Whittaker and Bourke goals vital in Tubberclair victory

MJS Building & Development Westmeath U15 Division 2 FC Final

Tubberclair 2-11 Lilliput Gaels 3-6

By Shane King

Tubberclair claimed victory over Lilliput Gaels in a very entertaining game of football in the Westmeath U15 Division 2 championship final last Sunday.

This game a battle between two evenly matched teams, with only a point separating them when they met in the round robin stage of the championship. It promised to be a cracking game and it lived up to these expectations.

A bright and dry autumn day presented good conditions for football despite heavy rain during the week.

Lilliput Gaels took an early lead scoring 2-2 from play with Tubberclair putting two points on the scoreboard after 15 minutes. Tubberclair responded with four unanswered points before Fionn McKinley pointed just before half-time to make it a three-point game.

Tubberclair made a strong start to the second half scoring 2-5 within the opening 15 minutes to Lilliput’s single point. Despite a seven-point deficit at this stage of the game, the Gaels brought it back to a two-point game with Gavin Ennis converting two frees and Luke Robinson scoring a well taken goal.

Despite the best efforts of Lilliput Gaels in searching for a last-gasp goal, it wasn’t to be with the full-time whistle sounding and Tubberclair taking the spoils by a two-point margin.

Tubberclair started the brighter with Sean Whittaker scoring a fine point within the first minute. Ruairi Dolan added a second point to his side's tally moments later with a point from play.

However this lead would be short lived, as two consecutive goals followed from Lilliput Gaels. Daniel Masterson won the opposing kickout to lay the ball off to Fionn McKinley who lobbed the goalkeeper and found the back of the net. Gavin Ennis won the resultant kickout and delivered a good ball to Ciaran Doran who fired the ball to the top corner of the goal.

Gavin Ennis continued to build on the momentum sustained from the goals to slot over two superb points (one free) which extended his sides lead to six. Tubberclair were quick to respond with centre-forward Dolan converting a free on the 20-metre line (20th minute). He followed this with a fine point from play after his side won the resultant kickout. The boys in green and yellow maintained possession for the next five minutes finishing a good passage of play with James Pettit pointing a well worked score.

Fionn McKinley scored a point just before the break, after good work fro Gavin Ennis and Tadgh Seery to take a three-point lead at half-time.

Tubberclair were quick off the mark following the restart, with Sean Whittaker delivering a good ball to Sean Keegan whose shot sailed inches over the crossbar for a point. Gavin Ennis replied minutes later converting a free to regain their three-point lead.

The Glasson based club hit a purple patch from here and dominated the next 15 minutes of play. Whittaker started this period of dominance with a fine point. Dolan converted a free in the following play to reduce the deficit to one point.

As Tubberclair built momentum, a passage of play up the field resulted in full-forward Peter Bourke passing the ball off to Whittaker who fired the ball to the corner of the net. Whittaker added another point to the scoreboard after his side won the resultant kick-out.

Tubberclair maintained possession with their strong defence denying the opposition a chance on goal. A quick free into Peter Bourke caught the Lilliput defence off guard, and left Bourke in a prime position to rattle the back of the net. Whittaker scored yet another fine point in the 45th minute to increase his side's lead to seven.

However, Lilliput Gaels were determined to stay in contention with Ennis taking one back by converting a free 30 metres out. A high tackle on Darragh Mulligan saw Peter Bourke receive a second yellow card and was sent to the sideline for the remainder of the game. Ennis took the resultant free which dropped short. A scramble for the ball saw Luke Robinson somehow find the back of the net which brought them within three points.

In a nail biting finish to the game, Darren Corcoran found himself through on goal but was unfortunate to see his shot end up grazing the crossbar for a point. The final whistle sounded moments later and saw Tubberclair crowned champions by two points.

Player of the match: Sean Whittaker (Tubberclair). This up and coming footballer was excellent throughout the game, scoring 1-5 from play.

Scorers - Tubberclair: S Whittaker 1-5, R Dolan 0-4 (3f), P Bourke 1-0, J Pettit and S Keegan 0-1 each. Lilliput Gaels: F McKinley 1-1, G Ennis 0-4 (3f), C Doran, L Robinson 0-1 and D Corcoran 0-1 each.

Tubberclair: Padraig O’Neill, Sean Elliot, Jack O’Shea, Ryan Cunningham, Ronan Tynan, James Pettit, Mikey Sammon, Sean Keegan, Gary Staunton, Myles Fallon, Ruairi Dolan, Sean Whittaker, Ruairi O’Connor, Peter Bourke. Thomas Kenny. Subs: Adam O’Brien for Tynan (half-time), Brian Elliot for Fallon (48 mins).

Lilliput Gaels: Daire Fagan, Billy Whelan, Conor Corcoran, Frazer Young, Conor Robinson, Darragh Mulligan, Darren Corcoran, Luke Robinson, Cian Corcoran, Dylan Ward, Gavin Ennis, Daniel Masterson, Tadhg Seery, Fionn McKinley, Ciaran Doran. Subs: James O’Connor for Seery (40 mins), Aaron Wallace for Conor Corcoran (43), Jack Favier for Young (57).

Referee: Ray Farrelly (Ballycomoyle).