Newport deliver class performance to down battling Boherlahan Dualla in county final

County U15A Football Championship Final

Newport 6-10

Boherlahan Dualla 1-5

By Mark Dunne 

A commanding and well-rounded display saw Newport dispatch Mid Champions Boherlahan Dualla to claim the County U15A Football trophy on Saturday evening last in Templederry.

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Playing with the aid of the elements in the opening half the North Champions were quick to take full advantage and did so in style. Two goals in the first five minutes from captain Ryan Bryne and Bobby O’Connor set the tone for the half. 

James Ryan who played his part in the opening goals kicked a fine point of his own. O’Connor was proving to be a handful for the Boherlahan defence and he kicked a free to put the score 2-2 to no score before the 10th minute.

Boherlahan Dualla playing into the stiff breeze needed to carry the ball and they did so through fine plays from Bobby McLoughlin, Harry Ryan and Dara Crosse. 

The discipline of the Newport defence though was sublime and Boherlahan failed to get the crucial score for their side. Newport kept the pressure on up top and a fine catch from O’Connor was rewarded when he found James Ryan who netted for his second. 

Boherlahan though to their credit kept plugging at that Newport defence but it stood strong. O’Connor tapped over a fine score before Boherlahan got the break they needed.

A fine run from McLoughlin saw him taken out inside the large parallelogram, up stepped Harrington who saw his initial shot well saved by Coffey but he was quickest to the rebound and scored. 

Newport didn’t let this goal phase them and kicked the next two scores, the first a free kick from Byrne which found its way to the Boherlahan Dualla net. O’Connor continued his good run of form with two more fine points before Ronan O’Mahony added his side's sixth point in the 26th minute. 

Boherlahan though did not give up and kicked two fine points before the break; Crosse finishing a well worked move before Luke Keane kicked his first free on the stroke of half time. 4-6 to 1-2

the scoreline read.

The Mid champions began the second half with a fine Dunnacha Harrington score to settle his side. Despite playing against the elements Newport’s physique was evident across the park and their ability to turn over the ball was a joy to watch. 

James Ryan teamed up with O’Connor who kicked their opening score of the second half before Boherlahan captain Harry Ryan chipped in with one of his own.

The second half didn’t see the flow of the first but both teams worked extremely hard both on and off the ball. Newport kicked the next two scores from O’Connor and Roche before Boherlahan were awarded their second spot kick of the encounter. 

McLoughlin stepped up but his shot went narrowly right and wide. Newport took control of the closing stages. O’Connor once again scored before captain Ryan Byrne capitalised on a loose ball and netted for his sides fifth.

Luke Keane got his side's fifth and final point of the game before Ryan Byrne finished off an excellent final with another goal. 

Boherlahan Dualla can be proud of their efforts. Despite coming up against a fine Newport side, they had good displays from Harry Ryan, Dara Crosse, Harrington and McLoughlin to name a few.

Newport though showed their power up front with O’Connor and Byrne immense from start to finish. Their defensive tackles were of a very high quality and set the tone for their victory.

Captain Ryan Byrne collected the trophy on behalf of his teammates from BNG Chairman PJ Bowden.

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Newport: Michael Coffey; James Egan, Noah Ryan Quinn, Jack Landers; Eoin O’Gorman, Tom McCabe, Jack Casey; Rhys Guiney, Ronan O’Mahony (0-1); Andrew Coffey, Darragh Healy, James Ryan (1-1); JJ Roche (0-1), Bobby O’Connor (1-5, 0-2f), Ryan Byrne (4-0). 

Subs used: Harry Molony for Jack Casey; Ben Maher for JJ Roche; Gavin Gaffney for Ryan Byrne; James Long for Noah Ryan Quinn; Jack Caplis for James Egan.

Boherlahan Dualla: Lawrence Óg Hickey; Jamie Maher, Niall Fitzgerald, Robert Mulcahy; Cian Fogarty, Albert Maher, Niall Quirke; Harry Ryan (0-1), Bobby McLoughin; Jake Gleeson, Dara Crosse (0-1), Dunnacha Harrington (1-1); Daniel Burke, Luke Keane (0-2f), Jack Maher. 

Subs used: Seimí O’Gorman for Jamie Maher; Charlie Maher for Jack Maher; Michael McCarthy for Daniel Burke.

Referee: John Butler (Upperchurch Drombane)