Glenavy U16s welcomed St. Enda’s to Chapel Hill on Sunday evening in the semi final of the Breslin Shield. Both teams headed into the game boasting impressive unbeaten league records.
As expected the game was a closely fought affair. St. Enda’s opened the scoring and Glenavy responded with a free from Matthew Lawlor from distance. Glenavy had an early period of domination in possession thanks to midfield pairing Finn Malley and Eoin Dixon but failed to capitalise on this with a score and St. Enda’s broke away for their second score making them the more clinical team early on.
Glenavy’s defence then withstood a series of St. Enda’s attacks with Emmett McCloy, Cain Shannon and Timmy Honeyford making decisive tackles and interceptions to protect Glenavy’s goal. Ronan Hill and Caolan McClenaghan worked tirelessly in the full forward line to win possession high up the pitch and put in a lot of selfless pressure on St. Enda’s defenders.
Glenavy’s ever industrious Fintán O’Boyle, Eugene Clenaghan, Michael Fox and Rory Nelson ensured Glenavy had a good foothold in the game throughout with plenty of possession won and retained with some great passing and composure on the ball. Off the back of this possession Darragh Doherty and Eoin Dixon fired over great scores from play for Glenavy to leave the score line 0-3 a piece in a tense game.
As the first half drew to a close Eoin Dixon then scored the decisive score of the first half catching a high ball into the edge of the square and finished low and hard into the far corner from a tight angle. Half time score Glenavy 1-3 St. Enda’s 0-3.
The second half began as the first half ended with good defensive shape and play making it hard for forwards to get scores. Eoin Dickson soon started to strengthen Glenavy’s grip on the game with a free and a fine point from play. Darragh Armstrong was introduced to the Glenavy attack and his movement began to expose gaps in the St. Enda’s rearguard. This led to Finn Malley and Matthew Lawlor driving into the scoring area and firing over great points from play.
St. Endas had a player red carded by the referee but still posed a threat going forward but Glenavy’s defence worked hard to get back and protect the goal and keeper Lorcan Murphy was sharp off his lines a few times to snuff out danger.
The recently introduced Darragh Armstrong got the score that killed the game off finishing a fine move with a goal. Eoin Dickson added another point before Shay O’Neill burst forward, not for the first time and with a great strike found the net from 13 metres out. Chris O’Hare, Lewis Collins and Matthew McDermott all came on to help Glenavy over the line for a well deserved win.
Glenavy will now play Dunloy in the final of the Breslin Shield on June the 30th. Well done to both teams and good luck to Glenavy in the final.