The LIT Gaelic Grounds hosted our U19 Quarter Final against Newcastle West on Tuesday evening. With the game throwing in at 8pm our lads were rearing for road as they struck the first two scores in the game, and were looking like they were going to be the dominate side throughout. Newcastle West however had different plans as they settled into the game and got some good points themselves. We did have shots on goal in the opening quarter but they were saved. We had a lot of possession in the opening half but struggled to turn that possession into scores. The scores at the first water break were Ahane 0-03 Newcastle West 0-03. William O’Leary saved us on more than one occasion over the sixty plus minutes of action as he put in another solid performance in between the posts. Along with William his six defenders, Evan, Aidan, Colm, Jack, Mark and Shane all dealt with the Newcastle West pressure well and again on more than one occasion did enough to stop the Newcastle West charge. Towards the end of the first half Newcastle West went ahead as they popped over two unanswered points, before centre back Mark Hickey hit a hail Mary ball into the square, where the Newcastle West goalkeeper went up to catch it but lost it in the light and the ball dropped to the back of the net. A lucky goal if ever you saw one! Mark’s goal meant Ahane went in a point ahead at half time. Ahane 1-03 Newcastle West 0-05.

Second half started and it was once again Ahane that got the first score coming from a Mark Donnellan free. The joy of being two points ahead was short lived for the Ahane lads as Newcastle West scored a stunning goal in the second minute and then tide began to change from there. Newcastle West added on five points after getting their goal and their confidence was high. Ahane’s next score came in the 12th minutes as Jack Barry sent in a high ball that Will McCormack caught and fired over the bar. Kevin Morrissey got the next score and the gap was back down to four. With a point each after that the teams went in at the second water break on a score line of Ahane 1-07 Newcastle West 1-11. With everything still to play for the final fifteen minutes Ahane had to throw everything they had at the game to try and secure a win. Kevin again got another lovely point but for every score Ahane got Newcastle West got at least one in reply. Within five minutes Newcastle West had pushed the gap to ten and the Ahane were running out of time to try and pull it back. But as the clock ticked into injury time substitute Adam Murrihy managed to get a flick on a high ball in from Kevin Morrissey and get Ahane’s second goal to bring the gap to 7. Newcastle West went straight back up the field and scored a point of their own in response. The game wasn’t over yet though as Ahane were awarded a penalty late into injury time and Adam took it beautifully and buried it. Unfortunately through it came too late as the referee blew the full time whistle on the puc out. Full time score Ahane 3-08 Newcastle West 1-19.

Heartbreaking for our lads who have given it their all, all year. We are very proud of them and how they have represented the club so well. Huge thank you to their sponsors Cunninghams Supervalu Castleconnell for their support! Thanks to the lads, and to their management for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.

Team: W. O’Leary, E. O’Leary, A. Carroll, C. Slattery Wright, J. Barry, M. Hickey, S. O’Grady; K. Morrissey, L. O’Mara; W. McCormack, M. Donnellan, P. Donohoe, D. Carr, G. Rowsome, J. Donohoe

Substitutions: A. Murrihy (for D. Carr 2nd 1/2) C. O’Connell (for W. McCormack 2nd 1/2), S. Hassett (for G. Rowsome 2nd 1/2), E. Hartigan (for S. O’Grady 2nd 1/2)