Maiden squad deliver for East Glendalough in Wicklow Schools Junior ‘B’ football final

Temple Carrig 4-6

East Glendalough School and Temple Carrig went toe to toe in the Wicklow Schools Junior ‘B’ Cup football final.

These two sides met in a hotly contested group game that East Glendalough won by a point and this game was no different.

Temple Carrig raced into a goal lead after 30 seconds and looked strong throughout the first half with it taking everything East Glendalough had to stay within four points at half-time.

Temple Carrig extended their lead to six early in the second half, East Glendalough replied with two pointed frees from Luke Purser to keep in touch.

A goal from David Johnston would get East Glendalough back to within one but Temple Carrig responded immediately with a goal of their own.

With the the referee stating there were 14 minutes left, the East Glendalough players, led by captain Ben Keegan-Cullinane, could be heard telling each other they had time.

David Johnston scored his third goal of the game to drag the Wicklow town students back within one.

Temple Carrig found a point to take their advantage back to two. With mere minutes remaining Nathan Donohoe struck to take EGS ahead by one for the first time in the game.

Heroics from East Glendalough goalkeeper Jack Collins and full-back William Valentine kept Garry King’s side ahead and Ted Hasler then sealed it with three minutes to go with another goal to secure a four-point win in what was a pulsating game.

This is East Glendalough’s first ever Junior boys team in what is only the school’s third year of GAA in the school. It is a huge milestone in their development.

Final score: 5-4 to 4-6. Player of the match: William Valentine.

East Glendalough: Jack Collins, Louis Ladouari, William Valentine, Tom Cox, Sam Goodbody, Aaron Meredith, William Roberts, Ben Keegan-Cullinane, Luke Purser, Joe Cooney, Adam Keene, Jason Johnson-Moore, Nathan Donohoe, David Johnston, Ted Hasler. Subs: Harry Elmes Kinlan, Aaron Keegan-Cullinane, Ferdia Lord, Ethan Whitney, Wolsey Sloan-Kelly, Alex Miley.

Temple Carrig: Charlie Day; Aaron Archer, Frank Lang, Evan Leahy; Fionn Brennan, Fionn Dutton, Daniel Cunningham; Thomas Corbett, Conor Keogh; Sam Kelly, Nathan Corrigan, Declan Shanahan; Alex Shortt, Danny Howard, Louis Atkins. Subs: Ronan Cavanagh, Finn Maguire, Josh Farrell, Sean Howard, Luke Rowlette, Ethan Murphy, Christiaan Whelan, Matt Smullen.

Referee: Eddie Leonard (St. Patrick’s)