Under 21 Championship – First Round 6th October 2007

Shane O’Neill’s 1-14 v Mullaghbawn 1-09

Under the management of Davy O'Brien, our U21s recorded a great win over Mullaghbawn in the championship on Saturday afternoon.

Mullaghbawn were the first team on the score-sheet when they pointed a free in the opening minutes. Neil Paul Lennon replied with a free for the Shanes before Peter O'Brien put the Shanes front with a fine left-footed point. The Shanes hit a bit of a purple patch with points from James Lennon, Sean Austin and Cathal Murphy putting them four points in front. The Shanes continued to build on their dominance and a brilliant goal from Cathal Murphy put them in total command. Peter O'Brien notched his second point of the game before Joe Goodwill in the Shanes nets produced a brilliant point-blank save to deny Mullaghbawn a certain goal. The Shanes took advantage of this let off and added a further two points, one from Micheál Brady and one from Cathal Murphy. Mullaghbawn rallied slightly before half-time and scored three unanswered points to leave the Shanes seven in front at the interval 1 - 8 to 0 - 4.

Mullaghbawn began the second-half where they left off in the first and scored another three points without reply to leave just four between them. Cathal Murphy steadied the Shanes ship slightly when managed to fist over his third point of the game. Neil Paul Lennon added another point for the Shanes before Joe Goodwill came to the rescue again with another great save in the Shanes goals. A great point from Anthony McParland put the Shanes seven in front again but Mullaghbawn reduced the deficit again with two quick points. Brendy Mackin replied with a great point for the Shanes before substitute Micheál McKeown tagged on another. Mullaghbawn got a point of their own towards the end but Neil Paul Lennon finished off the scoring with a pointed free to leave Shane O'Neills the winners on a score-line of 1 - 14 to 1 - 9.

Team: J.Goodwill, P.Doran, R.Austin, D.Boyle, S.Austin, C.Malone, K.McParland, B.Mackin, J.Lennon, M.Brady, A.McParland, P.O'Brien, NP.Lennon, P.Gregory, C.Murphy.

Subs: D.Fearon for C.Malone, L.Lennon for C.Murphy

Under 21 Championship – Second Round 13th October 2007

Shane O’Neill’s 3-06 v Madden 1-14

Our U21s bowed out of the championship on Saturday afternoon following a disappointing home defeat to Madden. From a neutrals point of view this was a great game of football to watch with both sides playing some great stuff.

In the first-half the Shanes were playing with the breeze at their backs but it was Madden who put the first point on the board. However a great point from Brendy Mackin levelled things up before a goal from full forward Paddy Gregory put the Shanes in front. Big Paddy reacted quickest when the ball came back off the post and he was on hand to drive it to the net. A further point point from Micheál Brady stretched the lead to five points before the Shanes suffered a massive setback when influential midfielder and play-maker Brendy Mackin limped off with a hamstring injury. Madden took full advantage of the Shanes misfortune and scored three unanswered points to leave them just one in arrears. The Shane regained the initiative when Cathal Murphy was on hand to finish off a great move by slotting the ball into the Madden net for his sides second goal of the game. This score inspired the Shanes and now more so than Neil Paul Lennon. Neil Paul struck over a magnificent pointed free before scoring a great goal following some great inter-change play between the entire forward line. Neil Paul was on hand again shortly after to pop over another point to leave the Shanes nine points to the good. However, just before half-time the Shanes defence switched off and they let Madden in for a goal and point to leave only five in it at the break, 3 - 4 to 1 - 5.

Despite playing into a stiff breeze in the second-half the Shanes got the first score when midfielder James Lennon powered forward before putting the ball over the bar. Madden pulled a point back before the Shanes keeper Joe Goodwill took off a brilliant save when the ball looked destined for the top corner of the net. With the wind at their backs Madden were now driving forward at every opportunity and they rattled over another six unanswered points to put them a point in front for the first time in the game. Another Neil Paul Lennon free tied the game up again and at that stage it looked odds on that the match would finish in a draw. However, with the game now in injury time Madden scored two quick fire points to leave the score 1-14 to 3-06 in favour of Madden.

Team: J.Goodwill, P.Doran, R.Austin, D.Boyle, S.Austin, D.Fearon, K.McParland, B.Mackin, J.Lennon, M.Brady, A.McParland, P.O'Brien, NP.Lennon, P.Gregory, C.Murphy.

Subs: C.Malone for B.Mackin, M.McKeown for C.Murphy, O.Boyle for NP.Lennon, B.Mackin for A.McParland, NP.Lennon for O.Boyle