Meath Junior A Football Championship – Round 1
Simonstown 1-16
Wolfe Tones 2-13
Simonstown kicked off their Junior A Football Championship campaign with a thrilling draw against near neighbours Wolfe Tones on Saturday evening in Walterstown. In a match that ebbed and flowed, it was a dramatic injury-time goal from Jack Collier that salvaged a valuable point for the north Navan men.
Simonstown flew out of the traps, racing into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead within the opening ten minutes. Their early dominance was met with a spirited response from Wolfe Tones, who found the net twice before the interval. With both sides trading scores throughout a high-tempo first half, it was the Tones who took a narrow one-point lead into the break, 2-6 to 0-11.
The second half continued in similar fashion, with both sides exchanging points. However, it was Wolfe Tones who looked to be pulling away as they opened up a six-point lead by the midway point of the second period, 2-13 to 0-13.
But Simonstown, true to form, showed their trademark resilience. With time running out and the game seemingly slipping away, they dug deep. A late scoring burst brought them within touching distance, before Jack Collier struck for a dramatic goal in injury time to level the tie.
It was a fitting end to a fiercely contested derby, with both sides left to rue missed chances but ultimately content with a share of the spoils.
Best for Simonstown on the day were Ben Hoey, Jamie Keane, Ruairi Brady, Fionn O’Hanluain, and the ever-reliable Jack Collier. It was an impressive all-round team performance that gives the squad plenty to build on ahead of their next outing – a hotly anticipated clash with fellow town rivals O’Mahony’s.
