Laois 3-14 Westmeath 2-15
Ted Webb Shield Final
The Laois U-16 footballers welcomed Westmeath to the Centre of Excellence on Saturday morning for the Ted Webb Shield final.
This is a competition named after a young Mayo footballer who lost his life in a traffic accident.
The Laois boys had finished third in their group on points difference, having drawn with Kerry and Mayo away and suffering a narrow loss to Meath at home.
They then faced Dublin in a shield semi-final, and after a comfortable win, they faced Westmeath in a shield final.
The sides had met twice this year, and on both occasions, Westmeath were victorious in very competitive games.
This game saw a very well drilled, athletic, and physical Westmeath team dominate the first half and go in at half time eight points ahead.
However, this Laois panel have lots of character, and they needed to show this in spades to come back in this game.
Little by little, they closed the gap, but every time, Westmeath found a response.
With time running out, Laois drew level but a free and a two point free saw Westmeath push ahead with three minutes left.
The Laois lads had a few fresh legs on and won a few breaks and worked a goal to draw the game.
A massive two pointer by centre-back Fionnan Brennan and some steadfast defending in the last seconds saw the Laois U-16 lads claim the honours on the day.
LAOIS: Aaron Mackey (Arles-Kilcruise), Billy Byrne (Mountmellick), Cian O’Sullivan (Crettyard), Daire Brosnan (Portlaoise), Dale Heffernan (Killeshin), Dan Downey (Park-Ratheniska), Darragh McEvoy (Graiguecullen), David Timmons (Portlaoise), Dylan Smith (Kilcavan), Eoghan Harris (Arles-Killeen), Eoghan Lalor (Kilcavan), Ethan Neilon (O’Dempsey’s), Finn Darcy (Annanough), Fionnan Brennan (Crettyard), Frankie Delaney (The Rock), Glenn Brady (Ballyfin), Jake Gohery (St Joseph’s), James Smyth (Mountmellick), Jayden Murphy (Park-Ratheniska), Mark Dowling (Crettyard), Mikey Hand (Graiguecullen), Mikey Regan (Killeshin), Nathan Lenihan (Mountmellick), Orran Langton (Barrowhouse), Sean Maree (Emo), Senan O’Brien (Clonaslee-St Manman’s), Thomas Lawler (Graiguecullen), Tiarnan O’Donoghue (Barrowhouse), Will Craig (O’Dempsey’s), Will Duffy (Ballylinan), Will McGrath (Arles-Killeen)
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