Ardara 1-4 Milford 2-4
IT WASN’T a vintage performance from Milford but they showed superb battling qualities to see off a game Ardara side in the Under 14 Division 2 League Final at the Donegal Training Centre on Sunday.
Kai Corcoran Crerand grabbed two goals for Donall Barrett’s Milford who were the better team throughout.
Ardara kept going with Eoghan Boyle scoring four points but they struggled to break down a resolute Milford defence, who were delighted to add the league title to the Division 3 Championship they secured earlier this season.
Corcoran Crerand kicked a brilliant point for Milford in the first minute.
Both teams struggled in attack in the first quarter, although some of the defending on show was outstanding.
Milford’s long ball tactic didn’t have much joy early on but it did herald a penalty in the 16th minute.
Ryan McFadden punted the ball forward and Corcoran Crerand fielded it, and was then upended as he was about to pull the trigger.
It was Corcoran Crerand himself who took the penalty and he finished to the net with aplomb.
The Milford full-forward was proving to be a real handful and he could have had another goal when Senan Faulkner found him with a lovely pass but this time Corcoran Crerand fired over.
Ardara weren’t short of endeavour but they struggled to make the ball stick in attack.
However, they did get off the mark with a free from Eoghan Boyle in the 24th minute.
Ardara were not happy as they trailed by 1-2 to 0-1 at half-time but they knew they could improve.
They made a good start after the resumption with Eoghan Boyle curling over a tricky free before he tagged on a point from play.
Milford struggled to get the ball out of their own defence and Boyle popped over another free before Tadhg Earley fisted a goal chance wide.
Ryan McFadden settled the Moyle View Park men with a fine effort in the 43rd minute and Corcoran Crerand then drilled over a free after Conor Patton was fouled.
Milford took a big step towards victory in the 51st minute when Senan Faulkner surged forward and found Corcoran Crerand, who made no mistake with an emphatic finish to raise a green flag.
That put six points between the teams but Ardara didn’t give up.
Lucan Gallagher squeezed a shot to the net in injury-time and that set up a grandstand finish.
However, Milford held on for a fine victory and their players were thrilled with the win.
The Ardara Under 14 team.
Ardara: Ryan McCabe; Jack McGill, Padraig O’Donnell, Gerry Gallagher; Lucas Gallagher (1-0), Cian Whyte, James Connolly; Tiernan Classon, Charlie Brennan; Conor Barrett, Tadhg Earley, LJ McShane; Mark Gildea, Eoghan Boyle (0-4, 3fs), Joseph Doherty. Subs: Kian McShane, Calvin McHugh, Evan Elliot, Dean McHugh, Iarlaith Doherty.
Milford: Ryan Burns; Matthew Sweeney, Owen McAteer, Harry Stevenson; Jack McGlynn, Oliver McCarthy, Zach Djedi; Ryan McFadden (0-1), Senan Faulkner; Cian Anderson, Jack Barrett, Daithi Winston; Daithi Wilkie, Kai Corcoran Crerand (2-3, 1f), Conor Patton. Subs: Darragh Edwards, Ryan Connolly, Brandon Murray, Lochlan McBride, Ultan Casey, Charlie McBride, Dominic Johnston, PJ McGrath, Danny McHugh, Daithi Catterson, Amir Bouattoura, Ollie Boyce, James Stevenson.
Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille).
Man of the Match: Owen McAteer (Milford)
McAteer was simply outstanding at full-back and attacked every ball with real purpose. He just gets the nod ahead of Kai Corcoran Crerand, while Matthew Sweeney and Jack Barrett also stood out. Tiernan Classon and Charlie Brennan carried the Ardara fight while Eoghan Boyle is an exciting prospect.
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