Rooney’s rally crucial as St Joseph’s take home Shield
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Ashbourne Educate Together NS’s Jake Arthur escapes the challenge of St Joseph’s Muzamil Khan dueing the Boys Div Shield final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net David MullenImage 2 of 5
St Josephs’ NS, Navan players (from left) were: back - Best Kolade Monsuru, Daniel Cregan, Hossam Taha, Aimilios Botonis, Tyler Doyle, Muzamil Khan, Roberto Moisa, Denis Lacatus, Jack Saul, Isaac Murray, Harry Rooney, Florin Antonio Danila; front - Bobby Boland, Patrick McDonnell, Bobby Bonner, Kielan Farrell, Harry Russell, Callum Geraghty, Bobby Saul, David Nevin, Alex Miles, Nayan Singh. David MullenImage 3 of 5
The Ashbourne Educate Together NS players (from left) were: back - Edvinas Paulauskas, Lucas Pinto, Nathan Kibartas, Daniel Skinner, Matei Simon, Jaxson Murphy, Hamza Abaiy, Nicolas Jefimovs, Nathan Linanne; middle - Philip Ilea Sabo, Ignacy Wieteska, Khaleb Phoenix Prior, Kealaln Kearns, Ralfs Ukis, Jacob Kuziski, Ridhvik Rahulan, Zion Williams, Mohamed Abaiy; front - Dan Cebotari, Nickolas Valanciauskas, Kevin Roca, Amine Bounouane, Eoghan Quail, Zach Tarsilli, Jake Arthur, Evan Rowan, Ollie Cieslak. David MullenImage 4 of 5
St Joseph’s Harry Rooney receives the Spirit of the Final award from Meath Chronicle sports editor Fergal Lynch. David MullenImage 5 of 5
James Brennan presents the Boys Div Shield to St Joseph’s NS Navan captain Bobby Bonner. David MullenBOYS Div 2/3 SHIELD FINAL
St Joseph's Navan produced a rousing second-half recovery to stun Ashbourne Educate Together 3-4 to 1-3 and claim the Boys Div 2/3 shield in their first ever final appearance at Pairc Talteann on Sunday.
Even though the first-half was two minutes shorter than it should have been it was still a low scoring affair with Ashbourne's livlier midfield ensuring they had the edge at the break.
The Educate Together school opened the scoring after three minutes when Eoghan Quail converted a free, but two minutes later the bigger Navan support had something to cheer when Bobby Bonner won a kick out and fired over the equaliser.
Another eight minutes of stalemate elapsed before Ashbourne retook the lead. Ignacy Wieteska took a gamble on a shot from distance and he was rewarded with a goal when his speculative effort fell to the net.
Less than two minutes later Quail extended that lead to 1-2 to 0-1 with another free after Evan Rowan was fouled.
St Joseph's continued to press and they finally got some reward for their many efforts with Harry Rooney pointing four minutes before the half-time whistle to close the gap to 0-2 to 1-2 at the break.
Whatever was said by their coaches at half-time certainly did the trick as St Joseph's were like a different team in the second period.
Rooney added another point two minutes after the restart and 90 seconds later he bagged his side's second goal with a brilliant finish after great work by Roberto Moisa.
That goal gave the Navan side a lead they didn't relinquish. Harry Russell extended their advantage to 1-4 to 1-2 with a point and in the 32nd minute Aimilios Botonis's speculative centre from close to the endline somehow ended up in the net to stretch St Joseph's lead to 2-4 to 1-2.
That score broke Ashbourne's resolve and while Wieteska did his best to inspire his side and Ridhvik Rahulan forced Tyler Doyle into a good save there was no way back for them as Rooney capped his wonderful display with a superb third goal.
Kevin Roca did get a late score for Ashbourne but it was of no consolation as St Joseph's claimed the spoils.
St Joseph's Navan - Tyler Doyle; Muzamil Khan, Isaac Murray; Davey Nevin, Hossam Taha, Kielan Farrell; Aimilios Botonis (1-0), Denis Lacatus; Jack Saul, Harry Rooney (2-2), Callum Geraghty; Harry Russell (0-1), Bobby Bonner (0-1). Subs - Roberto Moisa, Nayan Singh, Daniel Cregan, Patrick McDonnell, Bobby Saul, Florin Antonio Danila, Bobby Boland, Alex Miles, Kieran Joyce, David Cindea, Victor Bolger Carmargo, Best Kolade Monsuru. Mentors - Paul Brennan, Muireann Hogan.
Ashbourne ETNS - Ralfs Ukis; Dan Cebotari, Darren Gramas; Zach Tarsilli, Amine Bounouane, Khaleb Phoenix Prior; Philip Ilea Sabo, Ignacy Wieteska (1-0); Edvinas Paulauskas, Eoghan Quail (0-2 frees), Evan Rowan; Kevin Roca (0-1), Jake Arthur. Subs - Zion Williams, Daniel Skinner, Lucas Pinto, Nathon Kibartas, Ridhvik Rahulan, Jaxson Murphy, Struan Byrne, Ollie Cieslak, Nickolas Valanciauskas, Dylan Crowe, Cody Boland, Nicolas Jefimovs, Mohamed Abaiy, Hamza Abaiy, Matei Simon, Jonathan Sirnikovs, Noah Dowdall, Kealan Kearns, Daniel Latkovskis, Jamie Gill, Ollie Greene. Mentors - Michael Gleeson, Aishling Doyle, Brandon McCann.
Referee - Tony Kearney.