Our youths A team made the short trip to Rathnew this morning for the youths league playoff final with Shillelagh. Both teams finished the season neck and neck at the top. Games between the sides were always tight affairs and it proved no different today with the tie finishing 3-3 after extra time. Five minutes in Shillelagh got the dream start when some sloppy defending allowed their striker pass the ball into the net. There was nothing that could be done for Shillelagh's second goal as their winger put the ball into the top corner with a beautifully struck half volley. Rovers kept pushing and pushing and five minutes before half time Lorcan Sinnott broke through after a flick from Evan Conyard and calmly slotted beyond the Shillelagh keeper, 2-1 at half time. The second half saw both teams have their fair share of chances. Shillelagh went close on a couple of occasions before Sinnott again broke through after a ball over top from Conyard and after a mix up in the Shillelagh defence Sinnott buried his effort to make it 2-2. In the first period of extra time Sinnott again had a great chance after being well set up by Charlie Czwalina. His looping header just missing the inside post. A mix up in the Rovers defence saw Eoghan Doyle take down a Shillelagh player in the box before saving the resulting penalty kick. The ball wasn’t cleared and Shillelagh's number 8 made no mistake the second time around rifling the ball high into the left top corner. This year Rovers have shown great fight and spirit and today was no different. With two minutes to go on the clock a Charlie Czwalina punt forward was met by Sinnott and the midfielder again made no mistake to claim his hat-trick and it was off to penalties we went. Lorcan Sinnott, Alex Earls, Jack Macklin and Charlie Czwalina made no mistake for the first four penalties. Eoghan Doyle known for his penalty saves again today stepped up to the mark and saved Shillelagh's fourth peno. Tadgh Lord had the chance to claim the win and he made no mistake from 12 yards to send the big crowd wild and claim the youths league title. A fabulous game from both teams and credit to Rovers who at times looked down and out but kept fighting and never gave up. Cormac Waldron at right back was superb throughout, Jack Macklin was cool on the ball, Keelan Darcy in midfield ran himself into the ground and Lorcan Sinnott who scored a brilliant hat-trick put in a great shift along with many of the team and got their just rewards. Massive credit to the players who have been going for nearly a year and brilliant to finish the season as champions after losing the cup final to Avonmore in the same venue four weeks ago.