Treacy’s U14’s Make the Feile Shield Final

Sean Treacys 1:00 Armagh Cuchullains 4:05

On Saturday Sean Treacys Under 14 hurlers travelled with a large squad to Portadown to compete in the Armagh feile buoyed up by their recent good run in the league. Treacy’s seemed nervous in the opening encounter getting off to the worst possible start losing to a strong Cuchullains side.  Despite being on the losing side however young Peter Devlin was impressive and easily the best player on the pitch, though Darren McAlinden wasn’t far behind.  Another member of the McAlinden Hurling Dynasty came on as a substitute half way into the second half, and Conor had an immediate effect as he crashed the ball to the Armagh sides net with great double.  Despite dominating for long periods in the second half Sean Treacys were unable to penetrate a resolute Cuchullains defence.  Joe McAnerney, Cillian Nugent and Aiden McVeigh battled hard but couldn’t find a way through.  Brian Martin worked like a Trojan at midfield and Darragh McStravick played his heart out.  In the end Armagh ran out winners and Treacys needed to win their next two games to reach Shield final.

Sean Treacys 0:04 Derrynoose 0:01

Given Treacy’s walloping of Portadown in the league their second match against Derrynoose was always going to be crucial with the winners favourite to make the final.  Defeat for either team was not an option.

Sean Treacy’s took the game to the ’Noose from the off knowing that a win was imperative. They dominated the match with Ruairi McMahon causing havoc in Derrynoose’s defence, grabbing two points, one from play and one free.  Niall McCann in the half back line was outstanding clearing ball after ball, turning defence in to attack with magnificent long clearances. A great individual point from midfielder Brian Martin followed by a pointed free from team captain Darren McAlinden put some daylight between the two teams. 

Given the stakes the game was closely fought, but Treacy’s were well worth the victory however the overall winning margin flattered the losers who defended well particularly in a tense second period. Derrynoose pressed hard for an equalising goal, which would have been a travesty, but full back Michael Creally and goalkeeper Simon Doherty dealt easily with any threat. They were ably assisted by corner backs Thomas McKavanagh and Brendan Doran, evidenced by the fact that Treacys kept Derrynoose to a single point in the match.

Colm McCavigan, centre half forward, made some great catches to feed his two wing half forwards, Stephen Holloway and Mark Neeson who both had excellent games.  There was a real battle between Treacys full forward line and the Derrynoose full back line.  Treacy’s threatened on several occasions to ripple the net but the ‘Noose held out and Treacys deservedly won by 0-4 to 0-1.

 Sean Treacys 3:07 Portadown 2:02

Treacy’s took on local rivals St Malachy’s Portadown knowing that victory would see them in the shield final.   An injury to influential midfielder Peter Devlin in the Derrynoose game meant a quick reshuffle but injured or not, he wasn’t for missing this match and he began the game at full forward. 

Given their emphatic victory in the league over the same opposition Sean Treacys began in confident form, dominating from the throw in. Ruairi McMahon and Colm McCavigan gave the Lurgan lads the lead with points apiece. This stung St Malachy’s in to action, and only for an exceptional save by Simon Doherty followed by a swift clearance from Niall McCann; they would have taken the lead.  Portadown got the next two points to level the game and then scored a goal to give them the advantage.  The goal brought a loud cheer from the local supporters.  James Nelson went close to a goal for Treacys but the young Portadown goalkeeper pulled off a magnificent save.  Just before the break Niall McCann and Ruairi McMahon pointed to leave the half time scores Sean Treacys 0:4 Portadown 1:2.

Manager Aidan Doran’s half time talk must have been inspirational, as the second half performance from Treacy’s was nothing short of magnificent.  Determined to silence the partisan crowd Ruairi McMahon pointed to equalise.  A free on the 40, gave Darren McAlinden the chance to give Treacys a one point lead, but Darren had other ideas and drove the ball into the back of the Portadown net through a forest of defenders.  In defence Niall McCann was outstanding and his powerful, athletic runs helped pin Portadown in their own half.  Half way through the second half and Peter Devlin found the back of the net with a clever, instinctive first time pull.  Darren McAlinden added to his tally by firing over a point off his left hand side from 40 yards.  Brian Martin, covered every blade of grass on the pitch, and was duly rewarded with a well taken goal.  Stephen Holloway capped a solid performance with a point from play.  Portadown got a consolation goal in the second half but as in the league Treacys were too strong and fully deserved their victory.  In the heat and sunshine Treacy’s had given everything and the final whistle brought welcome relief as well as a sweet victory. Next up is the Feile Shield final next week against a good Keady team smarting from a loss to Middletown in the other section.  Aidan Doran and his management team can be justifiably proud of this achievement, the hours of work on Saturdays is paying off. It was great too, to see such a large contingent of parents supporting the lads.

Sean Treacys squad (Total score in brackets)

Simon Doherty, Thomas McKavanagh, Michael Creally, Brendan Doran, Matthew Leathem, Darren McAlinden (1-2), Niall McCann (0-1), Peter Devlin (1-0), Brian Martin (1-1), Joe McAnerney, Colm McCavigan (0-1) Ruairi McMahon (0-5), James Nelson, Stephen Holloway (0-1), Aiden McVeigh, Darragh McStravick, Mark Neeson, Conor McAlinden (1-0), Cillian Nugent, Daniel Magee, Niall Lavery.