Duffy denies the Dubs
- Aug 29,2007
DUFFY DENIES THE DUBS AS CASTLEBAR RETAIN ALL- IRELAND U.12 COMMUNITY GAMES TITLE
CASTLEBAR (MAYO)....... (1)....1 LUCAN........ (1).........1 (AFTER EXTRA TIME)
CASTLEBAR WIN 3-2 ON PENALTIES
Sixteen little heroes emerged from Mosney with the all-Ireland crown for the second year running as the Castlebar boys came home with gold. These lads exceeded their managers expectations by mammoth proportions and proved that attitude is everything when there is a job to be done. Winning the county title was the target goal. This was achieved when Ballyheane was dispatched in that final. Connaught was then conquered with Sligo champions Maugheraboy falling by the wayside in the semi-final before an epic battle of extra time followed and the Roscommon champions hit the deck after extra time.
The trip to Mosney was a giant step and waiting were Munster champions Monaleen from Limerick and the Aisling Annacotty academy proved a formidable opposition. A purely footballing side and pleasant people with it asked many questions of the young Celts, a rip-roaring contest ending in a penalty shoot-out after a thrilling 3-3 draw, after extra time on a rain sodden pitch and a winter-like afternoon. The Mayo side were in the final by winning the dreaded shootout by 2-1. Waiting in the long grass was Lucan, the Dublin champions representing Leinster.
Suddenly summer arrived in Mosney, which is reputed to be the driest part of Ireland. Saturday certainly did not live up to that statistic! Lucan had arrived at this juncture by beating Letterkenny, the Ulster champions by a 2-0 scoreline early on Saturday. They would be fresher, that was the fear for Castlebar and the Dublin boys would have to be given respect as our capital cousins are not bad ball players in any code. The Castlebar side got the dream start when Cillian McNeela ran forcefully from inside the Dublin half to coolly slot home the lead goal after 3 minutes. It was a short-lived lead however as Lucan were back level after 6 minutes working a neat opening to get their equaliser. To the assembled crowd a goal –fest might be expected. How wrong could we be as the technical ability of both sides was very much evident. Both teams fought a thrilling battle creating many chances but there was no way through either defence.
The Mayo rearguard of Niall Conway, Kevin Timlin, Peter Rogan and Conor Ludden was water- tight. The amount of work done by Noe Baba in the middle and all-over the pitch had to be seen to be believed. This boy will one day play at a professional level, even the officials were on first name terms with him after the first day and all for the right reasons. When he knocks on the door of your Mosney chalet at 7:30 in the morning and asks for a football it says it all! Ronan Byrne and Philip Ruddy scrapped for everything. Mark Nolan and the captain Colm Nevin ran themselves into the ground time and time. Cillian McNeela never gave up the chance to look for an opening. The replacements of Dylan Ralph, Darragh Coll and Simon Smyth gave more energy when extra time loomed. With a 1-1 scoreline still intact at the end of the added twenty minutes it was again the dreaded penalty shoot-out. Castlebar were behind as Dublin converted the first two of their spot- kicks. Noe Baba replied for Castlebar. Mark Nolan equalised. Dublin did not score again as Conor Duffy, for the second day running reeled off a hat-trick of penalty saves. Cillian McNeela hammered home the winning penalty and silenced the Dubs in the process. He had the first goal now he had the last say,...and Conor Duffy ..well he must be the safest pair of hands in Mayo, actually no correct that statement, he is the safest pair of hands in Ireland!
Castlebar: Conor Duffy, Niall Conway, Kevin Timlin, Peter Rogan, Conor Ludden, Philip Ruddy, Ronan Byrne, Noe Baba, Mark Nolan, Colm Nevin (capt.) Cillian McNeela. Darragh Coll, Dylan Ralph, Kieran Padden, Simon Smyth, Johnnie Walsh.
Manager Gerry Conway and assistants Noel Coll and Aidan Nevin would like to thank everyone for your support, sponsorship and prayers over the weeke
