A three goal blitz from St Olivers’ results in victory at the expense of Scoil Uí Mhuirí

Leinster PPS Senior Football 'D1' Section 2 

St Olivers C.C 5-10 Scoil Uí Mhuirí 2-13

A pulsating North Leinster ‘D1’ Section 2 final was ultimately decided in the first period of extra time, when a three goal blitz from St Olivers’ saw the Drogheda side prevail at the expense of Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Darver on a cold Tuesday morning.

It may have been cold, but the drama which unfolded kept spectators on the toes, and in the end warmed the hearts of those of an Ollies affiliation, with quickfire majors from Adam Cadwell, Alex Hermitage and James Grogan setting the David Harpur/Conor Noonan/Conor Clancy managed side on their way to North Leinster glory.

That gave the team in maroon a six-point cushion to defend for the rest of the game, and defend it they did, throwing bodies on the line with Pascal Ayers and Aaron James producing key interventions at important moments.

Early on, the thoughts of this match heading into extra time appeared unlikely to say the least, with Scoil Uí Mhuirí with the aid of a first half breeze, rattling off six points in the opening 10 minutes, to take a 0-6 to 0-1 lead.

Central to this early dominance from the Dunleer side was talented forward Brendan Cassidy of Lannliere. Finishing with 27 possessions including extra time, Cassidy was one player that the rest of his colleagues looked to, to produce that spark.

Dunleer imposed their dominance early on after an exquisite Cassidy strike followed early efforts from captain Jack Murtagh and the excellent TJ Molloy, a player adding to his growing reputation as a young starlet, who has just been called up to the Republic of Ireland under 15 international soccer side for their clash with Australia’s under 16 side in Dublin this weekend.

Ciaran Caffrey swivelled to kick over following a Murtagh pass, before two further Molloy strikes gave his school that 0-6 to 0-1 lead early on, with the Dunleer winning 10 out of 12 kickouts in that first quarter, with the Ollies’ long kickout struggling to travel in the breeze.

In fact, Scoil Uí Mhuirí will probably feel they could have added to their lead, having seen Ciaran King’s fisted effort in the square come back off the bar.

Despite being under the cosh, the Ollies hung in there, thanks mainly to the exploits of free taker Brayden Colfer.

Meath minor goalkeeper from 2023, Colfer proved just as effective outfield, with a hattrick of frees from him leaving just two between the sides inside 22 minutes, as the Dunleer side were susceptible to the concession of scorable frees, with the direct running of Ollies forwards Ethan Harding and James Grogan paying dividends for their cause.

It appeared that the Ollies’ hopes of staying in the game at half time were blown apart, when Brendan Cassidy calmly slotted to the net to put five between the sides, before the same player and Jacob Finlay gave them a 1-8 to 0-4 lead approaching the break.

However, credit must go to the Ollies, who caused problems whenever they ran at the Dunleer defence, and a fine move involving Alex Hermitage, saw James Grogan calmly slot to the net to give his side a fresh impetus to take into the second half.

Second Half:

The tables turned for that second half, and with the breeze at their backs, the Ollies were encouraged when Dunleer’s Jack Murtagh was black carded at the conclusion of the third quarter.

At that stage, Colfer’s free taking had narrowed the deficit to two points, before Cassidy and Molloy once again combined for the latter to keep the Ollies at arm’s length.

In fairness however, the Ollies sensed an opportunity, and they continued to run at Dunleer, seeing their keeper Conor Dunne called into action to deny Brayden Colfer from close range.

Having kicked a marvellous point on the turn moments earlier, Ethan Harding then fed Adam Cadwell who fired to the net to send the Ollies into dreamland, as they were ahead for the first time since the opening minute of this clash, at a scoreline of 2-7 to 1-9, with only 10 minutes remaining.

Brendan Cassidy kept his composure to draw his side level with a free, for a shellshocked Dunleer who were seemingly in charge for large parts.

When the Ollies got their opportunity to regain the lead, Colfer once again was not found wanting, and with Dunleer having wasted their next attack, it appeared that the Drogheda side had victory in their grasp.

However, a mix up on a short kickout allowed TJ Molloy to take the game to extra time, when he fired over from close range. The youngster’s expression of head in hands told those in attendance that he had goal on his mind.

Extra Time:

Goal was certainly on Molloy’s mind when he drove the ball to the net in ET which seemed to put Dunleer in the driving seat.

However, thanks to that goal blitz, and some warrior defending from players like Aaron James, Pascal Ayres, Ben Russell and Adam Craven, coupled with the brilliance of Colfer, Harding, Hermitage, Cadwell, and especially Grogan, St Ollivers C.C were ecstatic at full time, prevailing by six points, sparking joyous, celebratory scenes at the end.

St Olivers C.C: Nathan Barnett; Pascal Ayres, Aaron James, Aidan Mone; Dylan Walsh, Ben Russell, Leo Quinn; Adam Craven, Branyon Colfer (0-8) (7f); Aaron Griffith Wall, Ethan Harding (1-1), Nathan Kenny; Adam Caldwell (1-1), Alex Hermitage (1-0), James Grogan (2-0).

Subs: Ben Daly for Griffith Wall (54), Ryan Weldon for Mone (5 ET), Sean Mulhern for Caldwell (17 ET).

Scoil Uí Mhuirí: Conor Dunne; Charlie Murphy, Caoimhín Prout, Oisín Prout; Evan Kearney, Páidi McCabe, Jake Young; Dylan Hanratty, Ciarán Caffrey (0-1); Ciarán King, Brendan Cassidy (1-4) (2f), Jack O’Connor; Jack Murtagh (0-1) (1f), Jacob Finlay, (0-2) TJ Molloy (1-5) (1f).

Subs: Cian Kearney for Evan Kearney (HT ET), Conor Doheny for Molloy (13 ET).

Referee: Paul Burke.