U14 | Murden’s cracker propels Bellurgan United to the Premier Division title

U14 Premier Division | Ardee Celtic 1–2 Bellurgan United

The Bellurgan United team pictured with the Dundalk Schoolboys League U14 Premier Division title

Sean Murden’s wonder goal helped Bellurgan United to the victory they needed to secure the U14 Premier Division title against Ardee Celtic at Townparks.

Both sides were level on points going into the game — meaning that it really was a case of winner takes all — and it was the peninsula side who returned home with the trophy thanks to goals in each half from Murden and Ryan O’Kane.

With everything to play for, a tactical first half ensued with the home side content to let Bellurgan retain the ball knowing they always had the option of the threatening David Doyle on the counter attack.

It was the visitors who started the brightest with Quinn Ryan, Cian Murphy and O’Kane all testing Ardee’s goalkeeper inside the opening 15 minutes.

Bellurgan made the breakthrough after 25 minutes when Murden received the ball, took it wide into the 18 yard box and hit an unstoppable drive high into the opposite corner of the net. A super individual goal.

Ardee started the second half on the front foot but the Bellurgan back four stood firm, reducing the home side to limited opportunities.

Sean Murden’s stunner for Bellurgan United against Ardee Celtic on Sunday morning

The vital second goal arrived 10 minutes into the second half. A good run by the energetic Evan Liu ended with Quinn Ryan retaining possession. His subsequent defence splitting pass picked out Ryan O’Kane who was left one-on-one with the Ardee goalkeeper and he picked his spot with a top class left-footed drive into the corner of the net.

With 20 minutes remaining on the clock, Ardee Celtic went to three at the back, pushed the impressive Finn Kelly forward and started to exert pressure on Bellurgan.

They reduced the deficit with seven minutes to go when a loose ball from a corner was smashed into the roof of the net by David Doyle to set up a tense finish.

Ardee Celtic put the visitors under a lot of pressure in the dying stages with a string of free kicks dropping dangerously into the penalty area but every Bellurgan player played their part to secure the title.

This was a fitting finale to the U14 Premier Division season. A six-game winning run — where they only conceded one goal — helped Bellurgan to retain the title they won last season while Ardee Celtic can claim the runners-up spot if they beat Glenmuir in the second place play-off.