A fine game of soccer on a beautiful November day ended with Park deservedly going through to the 4th round of the SFAI National Cup.
Park started well and played some excellent football early on. Solid at the back and getting stuck in around midfield they created the first real chance of the half in the 15th minute when a wonderful cross by Colin Doody was met by Messiah Chirwah. His header brought a fine save from the Killorglin keeper and this signalled a period of dominance for the boys from the Laune.
With Tim Collin’s coaching stamped all over their play and Tom Whittleton outstanding, some of the intricate passing from Killorglin was causing Park worrying moments. However they could not find a breakthrough as the Park defence stood strong. Samuel Aladesanusi, Kieran O’Connor, Jack Kearney and Sean O’Connell were terrific at the back. Liam Carmody was also having a solid game and they offered up very few clear cut chances to the Killorglin attack.
The introduction of David Feeley gave fresh impetus to Park and they dominated the last seven or eight minutes of the half. The last chance of the half fell to the home side. Once again it was Chirwah who got on the end of Cianan Cooney’s brilliant cross but this time it was the post that denied the young Park dynamo.
A half time score of 0-0 was a fair reflection of the action on the pitch and it was anybody’s game.
Park started the second half playing with the breeze and pressing forward at every opportunity. With Conor Kerins covering every blade of grass, Colin Doody and Cianan Cooney flying on the wings and the Park midfield now on top it seemed like only a matter of time before something gave. Park went close when Sean O’Connor fired narrowly over from close range and with lesser players it might have effected their game. Not young O’Connor.
When a Killorglin player was adjudged to have handled in the box, O’Connor slotted brilliantly to the corner of the net to put the Park one nil up. Now the Park boys really tore into action. Cooney was working his socks off all over the pitch. Chirwah and Doody up front were causing all sorts of bother for the Killorglin defence and when Doody was brought down inside the box it once again fell to O’Connor to take the kick. Again his precision kick found the net and Park were on their way with 10 minutes remaining. Chirwah scored Park’s third shortly afterwards following a brilliant run and finish.
Josh Connolly came close in the dying minutes as did Sean O’Connell. Ben Hanafin, Adam Wharton and Danny Jeffers were now on the pitch and throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the action so much so that another Park goal looked likely.
To the Killorglin boys credit they never gave up, played some excellent soccer at stages and they got the final goal with what was almost the last kick of a fine game.
There were outstanding performances all over the pitch from the Park boys. They worked incredibly hard for each other and got their reward with a place in the next round. They now face a tough away fixture against Avenue Utd in Ennis.
Thank you to all the parents for providing food and helping afterwards. Thank you to Colm and the club for having the pitch in great condition on the day and a huge thank you to everyone for your fantastic support for the boys on the day. A great team effort.
Match Report from Pat Carmody .
