Dublin U17 17 Scotland U17 23 | |
04 March 2012 The Scotland U17 side secured an impressive 23-17 win over Dublin U17 in the main match of their 2011 Ireland Tour on Tuesday 26 July 2011. Scotland Coaches Ronald Rossand Russell Jones made three changes to the squad which lost narrowly to Westmeath in their warm up match the previous day.Martin Bruce was ruled out with a groin injury and he was joined on the bench by Stuart Callison and Danny Delaney. Conor Sweeney, Craig Anderson and Ewan Brady came into the side. There were also some positional changes as Fraser Heath and Darren Hanlon dropped into defence with Brennan MacDonald taking up the full centre berth. The Scots made an whirlwind start to the game and Irish keeper Joe Brennan twice saved from Greg Matheson with the Scotland captain also putting a single point attempt narrowly past the post. Ewan Brady set up a chance for Greg Matheson after 5 minutes but Joe Brennan made another good stop. However he could do nothing to prevent Greg Matheson scoring the first points of the game a minute later when he put the ball over from the 65 yard line to put the visitors (0-0) 0-2 (0-2) in front. Scotlandkeeper Jack Fraser was called into action after 8 minutes and he made a good save from James Roache. Greg Matheson continued his rich vein of scoring from the previous day when he secured another two points from the Scots right on 9 minutes to make it (0-0) 0-4 (0-4). Jack Fraser confidently dealt with a high ball into the Scots goal area a couple of minutes later. Dublin scored their first point of the day on 12 minutes when Mathew Geraghty put the ball over with a shot from the left to make it (0-1) 1-4 (0-4). Joe Brennan made a fantastic save from Jack MacDonald on 16 minutes. The Irish keeper then turned Greg Matheson’s effort from the rebound past the post. Matheson just failed to add to his side’s advantage from the 65 yard line. The Scots were finding it difficult with the grass longer than they were used to which hampered their speedy style of play. Play switched to the other end a couple of minutes later and Jack Fraser saved well from James Roache but Connor Cuggy put the ball over the bar to make it (0-2) 2-4 (0-4). Scotland cut open the Irish defence on 21 minutes. Ewan Brady won possession and sent a great ball to Greg Matheson who showed great composure before firing low to the keeper right to add three more points with the first goal of the game; (0-2) 2-7 (1-4). Jack Fraser prevented the Irish countering on 22 minutes when he saved a Ryan Bergan effort with his feet. Greg Matheson put a free awarded for a kick wide on 25 minutes. However Matheson made no mistake a minute later when he sent the ball over the bar to give Scotland a (0-2) 2-9 (1-6) advantage. Dublin responded a couple of minutes later when Shane Gibbons picked up a clearance and put the ball over the bar to reduce the deficit to (0-3) 3-9 (1-6). The home side got themselves back into the game with four points in a couple of minutes. First some good play for the hosts gave Connor Cuggy the chance to put the ball over the bar. Then Jack Phelan burst through the Scottish defence and blasted home to make it (1-4) 7-9 (1-6) with half an hour played. Scotland keeper Jack Fraser was impressing the Irish support with a superb display of goalkeeping and he made another fine save from Jack Phelan after 32 minutes. Ewan Brady was a late call up to the Scotland Squad when Thomas Borthwick was forced to put out because of a family occasion in Canada but he was proving to be a key player and he put a great strike over the bar a minute later to make it (1-4) 7-10 (1-7). The Scots extended their lead further in the closing minutes of the half. First a pin-point ball from Jordan Murchison on the right fell to Greg Matheson and he smashed the ball into the net. Seconds later Conor Sweeney added a point to giveScotlanda (1-4) 7-14 (2-8) advantage at the break. Ewan Brady put the ball over the bar 3 minutes into the second half to make it (1-4) 7-15 (2-9). Dublin pulled a couple of points back 4 minutes later when Ryan Bergan and Mathew Geraghty put the ball over within seconds of eachother to reduce the deficit to (1-6) 9-15 (2-9). Jack Fraser saved well when he turned a Mathew Geraghty effort past the post 11 minutes into the second period. However Geraghty took the resultant 65 yard chance to make it (1-7) 10-15 (2-9). Ewan Brady sent a free over the bar midway through the half to make it (1-7) 10-17 (2-11). Jack Fraser was forced to race from goal a couple of minutes later to foil an Irish attack. James Mooney pulled a point back 21 minutes into the second half; (1-8) 11-17 (2-11). Dublinkeeper Joe Brennan denied Greg Matheson with a good save a minute later. Mathew Geraghty added to his tally with a couple of points 12 minutes from time to reduce the Scottish lead to (1-10) 13-17 (2-11). With 7 minutes remaining, an Irish free hit fell to James Roche and he gave Fraser no chance as he reduced the deficit to a single point; (2-10) 16-17 (2-11). Scotlandhad scene a seven point lead erode to a single point advantage but they were in no mood to fall behind for the first time in the game. With just 5 minutes remaining, Finlay MacMillan broke up a Dublin attack and fed to ball to Greg Matheson who spotted Jordan Murchison and the Skye youngster fired a rocket shot into the net to increase Scotland’s lead to (2-10) 16-20 (3-11). An acrobatic Jack Fraser save a minute later kept his side’s four point advantage intact. The Irish goal survived a scare in the final minute when Joe Brennan saved a Greg Matheson shot. The rebound fell to substitute Greg Matheson but his effort was cleared off the line. Scotland sealed victory in injury time when Craig Anderson gave Joe Brennan no chance as he scored the goal his good play merited to make it (2-10) 16-23 (4-11). Dublinhad the final say when James Roche pulled a point back at the death but Scotlandran out (2-11) 1-23 (4-11) winners. This was a hard-earned victory for the Scots and all players acquitted themselves well. Ewan Brady was in sparkling form and Jack Fraser’s display between the sticks caught the Irish eyes. Greg Matheson was the top Scot over both games, justifying his selection as captain and Michael Russell and Ben Dalgety have a dogged style of defending which is well suited to the compromise rules game. Scotland U17 from; Jack Fraser (Fort William), Ben Dalgety (Lochcarron), Michael Russell (Newtonmore), Finlay MacMillan (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Fraser Heath (Glenurquhart), Darren Hanlon (Kingussie), Gary McKerracher (Oban Celtic), Brennan MacDonald (Lochaber), Conor Sweeney (Lochaber), Jack MacDonald (Beauly), Ewan Brady (Glenurquhart / Glengarry), Craig Anderson (Glasgow Mid Argyll), Greg Matheson (Lovat) (captain), Jordan Murchison (Skye Camanachd) subs Stuart Callison (Lochaber), Danny Delaney (Lochaber),Martin Bruce (Skye Camanachd) Match Referee – Brain Fox The Dublin squad was managed by John McGlynn and Willie Braine was coach. |