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Strokestown
1-11 St.
Aidans 0-10
Strokestown
won their first Under 21 title in history last
sunday to add to what had already been a
spectacularly sucessful year for a club that has
finally began to realise its potential. A
tough St. Aidans team with an immense will to
win could not halt the Strokestown march, and
the team that was the first roscommon team ever
to win an under age all-ireland title finally
recaptured their winning form. It
was no easy game, and with John Rogers taken off
due to concussion and St. Aidans rallying hard,
it went right to the last minute. A
fairly strong breeze meant that strokestown had
the advantage for the first half, playing down
the field. The game started well for the town,
John Rogers scoring a well worked point with the
first move of the game. St. Aidans responded
with two points in quick succession after some
fine short passing to battle the breeze.
Strokestown started nervously but soon found
their feet, building up a lead of 10 points to 2
with scores from Davie Parker, Damien Cassidy,
Kevin J Dolan, James Carr, and some excellant
shooting from John Rogers, who had a fantastic
first half. St. Aidans pulled one back before
the break to send the Town in with a 7 point
lead at half time. St. Aidans were battling
hard, and tackling well. Nothing came easy for
Strokestown, and there was some doubt that the 7
point lead may not be enough to take them
through the second half.
In
the second half the wind made for a different
match. Strokestown found it hard to adjust their
game, and although they had enough possesion,
they could not add to the scoresheet. St. Aidans
attacked quickly and had periods of dominance
when they took two or three points out of the
Strokestown lead at a time.
With
15 minutes to go St. Aidans had clawed back the
lead to just 2, their 8 points to Strokestown's
10. Disaster struck for Strokestown, John Rogers
was knocked out after a brave attempt to get the
ball resulted in a clumsy challenge by an Aidans
man. The star performer so far in the match had
to be taken by ambulance to roscommon hospital.
He was replaced by Cormac Dolan, Strokestown's
only substitution of the game.
After
John Rogers was taken off Strokestown played
inspirationally, Morgan Beirne was in agony with
a shoulder injury but played on courageously.
All fifteen of the Strokestown players rose to
occasion and battled against the rising tide of
the St. Aidans attack.
Derek
Hagan finished a superb move with a magnificent
point to out the match at 11 points to 8. St,
Aidans duely responded with a point to reduce
the deficit to just 2. The wind was with St.
Aidans and they were attacking well, with 6 or 7
minutes still left to play it looked as though
they might just do it. Strokestowns hero came
from a source some may have consider unlikely.
Mark Fallon, playing a fantastic game in
midfield, raced for a fifty ball just inside the
Aidans half. He got there first and kicked the
ball along the ground where James Carr grabbed
it. He then passed it on to Cormac Dolan who
looked around to see Mark Fallon approaching at
high speed. He popped the ball to 'BuBu' who
dispatched it to the back of the net with the
skill of a premiership striker. The crowd went
wild. This was it, we have it. Heart attacks
were narrowly avoided, the Town ccould breathe a
sigh of relief. Not even a late St. Aidans point
could dampen our spirits.
The
match finished 1-11 to 10 points, an historic
victory by a team that has played together
through thick and thin for the last 10 years.
Although
the man of the match award was presented to a
St. Aidans player, John Rogers shone until the
unfortunate accident, and Mark Fallon had a
geeat game capped off by a truly memorable
score. Everyone tried their hardest, and St.
Aidans have to commended for a great game.
After
the match the team made its way to Roscommon
Hospital to see their two teammates, Alan Kelly
and John Rogers, who were unlucky not to be able
to attend the celebrations that started as soon
as the lads hit home soil.
Well
Done lads, and well done and thanks for the last
10 years.
Michael
Allen
Team: R.
O'Connor, C. Reilly, D. Cassidy. A. Cassidy, M.
Dowd, M. Bierne, T. Hanly, M. Fallon, D. Hagan,
K.J. Dolan, M. Colum, J. Rogers, J. Carr, S.
Caudwell, D. Parker subs
used Cormac Dolan for John Rogers. Mentors: Damian
Donlon, Coman Shiel, Martin Fallon. See
U-21 Page |
