With sun shining and brisk breeze, it was a fine evening for football, the main pitch was in perfect condition at Christy Leahy Park for the Semi final of the Kerry Cup. The park lads had been in this position last year and this time they went one step further with an emphatic win over a courageous Castleisland Team to book a place in the Cup Final!!
1st Half
The Park lads made a tentative start with a couple of tame shots on goal from Nathan and Mervyn that the keeper dealt with easily. The lads were on top but Castleisland showed that they could defend but it didn’t take long for a break through, a ball over the top from Colin to Mervyn who smashed it to the net, 1-0 up and with the park having all the possession it looked like more goals would come but credit to the visitors they defended well and created a couple of shots themselves to which Gavin was equal to. It wasn’t until the 18th minute before Park got the next goal a scramble from a corner and colin found the opposition’s net., 2-0 and this was the spark that the lads needed, junior, colin and jordan started to dominate in midfield and with superb passing/link up play with Liam/Nathan on wings, they started to open up the castleisland defence and on 21 mins it was 3-0 with a fine strike from Nathan receiving a pinpoint pass from Junior. Within minutes the score was 4- mervyn heading home from a corner delivered in from Nathan. At this stage the park back four of Devon, Cian, Rhys & Darragh had little to do but were able to snuff out any glimmer of home the visitors might have. Junior was commanding and again picked out the perfect pass to Mervyn who bagged his hatrick, 5-0 up and the tie was all but over as the lads drained the fight from a courageous castleisland team. Conor came on for mervyn up front, Liam created the next goal laying ball to Colin who slid ball past the keeper 6-0, Junior’s passing was supreme and again he picked out nathan’s run who found the net with ease, colin finished off the half with a fine volley to bag his own hatrick from a Devon free kick. 8-0 at half time
2nd Half
Greg was introduced for Colin in midfield and made an immediate impact finding Nathan who unselfishly laid the ball off to Conor who hit the net, Richard came in for Jordan, the park were switching play across the pitch with confidence and a ball from devon to Conor on the right produced the goal of the night as Conor curled the ball around the keeper from outside the box with his left peg (weaker foot) to the top corner. Junior topped off a fine performance with a long range strike to the roof of the net. Conor finished off his hatrick from the penalty spot after Nathan was brought down in the box. 12-0 the final score
An emphatic display by the Park lads, credit to the squad who kept their shape throughout particularly our back four. It was a game in which our midfield and front men were clinical. Well Done to the entire squad!!
Our focus now turns to the Cup Final on Sunday 11th May in Killorglin AFC against a formidable Killarney Celtic team.
Players of Note: Mervyn, Colin, Conor, Jordan, Devon, Darragh, Nathan,
Man of the Match: Junior Ankomah, a fantastic display, great vision and the supply of simple ball to the wingers & front men was second to none. With 3 goal assists and a fine strike himself cemented this MOTM performance.
Squad on the Day: Gavin Doody, Cian Purcell, Darragh Moriarty, Devon Burns, Rhys Keane, Junior Ankomah, Greg Scanlon, Colin Walsh, Jordan Mason, Mervyn Shalemba, Conor O’ Sullivan, Nathan Gleeson, Liam Tobin, Richard O’ Gara,
Note: Next Training will be this Thurs 1st May 6.30 – 8.00pm, it is important for the continued improvement & success of the squad, all players need to attend the training sessions
