Kerrigan hat-trick key to impressive Cill Óige victory

Cill Óige 3-16, Delvin/St Paul's 0-3

The success of the Cill Óige amalgamation involving Rosemount and Castledaly was further underlined as they claimed the Westmeath U20 Football Division 3 title in dominant fashion at Dovida Lakepoint Park on Saturday.

Played on the 3G all-weather facility, it was a one-sided affair, the slick movement and superior skillset of players on the Cill Óige side the most dominant features of the match. At half-time, Cill Óige led by 2-11 to 0-1 and, while they played against the slight breeze in the second half, they remained firmly in control. Shaun Kerrigan bagged two first-half goals and completed a hat-trick when he booted home a low shot in the 48th minute.

On a wintry afternoon, Cill Óige took the lead after 30 seconds when Shaun Kerrigan got the opening point, setting the tone for what was to follow. Andrew Geoghegan surged forward from centre-back to set up Kerrigan for his second point and they almost had a goal when midfielder Jacob Bourke fisted the ball invitingly across the face of goal but Evan Daly failed to connect.

The pressure continued and wing-forward David Loddick slotted over their third of the day after three minutes.

Bourke was excellent and played a pivotal role in the game’s opening goal after six minutes. It came from a Kerrigan penalty, finished low to the opposing keeper’s right. Bourke, Kerrigan and Jamie Daly all combined in the build-up leading to the foul on Daly which presented the opportunity.

Kevin Boland, Bourke’s midfield comrade, set up Geoghegan for a point a minute later and Cill Óige kept the pressure on Delvin/St Paul’s as Geoghegan claimed the restart. It led to an opening for Mark Loddick, but the finish was marginally wide via the upright.

Neat, accurate interplay led to David Loddick adding a point in the 11th minute, giving his side an eight-point lead. Delvin/St Paul’s responded with a nice move in which Aaron O’Brien and Rory Carolan were prominent before midfielder Caylyb Douglas shot over. However, it was not the precursor to brighter times for the north Westmeath combination.

Geoghegan shot a fine point in reply for Cill Óige and after 21 minutes, Mark Loddick earned a free which he converted over the bar, his dipping shot clipping the crossbar. A superbly executed two-pointer free followed from David Loddick.

On 24 minutes, Cill Óige got their second major: Mark Loddick’s free came off the upright and down to the alert Evan Daly, whose clever touch set up Kerrigan for the finish. Bourke followed up with a superb two-pointer from play and the gap was 16 points at the interval.

Just 15 seconds after the restart came Cill Óige’s next score – a point from midfielder Bourke, who attacked the heart of the opposing defence and shot over.

Delvin/St Paul’s almost had a two-pointer in reply, but Callum Briody was marginally off-target.

A wonderful kick by Briody did earn two points in the seventh minute, his free from outside the 40-metre arc finding the target in superb fashion.

However, it merely served as a cue for Cill Óige to refocus again and they proceeded to take complete control, especially around the middle third.

Goalkeeper Conor Muldoon had to be alert to save Kevin Boland’s drive after 12 minutes. The pressure on the Delvin/St Paul’s defence told in the 18th minute when an opportunity presented itself for Kerrigan, who booted the ball low to the net for his third goal of the final.

Cill Óige were now firmly on course, their positive attacking mindset rewarded with a pointed free from Bourke from a tricky angle.

Delvin/St Paul’s almost grabbed a goal when Callum Briody found Luke Coll, whose shot was dipping towards the top-right corner, but Seán Nally got a slight touch to divert the ball out for a ’45’ which led to nought. That summed up their day.

Geoghegan’s forward punt from a free led to Mark Loddick teeing up Kerrigan again in the 25th minute of the half, but this time his shot struck the crossbar and the ball was eventually scrambled clear.

Bourke then set off on a typically powerful run through the centre and pointed with the left boot. It seemed like a goal was written all over the opportunity.

A pointed free from Mark Loddick followed. In the final act, Geoghegan, Bourke and David Loddick all combined for Loddick to complete a fine afternoon’s work for a well-drilled Cill Óige outfit.

Afterwards, Westmeath County Committee chairman, Frank Mescall, presented the trophy to the winning captains Andrew Geoghegan and Shaun Kerrigan.

Scorers – Cill Óige: S Kerrigan 3-3 (1-0 pen.); D Loddick 0-5 (1 tpf); J Bourke 0-4 (1 tp); M Loddick 0-2 (2f); A Geoghegan 0-2.

Delvin/St Paul’s: C Briody 0-2 (2 ptf); C Douglas 0-1.

Cill Óige: Seán Nally; Eoin Carroll, Eanna Maxwell, Dylan Magee; Killian Heavin, Andrew Geoghegan, Benjamin Murray; Jacob Bourke, Kevin Boland; Greg Keaveney, Mark Loddick, David Loddick; Jamie Daly, Shaun Kerrigan, Evan Daly. Subs: Eoin Higgins for E Daly (32), Michael Bermingham for Magee (37), D Magee for Murray (46), E Daly for J Daly (53).

Delvin/St Paul’s: Conor Muldoon; Setanta Gavigan, Shane Henry, Marcus Delaney; Cathal Darby, Seán Hoctor, Eanna Kiernan; Callum Briody, Caylyb Douglas; Ethan Coll, Rory Carolan, Rylan Briody; Luke Coll, Aaron O’Brien, Luke Delaney. Subs: Dillon Ryan and Dillon Mooney for L Delaney and R Briody (40).

Referee: Michael Moran.