Our Under 16 Premier team won the DDSL McGrath Cup tonight in a dramatic incident packed final against Templeogue United at Mobhi Road.

Leading 2-0 through goals from Sean McGuire and Ross Nally coming up to half time and having been the better side through much of the first half they conceded a penalty to let Templeogue United back into the game. Worse was to come early in the second half when another penalty was conceded and goalkeeper Ross Treacy received a straight red card – 2-2 and down to ten men. Templeogue dominated the game at this stage and 15 minutes later when Nathan Noone Garland was adjudged to have committed a foul on the end line he harshly received a second yellow card – 2-2 now and down to nine men and facing an uphill struggle of epic proportions to stay in the game but they kept battling and still caused Templeogue problems whenever the ball was played towards the pavillion goal and from such a break forward in the first minute of injury time Dan Mandriou found himself on the edge of the eighteen yard area with only the keeper to beat and being the right man in the right place he finished superbly to restore the lead 3-2 but in his celebrations he took off his jersey and received his second yellow card – 3-2 up but down to eight players with two minutes of injury time to play but they held on heroically to clinch the clubs first trophy of the season.

This game will long be remembered by all who played in it and by those lucky enough to see a display of good football, sheer resilience and a refusal to bow down . Well done to all.