Last year’s C championship winners bowed out of this year’s Div. 3 U-19 FC at the penultimate hurdle with a four point defeat at the hands of host side Dunshaughlin in this semi-final played on a bitterly cold Thursday November 21st evening.

Players just like all in attendance were finding it hard to warm up as first half scoring was hard to come by, five first half scores in total, three points for the home side and two for Jenkinstown Gaels.

After a tight first half, the game’s only goal in the tenth minute of the second half proved to be the defining score for the black and amber.

The game’s first score went the way of the visitors with full forward Tom Powderly curling over from the right hand side. A pair of Dunshaughlin frees put the home side ahead for the first time, with the independent side levelling up again on the quarter hour mark with a Liam Jennings free.

A third Dunshaughlin free in the 20th minute left the half time score board read 0-3 to 0-2 in favour of the town side as the players retreated to the warmth of the dressing room following a low scoring opening half.

Two minutes after the restart Dunshaughlin made it a double scores game, 0-4 to 0-2, with their first score from play.

Jenkinstown reduced the margin to the minimum with an Evan Drum point thirty seconds later. Six minutes later a turnover resulted in Dunshaughlin breaking forward for the game’s only goal and defining score of the game, leaving it 1-4 to 0-4 to the home side.

A smart save from Jenkinstown Gaels ‘keeper Cian Wiliams who got down low to deny Dunshaughlin a second goal in the 56th minute was followed up by Dunshaughlin midfielder pointing the resulting ’45 with the assistance of Williams’ palm to leave four between the sides, 1-5 to 0-4.

Both sides added a further brace of points apiece, Jenkinstown’s a pair of frees from the boot of Liam Jennings. Try as they did, a gallant Jenkinstown Gaels side couldn’t break down a resolute Dunshaughlin defence in the seven minutes or so of added time and when referee Robbie Barrett blew the full time whistle it was Dunshaughin who won out on a full time score line of 1-7 to 0-6 to advance to meet the winners of Sunday’s other semi-final between Na Fianna and Duleek/Bellewstown.

Jenkinstown team & scorers:
Cian Willaims, Cillian Kelly, Colm McIvor, Harry Dunne, David Regan, Luke Gallagher, Max Kennedy, Sean Gerard Walsh, Leon Giblin, Mark Foley, Liam Jennings (0-4, 3f), Luke O’Halloran, Evan Drum (0-1), Tom Powderly (0-1), Barry Walsh.
Subs used: Charlie Benson for Dunne, Kyle O’Malley for Foley, Jack Lynch for Kennedy, Conor Byrne for Drum.

Special Thanks to Moynalvey PRO Paul Greene who has been compiling match reports throughout the campaign.