13/09/2026
Junior A Championship
Quarter Final
Asca 3:14
Palatine GAA Club 4:12
Referee: Lar Murphy
ASCA BOW OUT OF JUNIOR A CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER EXTRA TIME THRILLER
Asca’s Junior A Championship campaign came to a heartbreaking end as they lost out to Palatine by the narrowest of margins — just one point after extra time.
Asca couldn’t have asked for a better start. James Ingram found the net inside the opening minute, giving Asca an immediate boost. Another goal and a point quickly followed as Asca took control of the early stages.
Palatine began to work their way back into the contest and, by the 17th minute, a goal from Marc Mulhall had reduced the gap, with the scoreboard reading Palatine 1-02, Asca 2-01.
Asca continued to dominate much of the opening half and went into the break leading 2-05 to 1-04.
Five minutes into the second half, Palatine struck again when Marc Mulhall found the net, before Peter Lynch added a two-pointer to bring them right back into the game.
What followed was a real game of cat and mouse, with both sides battling for every ball and neither willing to give an inch. By the 47th minute, the teams were deadlocked at 2-09 apiece.
Palatine then dealt Asca a huge blow with another goal in the 50th minute. With time running out, Asca refused to give up and continued to push forward in search of a way back.
Their persistence paid off in dramatic fashion when Boni Millinganyo punched a high ball into the net with virtually the last action of the game, grabbing a sensational equalising goal and sending the contest to extra time.
Palatine made the stronger start to extra time, registering an early goal and a point. Asca continued to battle, refusing to let the game get away from them and fighting right until the final whistle.
In the end, there was heartbreak for Asca as Palatine held on to win by just one point after extra time, bringing Asca’s Junior A Championship journey to an end.
A disappointing result, but a performance full of determination, character and fight from the Asca players, who gave everything right to the very last whistle
Team: Wille Long, Luke Bramley, Stephen Fennell, Aaron Myles Walsh, Mark O'Brien, Danny Quigley, Evan McAteer, John Phiri(0-04), Boni Millinganyo(1-0), Andre Vint, James Ingram(2-07), Andre Luiz Carvalho, Ben Doorley(0-01), Ben Deacon(0-01), Conor O'Brien
Alex Clifford, Stephen Bayley, Dylan Reamsbottom, John Jackson(Vice Captain) Diarmuid Long, Killian Comiskey, Kieran Noonan, Gael O'Rock, Stephen O'Brien, Jack Phelan(Captain) Cian Cleary(0-01)
Manager: Eric McCormack
Selectors: Brian Hosey, Bernard O'Brien, John Kavanagh
Physio: Leah Mullins
Carlow GAA
EPT Ireland
Nationalist Sport
The Left Wing Back
Palatine GAA Club
