https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/dublin-gaa/templeogue-synge-street-footballers-seal-u-15-boys-division-2-title-on-a-dramatic-final-day-of-season-42143319.html
Templeogue Synge Street footballers seal U-15 boys’ Division 2 title on a dramatic final day of season
Darragh Friel to the fore with 3-4 for Synger against Ballinteer St John’s
The Templeogue Synge Street U-15 boys' team. November 14 2022 03:21 PM
The under-15 boys’ team of Templeogue Synge Street signed off their 2022 season in style, claiming the Division 2 title due to a dramatic turn of events.
Going into the final round of fixtures, Synger were battling it out with St Pat’s Donabate for top honours. Pat’s, who had beaten Synge Street earlier in the season, hosted Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh while Ballinteer St John’s made their way to Dolphin Park.
Ballinteer had a stake in the game as a loss would doom them to Division 3. The match began as a tight affair, with each side matching the other for scores. News then filtered through to the sideline from Donabate that Plunkett’s had won by a point, thanks to a last-gasp goal. All Synger had to do now was win – their destiny was in their hands.
As the half wore on, Templeogue turned the screw, with an exceptional Darragh Friel bagging two goals to leave Synger with a healthy half-time lead of 2-6 to 0-4.
Templeogue Synge Street captain Colm McCabe celebrates with his teammates. Photo: Gillian Donnelly
Templeogue Synge Street captain Colm McCabe celebrates with his teammates. Photo: Gillian Donnelly
Templeogue Synge Street captain Colm McCabe celebrates with his teammates, lifting a trophy. Photo: Gillian Donnelly
Templeogue Synge Street captain Colm McCabe celebrates with his teammates, lifting a trophy. Photo: Gillian Donnelly
Templeogue enjoyed an easier second half despite a physical contest, with great movement from a half-forward line that included Kerrin King, Brandon Carolan and Conleth Fitzpatrick. Friel added a third goal near the end to copper-fasten the result and leave him with a scoring total of 3-4 for the contest. He didn’t do it all by himself, as he was aided massively by Cal Denvir’s attacking ability.
The defence shut up shop, with Seán O’Brien, Conor Kelly and Hugh Byrne snuffing out Ballinteer attacks, reading the game well and ever-watchful for any potential threat. Searing runs by half-back Eoghan Brennan led to many attacks being launched on the Ballinteer goal as captain Colm McCabe marshalled his side well.
One of the Synger subs, Harry O’Donovan, had only landed back in Dublin airport an hour before the game after a trip to France but made sure he was on hand to give his teammates a dig-out in midfield. In goal, James Wallace was solid and had to make a couple of telling interventions to prevent BSJ from grabbing a goal or two.
The final score, 3-11 to 0-8, was a fair reflection of the clash and Synger will now go up to Division 1 with Plunkett’s.
