The Minor Football team recorded their third league win in succession against a strong Tir na Óg side last Tuesday up at Whitehill. This was undoubtedly their toughest test yet and the win keeps the Davitts lads joint top with Lamh Dearg in the All-County league.
It was all the more commendable as the team travelled up minus a few key players through injury, although the welcome return of Padraig McParland did compensate to an extent.
Davits started off brightly with some good points from Jim Hawkey and Pearse McAuley but Tir na Óg then began to assert themselves and took some good scores of their own. Around the twenty minute mark, Padraig McParland made a bursting run from the half back line and handed off to Pearse McAuley who despatched the ball to the net. Padraig then repeated his effort a minute later, this time taking a point himself to put the Clonard team 3 points up. However, the home side hit back with a few points of their own to leave the half-time scoreline of 0-6 to 1-4 in favour of the visitors.
Davitts started the second half in great form with Aaron Slane started to dictate play. He scored 2 points before Caolán Park, running through on goal was deliberately brought down in the small square. Aaron stepped up to blast the ball into the roof of the net to put six between the teams and looking in control.
Tir na Óg were not finished though and, remarkably were allowed back into the game when two consecutive 45’s ended up in the back of the net, mainly due to a lack of communication in the Davitts rearguard. With their tails up, the home team tagged on another three points and, at this stage, it did not look good for the visitors.
To their great credit however, led in the main by Anthony Rowntree, they started to battle back and out the home team under pressure. Brendan Clarke started to win some ball in the middle of the park and Caoimhin Slane came on to a game at this stage. Following a few more points from Aaron Slane, Caolán Park played a ball over the top to Niall Carson. His shot come cross was punched into the net by Tony McLaughlin to make it all square.
It was end to end at this stage and Brendan Collins pulled off a match winning save as the ball went straight up the other side of the pitch where Tiarnán ‘Bap’ McGreevy scored at the second attempt, his first effort being saved by the goalkeeper. Davitts knocked over an insurance point just before the end to leave a final score of Tir na Óg 2-12 Davitts 4-10.
Full credit to both teams, but in particular, our lads for such a spirited and deserved win away from home.
