Minor Football Championship – Round 1

Newcastle West 5-12 Mungret 1-7

We traveled to Mungret on Friday evening for the first round of the Premier Minor football championship. Being the first day out we were not quite sure what to expect from our lads but having lost to Mungret at U16 level knew we were in for a tough task.  We started the game on the front foot and opened the scoring with a well taken goal and never let our opponents get ahead. After a dominant first half in which we scored 1-3 without reply between the 20 th and 30 th minute we led by 2-8 to 0-5 at half-time a lead which could have been greater but for some wayward finishing.  Mungret came more into the game early in the second half and with 15 minutes to go the lead was down to 5 points. Our lads didn’t panic and showed their class and determination from then on to pull away and win comfortably.   This was a very good team performance based on solid and disciplined defending, strong running and link play from midfield, and great interplay from the forwards. There remains plenty to work and improve on prior to the next round which will be after the exam break but overall a very positive start to the championship.

Team & Scorers: Oisin O Sullivan, Andrew Mortell, Jody Woulfe, Michael Blashkiv, Evan Sheehan (0-1), Michael Cremin, Todd Donovan, Ruadhan O Connor (0-1), Killian Collins (1-0), Jack Duggan (0-1), Luke Gleeson (0-1), Bryan Nix (1-3), Brian Foley(2-1), Ethan Hurley(1-2), Jack O Connor (0-1).  Substitutes: Morgan Sheehan (0-1) for Jack Duggan, Ciaran Al Quadi for Jack O Connor, Oisin Enright for Ethan Hurley, Leon Barry for Luke Gleeson, Keith Begley for Bryan Nix, Brian Coughlan.  Unavailable through injury were Conor Walker and Evan McMahon.

The focus now switches to the West Minor hurling championship with three games to be played before the exam break beginning on Thursday 18 th April with a home fixture against Croagh/Rathkeale. One positive is that the team management and the full panel are the same for both codes which assists in team preparation and managing player welfare.  Best of luck to Ruadhan O Connor and the Limerick Minor Football team and management in the upcoming championship commencing with 1st round against Clare in Newcastle West on Wednesday 10th April.