Geraldines u14 boys travelled to Ballynagasson on a sunny but windy Monday evening to play N.Fionnbarra.
it has been an uphill task for the boys playing a year up this season and they were further hindered by the unavailability of 6 players due to injury and other reasons while another two players played with the u15 team in Termonfeckin and Cillian Lynch played despite carrying an injury.
The Gers were delighted to welcome Ralph Tinsley to the squad to make his debut. Considering this was his first ever game of Gaelic Football Ralph looked very impressive and was unlucky not to score a goal in the 1st half.
The N.Fionnbarra lads started of strongly despite playing into the wind. The Gers boys won some great ball around the middle from good kick outs by keeper Evyn O'Callaghan who continually found midfielder David Clune in space but the team failed to capitalise by doing too much short hand passing rather than play quick ball into the forwards and take advantage of the wind. The second quarter saw a big improvement that was rewarded with a couple of well taken points that could easily have been goals. The work rate when not in possession was much improved and they matched the Finbars well thanks to the ball winning of Oliver Begley and tremedous tracking back and defensive play from David Clune in midfield while Suraj Akhal, Matthew Messin and Aaron Lynch gave their all in defence.
However the Finbar's lads took full advantage of the wind in the 2nd half, playing some scintillating, direct attacking football and took some fine scores. The Gers boys battled hard but couldn't match the superior physicality, fitness and scoring prowess of their opponents and were further hampered by the loss of David Clune and Ralph Tinsley through injury while Cillian Lynch and versatile Ryan McCutcheon battled on despite carrying injuries.
Despite the margin of defeat it was a credit to the boys that they never let their heads drop and there were some tremendous individual efforts in the last quarter from Shane Mullany, who made some magnificent catches in midfield and never stopped running and Eoghan O'Brien and Darragh Kenny who made tellling contributions.

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