Superb Display by the Park 12s as they start to Peak now as a squad, a tough home draw v Pike Rovers, one of the top teams in Limerick District league.
The game didn’t disappoint in physical but fair battle with the Parks Lads largely dominating in a tense affair with 2 strikes from Dara sending the Park into the fourth round to loud cheers from the Home crowd!!!
The park couldn’t have asked for a better dream start as Dara’s bullet header from Callum’s corner was too powerful for the Goalie to keep out, 3 mins in Park 1-0 up. The park kept pressing against a strong pike defence and continued to create chances despite playing into a strong swirling breeze, which Pike seemed to get to grip with , as a lot of the shots going too long which was easy pickings for Richie in goal for the Park.
On the 20 mins mark, Dara hit the net again after the keeper spilled the ball but it was disallowed for interference from the other front man Jamie O S.
It was tit for tat up to the halftime whistle. Halftime score line 1-0.
The 2nd half and the Park seemed to deal with the wind a lot better than the visitors did in the 1st half, and started to pile on the pressure corner after corner, pinpoint deliveries by Damian but the Park couldn’t seem to breech the Pike Defence, chances from Jamie W, Jack, Obina went a begging, with Damian unlucky not to hit the roof of the net from a superb free kick only to be denied by the keeper. 15 mins to go and the visitors started to get on top creating a tense final quarter for the Park, a couple of changes and switches by the management and 7 mins from the time and Dara struck again this time with a left footer into the corner 2-0 and the life was drained out of the visitors but fair play they kept battling to the end. Final score 2-0 to the Park .
This was a massive scalp to take against one of the top teams of the Limerick District League. Superb squad performance from one to 15 who fought as a team. Well done lads the 4th Round Beckons with another mighty battle ahead away to Aisling Annacotty!!! No Fear!!!
Players of Note: Odhran, Adam, Jamie O S, Luke, Dara, Michael, Damian
Man of the Match: Obina Izahi– controlled the back line, superb defending, physical but fair in the tackle, cleared his lines well cool under pressure.
Squad on the Day: Richie Healy, Ewan O Sullivan, Obina Izahi, Luke Casey, Ray McGrath, Cian O Gara, Dara Cunnane, Jamie Williams, Jack Slattery. Odhran Ferris, Adam McDonagh, Callum o Sullivan, Jamie o Shea, Damian Hogan, Michael Tansley
Match report by Padraig Killeen .
