Pearses 4-7 Headford 4-5. Our U14 footballers survived a great second-half fight-back from Headford to emerge two point winners in this Championship Quarter-FInal played at Gurteen yesterday evening. In the brilliant sunshine, Dylan Grady was the star of the show for Pearses, scoring four goals and saving a penalty at the other end!
Pearses were in complete control for the first half, going in at half-time 3-5 to 1-1 in front. A 1-4 to 0-1 had been amassed after 16 minutes. The goal from Dylan Grady, the points Cathal Kitt (2), Dean Reilly and Marc Hennelly. Then in the space of five minutes there were three goals, the Headford one sandwiched between two more Grady goals. The pick of them a andquot;soccer styleandquot; effort, as he dribbled the ball past the defender before slotting home.
Pearses started the second half well and extended the lead with an two points (Kitt and Oisin Flannery) and another Dylan Grady goal, from a tight angle 4-7 to 1-1. From then on it was all Headford, as almost pulled off a remarkable comeback. A 15th minute penalty save from Dylan Grady turned out to be crucial in the end, as Pearses hung on for a two point win.
In the past two weeks the lads have beaten football strongholds: Menlough, Caltra and now Headford and look forward to the Championship Semi-FInal (details TBC).
Pearses (13-a-side): Mossy Carr; Eoghan McCabe, Ronan Flannery; Jack Barrett, Stephen Doran, Darragh Healy; Shane Hynes, Dean Reilly (0-1); Geordan Kenny, Dylan Grady (4-0), Oisin Flannery (0-2); Cathal Kitt (0-3), Marc Hennelly (0-1).