Boyerstown win a final thriller

The pupils from Boyerstown got the Meath Primary Schools" finals off to an exciting start when they edged out a gallant Rathfeigh side in the Boys" Div 4 decider at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday morning. Look out for the name of Ronan Casserly as a potential star of the future. He finished with 1-3 to his credit, but that"s only part of the story as he tormented a beleaguered Rathfeigh rearguard for the entire 50 minutes. And also look out for the name of Rathfeigh goalkeeper Oisin Gryson as he highlighted a sparkling performance with some spectacular saves. The early start didn"t pose any problems for either team as the action unfolded at a lightning pace. Boyerstown were in the ascendancy for the opening 10 minutes and had 1-3 on the scoreboard as they threatened to over-run Rathfeigh, but they didn"t score again until seven minutes into the second-half. Rathfeigh recovered from that early blitz and were ahead by 3-1 to 1-3 at the interval, but those statistics fail to adequately describe the excitement which the boys and girls from both teams produced. They were accorded a huge ovation at the end of the ecounter and it was totally deserved. The only disappointment was that there had to be a loser. Some excellent scores, fantastic goalkeeping as Boyerstown"s Conor Shaffrey showed he was no slouch either and a verdict which was in the balance until virtually the last seconds. There was even a disallowed 'goal" with a minute remaining as Rathfeigh were denied what would have been a dramatic victory. The decision of referee Nollaig O"Neill-Forde wasn"t even questioned and the St Dymphna"s, Kildalkey official contributed handsomely to the excitement which produced a real thriller. Casserly opened and closed the scoring for Boyerstown in the first and last minute of each half and also created the goal chance Darren Kavanagh which helped his side into that early lead. Rathfeigh bounced back with a three-goal blitz from Barry Clarke (two) and John Morley for that four-point interval cushion. Casserly ignited a Boyerstown revival with an amazing goal seven minutes after the resumption and when Christian Byrne made the opening for a second Kavanagh goal with five minutes remaining it gave Boyerstown a 3-4 to 3-3 margin. The sides traded a brace of pointsfor the remainder and there was also that disallowed 'goal" as the tempo was maintained until the final whistle. St Joseph"s, Boyerstown - Conor Shaffrey; Darren Reilly, Gabriel Clynch; Jade Fitzsimons, Cillian Leonard, Lee Hennessy; Gary Byrne (0-1), Christian Lawless (0-1); Christian Byrne (0-1), Robert McCabe, Darren Kavanagh (2-0); Ronan Casserly (1-3), Conor O"Brien. Subs - Olivia O"Mahony, Loman Sherlock, Mickey Brennan, Luke O"Reilly, Conor Rattigan, Thomas Wimsey, Brian Monaghan, Darren O"Reilly, Paddy Smyth, Caoimhe Clynch, Alex Fitzsimons, Jack Harte, Tadhg Ratty, Eoin Kavanagh, Dylan Burne, Shane Doherty, Anthony Kavanagh, Brian Byrne, David Leonard, Adam McEvoy. Trainer - Cathal O Bric Scoil Mhuire Naofa, Rathfeigh - Oisin Gryson; Colm Craigie, Michael Long; Cathal Murphy, Enda Byrne, Adam Wade; John Morley (1-4), Caitrona Keogan; James Steward, Barry Clarke (2-0), Jack O"Donnell; Andrew Moore, Tom Forde. Subs - Conor Clarke, Lorcan Bowens, Shane Kelly, Michael Carolan. Trainer - Gerry Barrett.