines boys put in a great hour of football , always looking to move the ball on quickly with good handling, passing and score taking in what was an overall really good team performance. They displayed a great work ethic and determination right to the end. With several boys away on holidays it was a tremendous effort by the 14 boys who played the whole game with no substitutes.
Thank you to N.Mairtin coaches and players for a really competitive and entertaining game and to referee Cathal O’Brien.
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