Shandonagh fend off Black and Ambers to take U16 title

Shandonagh 1-12 The Downs 3-5

The Westmeath U16 Division 1 football championship final on Thursday evening in Kinnegad will be remembered as much for the atrocious weather conditions as for the quality of football on display.

Played at a rain-soaked pitch, with driving wind and slippery underfoot conditions, one could question whether the game should have gone ahead. Nonetheless, the young footballers from Shandonagh and The Downs produced a gripping contest, with Shandonagh prevailing by a single point in the dying moments.

A dominant spell in the first half when playing into the face of the driving wind and rain laid the platform for this impressive Shandonagh win as they produced an unanswered 0-4 to take command and they led by five points at the break.

The Black and Ambers trailed by seven points after 37 minutes but showed remarkable resolve to get back on level terms courtesy of goals from Aidan Doyle and Padraig Monaghan, but Shandonagh claimed victory at the death when the outstanding Will Scahill scored the match-winning point after a superb solo run.

MASTERY

The Downs, with the wind at their backs in the first half, got off to a flying start. However, it was Shandonagh who opened the scoring just two minutes in, as Stephen McWade fired over a point to put his side ahead.

The Downs quickly responded in the fourth minute when Josh Murtagh capitalised on a fumble by Shandonagh goalkeeper Jake Dempsey, finishing to the net after Aaron Connaire’s initial effort had been spilled.

The Blues responded well, and in the 10th minute, Seán Graham kicked a magnificent point into the wind after some fine link-up play with Dillon Burke and Ethan Heitmuller. The Downs extended their lead with a free from Connaire in the 12th minute, but Shandonagh's Will Scahill brought his side level with a perfectly judged free from distance on 14 minutes, demonstrating his mastery of kicking in the difficult conditions. It’s a skill that is sadly missing from the modern game.

The game's first major turning point came in the 23rd minute when Will Scahill intercepted an attempted hand-passing move as The Downs attempted to work a short kick-out (ill-advised in the dreadful conditions) and clinically buried the ball into the bottom corner, giving Shandonagh a 1-3 to 1-1 lead. A late flurry from Shandonagh, including points from Matthew Webb, Fionn Carey, and a fisted effort from Josh Scahill, pushed their lead to five by half-time, 1-7 to 1-2.

PRESSING

The Downs started the second half brightly and had a glorious goal chance just three minutes in, but Jake Dempsey redeemed himself with a crucial save, denying Aaron Connaire from close-range.

Shandonagh’s Josh Scahill added to their tally with a point on 35 minutes after a fine delivery from Will Scahill, and Stephen McWade followed with a stunning left-footed point, pushing Shandonagh’s lead to seven points, 1-9 to 1-2.

The Downs, however, refused to lie down. Connaire kicked a fine point on 38 minutes, and moments later, Aidan Doyle burst through the Shandonagh defence and found the net, reducing the deficit to three.

The Downs sensed a comeback and kept pressing, with Connaire adding another free, making it 1-9 to 2-3 by the 47th minute.

Shandonagh responded through McWade's free on 48 minutes, but The Downs kept their momentum, with Padraig Monaghan scoring after a neat pass from Connaire. The Downs weren’t finished yet, and in the 59th minute, Connaire launched a high diagonal ball into the danger zone, where Monaghan timed his run perfectly to flick the ball into the net. Suddenly, it was all square at 1-11 to 3-5.

With tension mounting and both sides searching for a winner, it was Shandonagh’s Will Scahill who emerged as the hero. In the second minute of added time, Scahill won possession, drove forward, and coolly slotted over the decisive point, sealing a hard-fought victory for his side.

In the end, Shandonagh’s ability to manage the difficult conditions, along with Scahill’s leadership, proved decisive. The Downs will rue their missed opportunities, particularly in the first half when playing with the wind, but they can take heart from their fighting spirit and resilience in what was a memorable final. Referee Barry Pierce deserves credit for handling the game well in dreadful conditions.

Shandonagh’s victory is a significant milestone for the club, underlining the progress of their talented underage players, while The Downs remain a strong force, continuing to produce excellent footballers.

Scorers - Shandonagh: W Scahill 1-3 (0-1f), S McWade 0-4 (2f), J Scahill 0-2, S Graham, M Webb and F Carey 0-1 each. The Downs: A Connaire 0-5 (4f), J Murtagh, A Doyle and P Monaghan 1-0 each.

Shandonagh: Jake Dempsey; Liam Bardon, Tomás Brennan, David Reilly; Jake O’Brien, Tom O’Brien, Ethan Heitmuller; Fionn Carey, Michael Fry; Matthew Webb, Will Scahill, Seán Graham; Stephen McWade, Dillon Burke, Josh Scahill.

The Downs: Lee Colgan; Darragh Vickery, Fionn Kelly, Dylan Ledwith; Ciaran Casserly, Conor Joyce, Oisín McGrath; Finn Brennan, Padraig Monaghan; Odhrán Colgan, Eoghan Daly, Aidan Doyle; Josh Murtagh, Aaron Connaire, Conor Cleary. Sub: Ben Loughlin for Brennan (25 mins).

Referee: Barry Pierce (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge).