U14 B Championship Final (Sat 6th Oct in Clonkill (Ref J. Baker) :

Our U14s lost our to a physically stronger and better balanced Fr Daltons team in the B Final played in Clonkill on Saturday 6th October. Pollard were always going to be up against it as the influential Anthony Fagan was suspended, and were fielding several 10 and 11 year olds and with Dara Reilly playing with a heavily strapped knee, they then lost Adam Kelleghan to injury within the first 15 minutes.  Right from the start the Pollard goal was under attack and a good save from Michael Carroll averted the danger. However, some 4 minutes later with Adam Kelleghan down injured Fr Daltons struck for a goal and followed up with 2 quick points. Shane Gilchrist got Pollards first score, a pointed free, which was then followed by a Pollard Goal from powerfull fullforward Jamie Glennon who burst thru the Fr Daltons defence to rifle the sliotar to the Fr Dalton’s net.   Fr Daltons hit back scoring 5 points,(1pt free). Cathal O’Brien replaced Adam Kelleghan(inj 15mins) and immediately  got on the score board with a well taken point.  The hard working Dara O’Reilly was fouled and Shane Gilchrist converted the free.  Fr Daltons scored a further 1-01 before half time with substitute Cathal O’Brien helping himself to another point for Pollard from play.  With the first half  time almost up some great defending by Barry Dowdall averted a certain goal. The haltime score was Fr Daltons 2 – 08 Pollard 1 – 04.    Fr. Dalton opened the scoring in the 2nd half with a pointed free and then after Jamie Glennon was fouled as he headed for goal, Shane Gilchrist blasted the resultant penalty to the net.  This was followed by a Fr Daltons point from play, but some minutes later Patrick Fagan had the Pollard supporters cheering again as he scored another Goal after some great defensive play particularly from Dara O’Reilly, and Ben Gibbons.  Cian Smith and Jake Mulvanney replaced Charlie McCormack and Aidan Daly on the Pollard team.  Pollards mini revival was short lived however as Fr Daltons steped up a gear and scored a further unanswered  1-05 (3pts from frees) With time almost up Shane Gilchrist had a 21yd free saved and Fr Daltons end the game with a further point from play to run out deserving winners on the day on a scoreline of 3-16 to 3-4.   The Pollard lads battled hard and can be proud of their performance, especially the younger lads who, at 10 and 11yrs of age stood up to the bigger and stronger Fr Daltons boys.

Team:- M. Carroll, B. Dowdall, E. Fagan, B. Gibbons, M. Leahy, P. Fagan, C. McCormack, S. Gilchrist, A. Kellaghan, A. Daly, D. O’Reilly, D. Gibbons, D. Devine, J. Glennon, N. Keating.    Subs:- C. O’Brien(A Kelleghan inj 15min) , J. Mulvanney(C.McCormack 24mins), C. Smith & L. Roddy(A Daly & N.Keating 21mins).