Six of the best from Darren!
Cumann na mBunscol Westmeath Div 6 football final: Dysart NS 10-11, Moyvore NS 5-6
A goalscoring masterclass from Darren Corcoran ensured that Dysart NS enjoyed a comfortable win over a capable Moyvore NS side, in a high-scoring Division 6 football final at TEG Cusack Park on Tuesday evening.
Between Corcoran (6-3), his teammate Aaron Wallace (2-6) and Moyvore’s captains Robbie Byrne (3-3) and Kyle Creagh (1-2), this seven-a-side final was a real showcase of future talent, and hit a standard well beyond Division 6.
From the off, Byrne showed great skill to kick Moyvore into the lead, and it looked as if he was about to stamp his authority on proceedings before Dysart showed just what they were capable of as a team, attacking in waves.
By the tenth minute, the school wearing red and black were up 3-3 to 0-1 thanks to goals from Corcoran (2-0) and Adam O’Connor, with captain James O’Connor also among the scores. The pick of these came from Corcoran on five minutes; the ball appeared to get away from him, but he showed great skill to wrap his foot around it and find the net.
‘Gaelic gegenpressing’ would be the best description of Dysart’s style, as they relentlessly chased down the ball anytime they lost it and pressed into attack. In the second quarter however, Moyvore hit back when Robbie Byrne smashed a free to the net through a wall of defenders, and Kyle Creagh pointed superbly from long range.
However, Dysart kicked an unanswered 2-2 to lead 5-6 to 1-2 at the break, with goals coming from Corcoran and Aaron Wallace – the latter after a superb sidestep and finish.
Shortly after the restart, Moyvore’s Creagh netted in style after seizing on a kickout, but again Dysart went on a scoring run, this time firing 3-3 before Moyvore could respond. Again, Wallace (1-2) and Corcoran (2-1) were the scorers, with Corcoran’s fourth goal on 26 minutes coming after a magnificent ball from Cormac Tuite. Dysart now led 8-9 to 2-2.
To their credit, Moyvore never dropped the heads. Joseph Maguire responded with a goal from long range, and Kyle Creagh pointed before teeing up Robbie Byrne for a spectacular shot and goal reminiscent of Martin Flanagan in his heyday.
In the 34th minute however, classy Corcoran popped up with another goal, his sixth in total, to restate Dysart’s supremacy. And although Byrne and Jake McKnight had some fine late scores for the runners-up – including another spectacular goal from the former – Dysart had the last say when Adam O’Connor netted from close range, after Corcoran’s shot rebounded off the crossbar.
At full-time, Derek Butler, chairman of Cumann na mBunscol Iarmhí, presented the shield to Dysart NS captain, James O’Connor.
Scorers – Dysart NS: D Corcoran 6-3 (0-2f), A Wallace 2-6, A O’Connor 2-0, J O’Connor 0-2. Moyvore NS: R Byrne 3-3 (1-0f), K Creagh 1-2, J Maguire 1-0, J McKnight 0-1.
Dysart NS panel: Shane Austin, Cormac Tuite, Fergus Tuite, James O’Connor (capt.), Darren Corcoran, Lauren O’Connor, James Garvey, Leja Milisauskaite, Eimear Jackson, Aaron Wallace, Elizabeth Moore, Adas Milisauskas, Adam O’Connor, Eamon Moore, Michelle Wallace, Eliza Looram.
Moyvore NS panel: Jamie Murtagh, Holly Moran, Joseph Maguire, Kyle Creagh (joint capt.), Robbie Byrne (joint capt.), Rachel Finn, Liam Mahon, Ryan McCaughey, Orla Stephenson, Jake McKnight, Caoimhe McCaughey, Daisy Whelan, Nicole Mulvaney, Megan Mulvaney, Luke Finn, Emma Maguire, Keira Burke Walsh, Seán Whelan, Andrea Reid.
Ref: Damien Maher (Ballynacargy).
Player of the match: Darren Corcoran (Dysart NS).