30/09/2026
🔴⚫ 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Heartbreak in Clonoe as late surge denies U16 Boys 🔴⚫
Our Under 16 Boys made the long journey to Clonoe on Saturday morning and came within a whisker of taking the points, before a late Clonoe rally, played with the wind at their backs, snatched a one-point win. 😕
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟:
Playing with the aid of a strong wind in the opening half, Castlederg made the perfect start when they found the net inside the opening minute to establish an early three-point advantage. 🎯
The Red and Black continued to create opportunities, but the failure to convert those chances would ultimately prove costly. A number of efforts drifted wide, while another fell short and one effort slipped past the Clonoe keeper only to come back off the post. 😬
Despite the missed opportunities, Castlederg remained in control for long periods. 💪
Clonoe kept themselves in touch through a pair of early frees and by the midpoint of the half the scoreboard showed Clonoe 0-03 (3) Castlederg 1-02 (5). 👌
Clonoe fired over another free to reduce the gap to a single point, but a moment of quality in the 21st minute, saw a long-range free from outside the 40 metre arc fly over the bar for a superb 2-pointer, extending the Derg’s advantage back to three. 🫶
Clonoe immediately replied with a point from their kick-out, but the Derg finished the half in dominant fashion, reeling off four unanswered points from play to stretch the gap. 🔥
Our keeper was called into action in the dying seconds, pulling off a save to deny a goal-bound Clonoe shot, helping preserve the six points cushion at the break, but the lads would’ve been disappointed that their first half chances hadn’t yielded an even greater advantage.
𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: Clonoe 0-05 (5) Castlederg 1-8 (11)
𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟:
With the wind now favouring Clonoe, the second half promised to test the Castlederg defence.
For the first fifteen minutes of the restart, the Red and Black managed the game superbly. The defence stood resolute, with our keeper pulling off another fine early save to protect the lead while the backline marshalled Clonoe’s forward line effectively, limiting them to a single point. 🚫
Then came the turning point that reshaped the entire morning.
With the Derg still holding the advantage and it looking like a Clonoe forward would be pulled up for over-carrying, the ref instead awarded a penalty to the home side. The resulting kick was successfully converted, bringing the home side right back into contention with the score sitting at Clonoe 1-06 (9) Castlederg 1-08 (11). 🫣
Castlederg responded with a point and continued to create chances, but once again a number of opportunities went begging, including another effort that thumped back off the post along with a few more wides. 😤
With the wind behind them, Clonoe pressed forward in the closing stages and Castlederg found themselves under sustained pressure. It became backs-to-the-wall football for the Red and Black as the defence battled desperately to protect their lead. ⚔️
With the clock showing just a minute remaining of normal time, the gap was still three points in the Derg’s favour. However the pressure eventually told, as Clonoe scored a point from play in the 30th minute and followed it up less than a minute later with a long-range 2-pointer from play to level the match. 😱
With seconds remaining, Clonoe managed one final attack to notch the winning point in the 32nd minute, leaving no time for the Derg boys to mount a final response before the referee blew the full-time whistle. 😕
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: Clonoe 1-11 (14) Castlederg 1-10 (13)
For Castlederg, it was a hugely frustrating finish to a game in which they had been in control for significant periods. The missed chances, particularly in the first half, ultimately came back to haunt them as Clonoe took full advantage of the conditions and finished strongly.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬:
Our thanks to the Clonoe players and coaches for their part in a hard fought, competitive match played in a sporting manner. 👏👏👏
Thanks also to the referee for officiating. 👏
Finally, a huge thank you to all the parents, family and supporters who made the long journey across the county to roar on the Boys. Your support, as always, is greatly appreciated. 👏❤️🖤
