U-16 Division 5 Football Final
7th May@ Hawkfield, Centre of Excellence, Newbridge
Ardclough 2-12 Ballykelly 2-05

Six points from Dylan Burke and a goal each from Matthew O’Connor and Aaron Kelly helped Ardclough claim the U-16 Division 5 football title.

After overcoming Carbury on a scoreline of 4-07 to 1-12 in the Semi-Final, Ardclough knew a lot of work was to be done to beat Ballykelly who had overturned Grangenolvan by eleven points to get here.

Ardclough dictated the majority of play in this game, with Ballykelly never looking like seriously overturning them.

Ballykelly could only muster three points in the first half, from Eoin Sinnott (2) and David O’Connell.

While Ardclough hit nine points, Dylan Burke getting five from play. Shane McEvoy (two frees), Davy Culliton and Matthew O’Connor getting the others.

Ballykelly 2nd half performance was much improved but were still outscored, 2-03 to 2-02.

Niall Delahunt was vital to Ardclough’s chances, playing a part in the majority of Ardclough scores.

Dylan Burke got another point for Ardclough midway through the half, but Ballykelly sparked a mini-revival.

Ballykelly managed 2-01 during this comeback, 1-01 by sub Marcus Malone and another goal from Wayne Harrisson.

A comeback was on the cards, but Ardclough though kicked back into life.

Captain Matthew O’Connor lead by example by finding the net to quieten the Ballykelly comeback.

It was all Ardclough from then on, Shane McEvoy and Jack Bambrick both got late points, either side of an Aaron Kelly goal, as they pulled away.

Substitute Keith Abbott was unlucky not to have got a third goal for the ‘Clough’s in the dying seconds of the game, only to be denied by the keeper.

 

Ardclough:

John Nolan; Liam Hanley, Donal Delahunt, Thomas Mulhare; Robbie Culliton, Dave Smith, Conor Reeves; Matthew O’Connor 1-01, Davy Culliton 0-01; Jack Bambrick 0-01, Niall Delahunt, Ronan Tallon; Dylan Burke 0-06, Aaron Kelly 1-00, Shane McEvoy 0-03 (3f’s)

Subs:
Andrew Finnerty, Keith Abbott, Killian Dwyer

 

Ballykelly:

Adam Lawlor; Cian Stafford, Eoin Phillips, Mark Sealey; Eoin Whelan, Shane Ryan, Dean Porter; Eoin Sinnott 0-02, David O’Connell 0-01; Wayne Sharpe, Wayne Harrison 1-00, David O’Neill; Kyle Redmond, Bayo Oke 0-01, Tommy Grattan

Subs:
Marcus Malone 1-01 for K. Redmond, Chris Havan for C. Stafford, Stephen Kelly for T. Grattan, Jordan Bulger for D. O’Neill

Referee: Ger Murray (Sarsfields)