Round-Up: Go-Ahead Ireland U21 Football Finals

Skerries Harps were crowned Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Under 21 ‘B’ Football Championship winners as they overcame St Patrick’s Donabate by 1-14 to 1-13 at Robbie Farrell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Despite the poor weather conditions, the teams served up a cracking encounter with the visitors doing just enough to get over the line courtesy of Paddy Copeland’s two-pointed free in the 58th minute. 

It was Harps that seized the early initiative through two points apiece from play by the influential Greg McEneaney and Conor O’Reilly. 

McEneaney added to his personal tally as the contest evolved while an excellent two-pointed score from Cillian Emmett edged Skerries into an 0-8 to 0-5 lead towards the end of the first-half.  

The away lead was doubled in the 26th minute as Finn McGinnis cut through the St Pat’s defence for a well-taken goal but the hosts responded impressively to this body blow by kicking four points on the bounce, including a two-pointer from Clyde Burke, to trail by just two points at the interval. 

Burke (0-4) and Conor Moore (0-5) were hugely influential as St Pat’s clawed their way back into contention and they gained an added advantage as O’Reilly was dismissed in the third quarter for an ill-advised challenge. 

Adam Conroy, Brian Stenson, Sean Turner and Tadhg McDonald all chipped in with points for the hosts before JJ Davison punched home to the net to edge his side in front. 

However, there was one final twist as Copeland converted his second two-pointed free of the half to kick the decisive score of the absorbing clash while McEneaney highlighted his influence with four points from play.  

In Lawless Park, Fingallians dominated for the large part as they overcame St Maur’s by 0-16 to 1-4 in their Under 21 ‘D’ decider. 

The hosts had no less than ten scorers contribute to their winning tally with goalkeeper Cameron Clarke setting the tone with a two-pointed free in the opening minute. 

Fins continued to control matters through the defensive excellence of centre-back Finnin Brady and Josh Murray at wing-back with both players joining the attack to telling effect as they shared three points over the hour. 

Stephen Hickey was another to shine for Fins with his aerial ability at midfield as the hosts began to pull away thanks to scores by Dan King, Gavin Hickey, Conor Behan, Stephen Hickey, Cillian Brennan, Alex Flynn and Cormac Dromgoole. 

While St Maur’s had to concede second best on the day, the efforts of Josh Larkin in their full-back line caught the eye but his performance and scores by Karl Flynn (1-0), Matthew McHale, Dan Redmond and Shane Devane proved in vain by the final whistle.    

U21 ‘B’ FC Final: St Patrick’s Donabate 1-13 Skerries Harps 1-14. 

U21 ‘C’ FC semi-final: Raheny 1-10 Clontarf 0-10. 

U21 ‘D’ FC Final: Fingallians 0-16 St Maur’s 1-4.