Cappagh Defeat Fr Rocks In U16 Semi

Friday 07.05.2021

Cappagh defeated Cookstown 5-7 to 0-9 in their under16 grade one championship semi final replay. Friday night’s game at Ballinamullen got the weekend’s action up and running and it certainly did not disappoint.

The Killyclogher based side were deserving winners but the score line does not reflect the contribution made by the Fr Rocks during an entertaining hour’s football.

The winners played wind assisted in the first half but strong play from Luke Cullen, Conal Sheehan and Callum Kelly kept the Cappagh threat well under control during the first quarter. 

With eighteen minutes gone Cappagh led 0-3 to 0-1 with Caolan O’Hagan, Gavin Potter and Matty Howe all on target for the home side. The highly impressive Michael Mc Elhatton with the early Fr Rocks opening point.

With Michael Rafferty, Potter and O’Hagan coming more into the game things changed dramatically inside the next ten minutes when Cappagh hit the net for three goals. 

Tiernan O’Donnell began the rush when he anticipated and intercepted a quick Cookstown goal kick showing tremendous composure to create the scoring chance and finish confidently to the net for his team’s first goal. 

Further goals from Gavin Potter and Michael Rafferty put the home side 3-4 to 0-2 ahead. However Cookstown failed to capitalise on a really good goal chance when goalkeeper Conor White pulled off a super save from Shea Devlin to send the sides in at the break with Cappagh leading 3-4 to 0-4. Cookstown’s last two points of the half coming from Ronan Devlin and Michael Mc Elhatton.

The Fr Rocks were in need of a fast start to the second half but Cappagh’s defence remained resolute with Mc Caul, Corcoran, Broderick and Kerr outstanding for the winners.

Try as they might Cookstown could not create the goal scoring chances they required and Cappagh punished them on the break with goals from O’Hagan and substitute Aaron Furey. Cappagh finished the game with fourteen men following an off the ball incident but even that could not detract from a very impressive display from the winners.

Final score: Cappagh 5-7, Cookstown 0-9

This report brought in association with Quinn Contracts supporters of TTM’s coverage of youth football.