(Roscommon Herald)

Goal Rush Seals Strokestown's Fate

U16 D2 County Final

Strokestown 0-10, St. Aidan's 0-7

The scoreline was very harsh on a gallant Strokestown team that contributed greatly to a hugely enjoyable final. The quality of football was excellent and it was obvious that quite a number of these players had been invloved in the county's underage development panels.

the main reason why Eire Og triumphed is that they they possessed more quality players in their attack. Granted that Stroekstown's defense was very generous in allowing the like sof Walshe and co to take their scores but there was something very natural and refreshing about the Eire Og forwardline and they always accepted responsibility when shooting at goal (whatever thats supposed to mean..)

Nolan for Eire Og set the scring in motion after two minutes and this was soon following by two Walshe points, Nolan added his second before Eire Og got their first goal by four goal wonder, Walshe.

Barely a minute later Kevin Hughes brought Strokestown back with a goal. Two points by impressive midfielder Enda Molloy reduced the deficit to just two points before Eire Og struck again with a goal from Mark O'Brien. A point each way, Strokestown's coming from Enda Molloy, left the scores 2-5 to 1-3 in Eire Ogs favour at half time.

A Molloy Free after the break threatened a Strokestown come-back but that was as close as the sides were going to get. Walshe scored two goals in quick succession which were added by a free from Dunne that somehow found the net.

A penalty from Nolan and a fourth goal from Walshe well and truly ended the contest.

Strokestown plugged away however, full-back, John Hagan,caught some good ball. Some impressive running from Brendan Crosbie was rewarded with two excellent points while wing back Niall Brogan also got his name on the scoresheet.

It was Eire Og's day however, showing that the Loughlinn side will once again become a force in club football in the coming years.

STROKESTOWN:

P. Gaynor, P. McLoughlin, J. Hagan, D. Rodgers, N. Brogan, B. Crosbie, C. Hanly, E. Molloy, R. Geoghan, K. Flanagan, G. Collins, M. Casserly, K. hughes, D. Manning, S. Byrne. Subs: D. Egan (for Geoghan -56 mins), P. Gibbons, T. Hughes (for Casserly -37 mins), P. Gibbons, S. Collins.

Report from Roscommon Herald, Issue dated 28th May 2003