Under 16 Championship

Under 16 team move closer to quarter finals after twenty point win over Ballindeereen

Kilnadeema/Leitrim  5.19 Ballindeereen 2.05

After a break of two weeks, the Under 16 championship resumed with Kilnadeema/Leitrim and Ballindeereen meeting in Leitrim on Monday July 14th. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were hoping for a better challenge than they received from Moycullen in their previous game against the south Galway side who were playing in their first game in the group. Conditions were dry, but very windy with Ballindeereen availing of the elements in the first half. Dara Herlihy opened the scoring after three minutes with  a point from play. Michael Kelly soon equalised for Ballindeereen with a point from play. The first real breakthrough came one minute later when Shane Lawless broke through to score his first goal. Dara Herlihy soon added a point from play before Kevin Lane shot over a point from a free soon after. Scoring continued one minute after the next as Shane Lawless shot over another point from play. Dara Herlihy added a point from a free on 8 mins and another from play a minute later to leave it 1.05 to 0.02 after 9 mins. Ballindeereen who were very strong and physical down the centre struck for a goal when wing forward Conor Meehan found space to shoot past Conor Cunningham. Kevin Lane soon added another point for the visitors as only two separated the sides. Dara Herlihy settled down the team again with  a point from play. before Shane Lawless, who was having a brilliant game at Full Forward shot over another point from play two minutes later. Shane repeated the act ten minutes later with another point from play before Kevin Lane kept Ballindeereen in touch with a point of his own.  Shane Lawless then broke free to shoot a wonderful second goal on 27 minutes and a great pass from Ryan Murray set up Steven Bruton for a third goal a minute later to leave the half time scoreline reading 3.08 to 1.04.Ballindeereen opened the scoring in the second half  when Kevin Lane pointed a free. Dara Herlihy then took over again despite carrying a injury with first  a point and then a great goal on 4 mins to open up a 13 point lead. Shane Lawless then added another point from play before Alvin Mitchell pointed from over 100 yards out on 6 mins. Dara Herlihy and Niall Haverty then shot a brace of points by ten minutes, both from play. Conor O'Brien then got in on the act with another point from play on 13 mins. Ballindeereen and Mark Lane had one last kick in them with a free which crashed into the net. Dara Herlihy replyed  with a point from a free on 15 mins and a point from play a minute later before Dara was taken off to rest his injury to be replaced by Cillian Dowling. Ryan Murray then scored a brilliant point from play. Alvin Mitchell added his second point on 27 mins before Cillian Dowling added another brilliant point soon after. The final score of the day was a fifth goal this time from John Callagy to leave the final score a comfortable twenty three point victory for Kilnadeema/Leitrim 5.19 to 2.05. While this was a much tougher game the the previous one, it was still a very poor test for this team in preparation for the quarter finals.

Scorers: Dara Herlihy 1.09, Shane Lawless 2.04, Stephen Bruton 1.00, John Callagy 1.00, Alvin Mitchell 0.02, Niall Haverty 0.01, Conor O'Brien 0.01, Ryan Murray 0.01, Cillian Dowling 0.01.

Team Lineout: Conor Cunningham, Conor Fahy, Conal Whelan, Stephen Farrell, James Conway, Martin Costello, Colin Moran, Alvin Mitchell, Conor O'Brien, John Callagy, Niall Haverty, Dara Herlihy, Stephen Bruton, Shane Lawless, Ryan Murray.
Subs used: Cillian Dowling, Niall McGinley, Tommy Mottram, Brain Molloy. Ryan Murray.
 
Niall Haverty challenges for a loose ball against Ballindeereen

Conor Fahy takes the ball out of defence against Ballindeereen