Maynooth Post Primary - Versus - Salesian College, Celbridge 12/11/'09

On a cold, wet and blustery morning in mid November, Maynooth Post Primary played host to a  very talented Celbridge side. This game proved to be a Dublin quarter final as both sides had won their two previous group games. After a brilliant start from the Post Primary with a well-taken point from Jonathon Flattery, Celbridge quickly got into the flow of things. In the 6th minute, an outstanding interception from Stephen Coyle denied Celbridge a goal. However, a minute later, the Selesian side were awarded a penalty. Almost everyone present found this a bizzare desicion from the man in the middle. A well struck penalty gave Declan Burke no chance. Maynooth showed fine spirit to go right back up the field and nip a score through Shane Monaghan's right boot. For the next five minutes, the ball was hard fought for around the park with little or no oppurtunities at goal. At last, Maynooth got their reward. Darren Maguire blocked a goal-bound shot on the line. The breaking ball was quickly picked up by the excellent half back, Austin Dunne. He quickly fed the ball to Mikael Kleapstov who leaped into the air to gaurantee possession for the home side. Mikael delivered a fine hand pass to Shane Monaghan. The big corner forward hit a pin-point accurate pass to Conor Gorman, who brilliantly blasted the ball into the roof of the net. Maynooth now led 1-2 to 1-1. As we have come to expect in these local rivalries over the years, neither side ever drops their head, this was also true of this game. In the 17th minute, Celbridge came back up the field yet again to score a free and level the game. A brilliant solo effort from Aaron Cunningham up the right flank gave Maynooth a one point lead. The quick corner forward had curled the ball over beautifully from a tight angle in the 22nd minute. Within a minute a lobbed free had once again caught Declan Burke and his defence out. Mikael Kleapstov showed great speed to get away from his man just before half time to squeeze over another good score. The sides went in at the break, MPP: 1-4 Salesians: 2-2.

An inspiring team talk at half time from both Mr.Winders and Mr.Gill ensured that Maynooth came out with all guns blazing.Yet again the super full back, Darren Maguire, blocked another goal just as the second half had begun. Eight minutes into the second half, Shane Monaghan scored another point, this time from a sweetly taken free. Shane Monaghan again pointed another free to put the boys in blue a point ahead. Ronan Gorey opened his tally in the 51st minute with a close in free on his left peg. However a lapse in defence led to a goal for the Celbridge school just two minutes after Maynooth had last scored. This put them in the driving seat once again with only 9 minutes remaining. This goal was quickly followed by a lovely score for the Celbridge half forward. With only 6 minutes to go, Maynooth were up agianst it. Maynooth's captain and star man Paul Mescal led his team forward gallantly. A great block from him led to Maynooth winning a free up the field with Shane Monaghan once again converting. Only two minutes were left when Maynooth brought on two experienced subs. Seán Walshe and Shane McGuinness proved to be the super subs as they both made Maynooth the goal that sent them through to the semi-fianl. In the dying seconds of the game, Seán Walshe caught a high ball which he then took down and offloaded to McGuinness with a slick hand pass. The young Blackhall Gaels' star buried the ball in the bottom left corner to send the whole Maynooth congregation mad. The brilliant spirit and fight shown by this Maynooth side was something to admire. The final score read Maynooth 2-8, Salesians 3-3. A Dublin semi final now awaits the under 14s.

Scorers; S. Monaghan 0-4, C. Gorman & S. Mc Guinness 1-0, M. Kleapstov 0-1, R. Gorey 0-1,  A. Cunningham 0-1, J. Flattery 0-1.