*Oíche chrua do na buachaillí faoi 12*

The Gers U12 boys had a difficult encounter with a strong Dundalk Gaels side on a fine summers evening, in a match played 13 aside due to player availability.

The Dundalk lads registered the first 2 points as they started brightly. The Gers were unlucky not to reply with a goal as they first hit the woodwork and then had a shot well-saved by the Gaels keeper. A few minutes later, the goal-keeper was again called into action as he produced another fine save to keep the Gers at bay.

The Gaels responded with more points of their own before the Gers eventually did get the goal their play deserved through the ever-industrious Joe Lynch.

The Gaels again came up with some fine scores of their own, to leave the Gers lads trailing 1-1 to 1-8 at half time.

The Gers lads came out after break with renewed determination and Joe Lynch scored and wonderful point to register the first score of 2nd half. The Gaels again responded with 2 points to keep their noses in front.

Then following some great teamwork, Roan Norton finished off a well worked move with a goal to keep the Gers lads in touch.

Joe Lynch then added 2 further points to reduce the deficit to 4 points, as the Gers lads tried hard to claw themselves back. They had several more goal chances which on another night would have hit the net, but a combination of good goal-keeping and wasteful finishing meant they were denied.

The hosts finished the match strongly, and found the net 3 times in a final flurry to finish off the match in style to win with a score-line of 4-11 to 2-4.

The Gers had a significant amount of players missing due to a combination of holidays and injury. In addition, several of the lads had attended the Gers skills camp earlier in the day, and tiredness became a factor in the second half as the game went out of reach.

Nonetheless the lads kept competing and had some of the goal chances been converted the match would have taken on a different complexion.

Aaron o’Donoghue performed very well as usual with another commanding display, Rory Power had a fine game up front and was unlucky not to find himself on the score sheet. Cormac Corcoran and Sam Jeytoo each did a half in goals, and both did very well. In all it was a good effort by all the lads and on a different night could have been a different result.

GRMA to Dundalk Gaels for hosting 👍

Our u12 boys are kindly supported by Connect Credit Union, Blackrock

Geraldines-Where Everyone Plays 💚🤍