Historic Ulster title for Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair in U-14¹/₂ Gerry Brown Cup

Gallant 14-man Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair pulled off a superb and totally deserved victory to take the U-14¹/₂ Gerry Brown Cup in tough conditions at the Melvin Sports Complex, Strabane.

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair 4-4
St Aidan’s Cootehill 1-9

Three second half goals were crucial to their success for the team led by the lion-hearted Micheal McGee to take a rare Ulster title back to the Gaeltacht, with victory over St Aidan’s, Cootehill.

They lost lively wing-forward and goalscorer Sean Gallagher to a straight red card in the 42nd minute as they led 3-4 to 1-4.
His dismissal seemed to shake them for a period as Cootehill responded with some pointed frees from Finn Sherlock as the gap was narrowed to 3-4 to 1-8 with six minutes to go.

But midfielder Brian McFadden muscled his way through to hit a fine clinching left footed goal to seal a truly memorable victory for the Gaeltacht boys. It is even more remarkable when you consider they were playing into a strong breeze in that second half.

Matters did not get off to a promising start as referee Mickey McCarron got his times mixed up and the match did not throw-in until 12.50pm - almost an hour late.

However it did not dampen the good humour of the students, enjoying a welcome day off school, or their parents who stood in an east wind that could cut corn.

Cootehill were off like lightning with towering midfielder Aries Metlovas powering his way through the Gaoth Dobhair defence. He won a free and converted into a stiff breeze after just 15 seconds.

Gaoth Dobhair looked nervous in the opening minutes, before the bustling Brian McFadden levelled matters in the fifth minute.
Gaoth Dobhair corner forward Teaghan Coyle then showed that soccer skills are still very much alive in Gaoth Dobhair as he controlled the ball on the wing and struck a cracker to the net from an acute angle. That put Gaoth Dobhair into a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

But an impressive Cootheill hit back with a wonderful goal of their own from classy centre-forward Sherlock who found the net after weaving around a number of Gaoth Dobhair defenders.

This was Cootehill’s best patch, and they had further points from Sherlock and Metlovas. Gaoth Dobhair had loads of possession but hit eight first half wides, and it looked grim enough for them as their opponents led by 1-4 to 1-3 at the break with McFadden, Cathal Gallagher and Michael Sweeney on target for Gaoth Dobhair.

Cootehill switched Metlovas into full-forward for their wind assisted second half which was not a good tactic as Gallagher and McFadden took over at midfield and Gaoth Dobhair had 1-1 in the space of a few minutes after a great move that saw Cathal McGee round a great move with a rocket to the Cootehill net to give Tomas Gallagher’s side a great re-start.

And, it was the ultimately red-carded Sean Gallagher who struck for another soccer style goal when he blasted a loose ball to the roof of their opponents net in the 39th minute.

The Cavan side tagged on a number of pointed frees and there were only two points between the sides as the Donegal team led by 3-4 to 1-8 with huge pressure from the opposition.

But just when their nerves could take no more, up popped McFadden to hit a cracking goal and secure an historic victory.

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair: Frank Greene; Calum Ferriter, Alan Doherty, Jamie Gallagher; Patrick Pearse, Cathal McGee (1-0) Michael McGee; Cathal Gallagher (0-1) Brian McFadden (1-2,1f); Sean Gallagher (1-0) John Paul Gallagher, Joey Coll; Tarlach McBride, Teaghan Coyle (1-0) Michael Sweeney (0-1). Subs Tadhg Boyle for Tarlach McBride (53), Christopher McBride for Michael Sweeney (56)
St Aidan’s Cootehill: Max McKeon; Conal McGahon, Christian Patterson, Ciaran Clerkin; Calum O’Connor, Brady Roche, Mochara Lynch; James Elliott, Harry McMullen; Cian Flynn, Finn Sherlock (1-5, 1f), Shane McCabe; Damian Hughes, Aries Metlovas (0-3,1f) Conor Delaney (0-1).
Referee: Mickey McCarron (Tyrone)