Junior Footballers enjoy good win

A very youthful looking Edenderry team beat Gracefield at home in the 3rd round of the Junior championship on Saturday evening by seven points on a scoreline of 3-08 to 1-07.

Edenderry made great start to this game as they dominated Gracefield for the opening 20 minutes scoring seven unanswered points. John Gorman opened the scoring with a point, after great approach play from Joe Murphy. Sixteen year old full-forward Sean Doyle then sent over the second point, before the young debutant Cian Lawton sent over a sweet point to put ‘The Reds’ three points in front. Sean Doyle then scored his second point of the game as he curled over a good point off his left boot. Daniel Ryan put five points between the sides when he kicked over a great long range point for one of the best scores of the game. One of Edenderry’s more experienced players Padraig Foy then sent over a very good point, before Sean Doyle grabbed his third point of the game, as he was quickest to the rebound from a John Gorman free kick. Gracefield then started to get a foothold in the game, as they reeled off three points without reply from play before the break to leave four points between the sides at halftime.

Halftime, Edenderry 0-07 Gracefield 0-04.

Gracefield opened the scoring in the second half with a good point. Shortly after that Gracefield should have had another score on the board, but they hit the post and sent the resulting rebound wide. Edenderry then scored a goal from their first real attack of the second half, Sean Doyle sent a good pass to Dan Ryan who made no mistake as he buried the ball past the Gracefield goalie. Gracefield then scored a goal and a point without reply, to reduce Edenderry’s lead to just two points. Sean Doyle then scored another point for The Reds, before Michael Bryan came in for the injured Dan Ryan. Gracefield scored the next point of the game, before John ‘Gooch’ Gorman scored a great goal after he evaded the shackles of three Gracefield defenders. Gracefield then grabbed their last point of the game. Edenderry finished the game well with a goal, as a Sean Doyle sent a free into the Gracefield square, where young Cian Lawton rose highest to flick the ball to the net.

This was a very good performance from a very young Edenderry side which included six minors, three of which are only sixteen years old. Edenderry had some good performances from Adrian Bryan, Padraig Foy, Stephen Murphy, Stephen Abbott, Sean Doyle and Colm Cummins who fielded some great ball at midfield.

Team: Ciaran Cummins; Joe Murphy, Adrian Byran, Diarmuid Meleady; Shane Delaney, Stephen Murphy, Gary Blong; Colm Cummins, Shane Connell; Padraig Foy (0-1), Cian Lawton (1-1), Stephen Abbott; Dan Ryan (1-1), Sean Doyle (0-4), John Gorman (1-1).

Sub used: Michael Byran for Dan Ryan.

Referee: Martin Carthy (Walsh Island).