Clonduff U16 Footballers became the first team to play a full match on the new Clonduff Pitch when they entertained the Carlow U16 County Champions, Tinryland.
Clonduff won a hard fought and entertaining match on a scoreline of 2-7 to 0-10. The boys started slow missing numerous chances in the early stages being blocked down 5 or 6 times inside 25 yds instead of moving the ball on quicker for a definite score. Drawing 4 points each at halftime Clonduff came out stronger in the 2nd half going 4 points up, scoring a goal and a point – they controlled the match for about 15 minutes and but for some wasteful shooting would have been out of sight. Tinryland came back into the game scoring a couple of points but the Yellows struck back getting another goal and a point which proved to be their last scores of the game. Behind by 6 points Tinryland came back bravely scoring 3 points but due to some hard work by the Clonduff boys they could not get in for the vital goal which would have drawn it.
The good news was that Darren Harper was back down at the field for the first time since his injury for the team photo. The management and the boys would like to wish the Seniors all the best for the final and for the rest of the season.
Team: Mark Bradley, Jack O’Hagan, Caolan McAvoy, Thomas Murnin, Declan Gribben, Rory McQuaid, Liam McAleavey, John Brown, Conal Brown, Liam McGreevy, Stephen McConville, Jamie Gribben, David Quinn, Mark Devlin, Patrick O’Hagan, Conor Murray, Shane Milligan, Niall O’Hare, Michael Grant, Patrick Gribben, Darragh McPolin.
This unusual game pairing resulted from Down and Carlow’s initiative for ‘twinning’ and this was the historic first game. Benny Coulter spoke to the visitors following the game and both teams and their mentors were entertained to a hot meal in Clonduff Clubrooms courtesy of the Down County Board. Both teams agreed it had been a very worthwhile experience and particularly as Clonduff won the first game on the pitch which augurs well for the future!
