U16 footballers to face Cavan in Gerry Reilly final

Mon, 25th July 2016

Dublin’s under-16 footballers will face Cavan next Sunday (7.30) in the Gerry Reilly U16 Football Tournament final after drawing with Monaghan, 2-12 to 1-15, in their concluding round-robin game last Sunday night in Oldcastle, Meath.

The Dubs had their placed booked in the decider prior to throw-in, barring a very heavy defeat, following victories over Westmeath and Longford.

Monaghan’s star player Tiernan Duffy opened the scoring with two early points before Andrew McCaul went on a terrific run and finishing to the Monaghan net to give Dublin the lead.

A Seán Treanor point in the 12th minute had the sides level followed up by a Tiernan Duffy point to regain the lead for Monaghan before Eanna McCarney pointed to level the sides again.

A terrific Monaghan move saw Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan finish to the Dublin net before three points on the bounce for the Dubs brought equality again.

Monaghan points from Pauric O’Brien, Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan and Tiernan Duffy had them two ahead with the interval approaching before Stephen Braiden O’Byrne left Dublin trailing by the minimum at half-time, 1-7 to 1-6.

On the resumption Monaghan stretched their lead with three unanswered points by Tiernan Duffy.

Sub Aidan Kearney made an early impact when pointing for Dublin and shortly after Lennon Bracken converted a ‘45’.

Then Monghan took over and moved five points clear but a Conor Kinsella goal ignited the Dubs for a strong finish.

Dublin hit four points in-a-row but Monaghan battled back to earn a share of the spoils.

Sunday’s decider will be the third summer in succession that Cavan and Dublin have met in the final with the Breffni Blue winning in both 2014 and 2015. Dublin’s last success came in 2013.

Dublin play Cavan in the Gerry Reilly Cup Final on Sunday, 31 July in Millbrook, Oldcastle @ 7.30 pm.

Meath play Westmeath in the Plate Final on Friday, 29 July in Millbrook, Oldcastle @ 7.30 pm.

Longford play Louth in the Shield Final on Saturday, 30 July in Millbrook, Oldcastle @ 12 noon

SCORERS - Dublin: Stephen Braiden O’Byrne 0-4, Andrew McCaul, Conor Kinsella 1-0 each, Anthony Quinn 0-3, Lennon Bracken 0-2, Ryan Dunne, Sam Jones, Aidan Kearney 0-1 each. Monaghan: Tiernan Duffy 0-9, Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan 1-1, Pauric O’Brien 0-3, Seán Treanor 0-2.

DUBLIN: Steven James, Michael Conroy, Eoghan Lyons, Daniel Bailey, Sean Farrelly, Eanna Torsey, Lee Gannon Whitehall, Luke Grady, Ciaran Murphy Whitehall, Sam Jones, Stephen Braiden O’Byrne, Andrew McCaul, Anthony Quinn, Conor Kinsella, Ryan Dunne. Subs: Jack Kinsella for James, Aidan Kearney for Torsey, Lennon Bracken for Dunne, Adam Kelly for Bailey, Fionan O’Sullivan for Lyons.

MONAGHAN: Kian O’Connor, Alan Curley, Kieran Duffy, Ryan O’Toole, Tiarnan McSkeane, Craig Callan, Kieran Marron, Liam Og Murray, Ryan O’Neill,Sean Treanor, Andrew Woods, Eanna McCarney, Pauric O’Brien, Tiernan Duffy, Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan. Subs: Charlie Counihan for O’Toole, Tiarnan McCourt for Treanor, Conor McKeown for McSkearne, Shane Forde for McCarney.

REF: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).