U16 'B' football crown for Inane

Inane Rovers 1-09
Kildangan Gaels 1-05

by Sean Grimes in Ballingarry (NenaghGuardian)

Inane Rovers made the best of the wet conditions last Thursday night to claim the North U16 'B' football title.

Their handling of the slippery ball was superior and this led to them clinching a vital second half goal. Kildangan fought back hard after that and managed to manufacture a goal, but at that stage Inane had an unassailable lead.

Inane were first out of the blocks and they registered their first point after just twenty seconds, with Enda Moloney finding Tom Aherne with a long-range pass. Aherne took his point well, swiveling to avoid the attentions of the Kildangan defence.

Team captain Joe Moloney provided the other two Inane points, his first coming in the fourth minute when he fired in a powerful effort from the 45' which bounced off the crossbar. His second was no less impressive and it came in the 22nd minute.

The sides finished level at three points apiece at half time, with Paul McGrath and Ben Banaghan (2) providing the scores for Kildangan. Banaghan was Kildangan's brightest star in the opening period and he was first to try a shot on goal, in the sixth minute when he made a dashing run towards the goals, only to see his shot saved brilliantly by Craig Moloney.

He made amends in the 14th minute when he kicked a superb point; he popped up again 30th minute to score what would be the last point of the half.

Inane went on the attack early in the second half with Fergal Flanagan and substitute Val Feeney linking up well in front of goals. Credit must go to the Kildangan defence who held firm in that period and foiled Feeney's attempts on goal. In particular goalkeeper Andy Loughnane and backs Darren Moran, James Quigley and Barry Hogan were impressive.

This sturdy defending gave Kildangan a platform to attack at the other end and this yielded them two quick fire points from substitute Declan McGrath and Ballinahinch man Jason Ryan.
Kildangan lead 0-5 to 0-3 in the 38th minute and it took a further four minutes for Inane Rovers to register their opening score of the second half. That point came from the boot of Joe Moloney, it was a free and was one of only two successfully converted in the whole game, with the other also being kicked by the Inane captain. His first pointed free came as a result of Kildangan defender James Quigley illegally taking two bounces of the ball in front of goal.

That free signaled the beginning of a dominant spell for Inane and in a six minute period they scored 1-2 from play. Man of the match Fergal Flanagan kicked a goal and a point and Alan Tynan provided the other point.

Flanagan's goal came in the 45th minute, when his long-range shot lobbed the Kildangan net minder Andy Loughnane.

In a game where scores were fairly infrequent, that goal proved to be a buffer for Inane and in the end led to them clinching the title. Kildangan fought back hard in the dying stages and managed to create a goal of their own. This was booted in by Willie Connors, who profited from a high ball sent in by the excellent Ben Banaghan.

Kildangan efforts were in vain however, as Inane, lead by outstanding players like Joe Moloney, Fergal Flanagan, Alan Tynan, Enda Moloney and Simon Meagher, went on to finish the game the strongest. Two fine points from Joe Moloney (free) and Alan Tynan saw Inane win out in the end by four points.

Team: Andy Loughnane; James Quigley, Darren Moran, Barry Hogan; Dan O'Meara, Willie Connors, Pauric Hayes; Paul McGrath(0-1), Jason Ryan (0-1) (Ballinahinch); Jack Barry, David Gleeson (Capt-Ballinahinch), Ben Banaghan; Frank Flannery, Tommy Mulqueen, Kevin Foley. Subs: Declan McGrath for Foley (h/t) Eoin Meagher for Barry (48). Ross Healy, Bernard Ryan, Liam Lennon all subs from Ballinahinch also.