In this weeks feature game our roving reporters popped into Dolphin Park on Saturday morning to witness an epic battle between two hurling only clubs as Kevins and Setanta battled it out in an Under 12 top of table league clash.
Both sides were unbeaten and it showed … It was end to end stuff in the first half with the Setanta keeper pulling of a point blank save and at the other end Aodhán Ó hAoláin silenced a sideline roar as he stopped a certain point from the Ballymun boys. Noah Ryan and Sam Geoghegan fought hard on the full back line as the long puck out strategy landed numerous balls on the end line only to be sent back with some vigour. This was the third week in a row that the Kevins opposition had tried Jack Charltons long ball strategy, but unfortunately our full back line were as solid as the half backs and midfielders that they were trying desperately to avoid. Morgan Grogan was kept busy with a roving forward but, held his position well and cleared his lines. After a few attempts, our much needed opening score eventually came from the right corner where Calvin Lee won his ball, turned and hand passed it into Fred Macklin who slotted it over the bar. Goals followed from Charlie Dunne and Matthew McGlade which brought us back into the game and gave Kevin’s a slight edge at half time.
The boys stepped up a gear in the second half, in particular Harry Cox at centre back blocked and hooked their attackers and then terrorised their defence with solo runs that caused chaos. Captain for the day Miel O’Loughlin won lots of ball in the chaos, putting huge pressure on the Setanta and winning plenty of frees. He nabbed a point himself with Anthony Kerfoot claiming the assist from the centre forward position. Midfield supremo Alfie Connellan was on hand to pop them over. Casper Madden, Pearse Roche and Tristan Tennyson were steady in defence throughout the second half and Charlie Dunne was on fire once again, when he latched onto a lovely sideline cut into the full forward line by Alfie Connellan and then slipped a sneaky hand pass out to Fred Macklin who gave the Setanta keeper no chance. He was unlucky moments later with was would have been goal of the season. The game would have been “Dunne and Dusted” at that stage only for some great reflexes by the Setanta defenders. But the game was still in the balance when Ben O’Mullane was introduced to give the defence some respite. Up front Jenson Martin was re-introduced along with Hugh Ross and Brody Butler to bolster the Kevin’s attack.
In a brief interview after the game Juvenile Chairperson Louise Dempsey expressed her delight with the win and noted the boys discipline was top class throughout the game which was a tough encounter, but advised that she was going home for lie down as the excitement was too much for one day!
FINAL SCORE: KEVINS 3-6 SETANTA 1-4
Scorers: Fred Macklin (1-2), Matthew McGlade (1-1), Charlie Dunne (1-0), Alfie Connellan (0-2) and Miel O’Loughlin (0-1).
With one of the toughest games of season done and dusted, the boys now top their table with 4 wins from 4. They play Naomh Barrog away in their next game in 2 weeks, then travel to O’Dwyers of Balbriggan before returning to the Home of Dublin Hurling for their last game of the league against Ballinteer Saint Johns on Saturday 18th October.
Many thanks to Eoghan Redmond who popped up and took a few photos. The are great memories to have!
