The Park 13’s welcomed the North Tipp. Champions Bt Harps to Christy Leahy Park yesterday in the 3rd Round of the National Cup, the park lads were hoping to prolong their Cup journey by progressing to the Round 32 Open Draw and by God they done it in emphatic style with an an impressive win over a technically good side in BT Harps.
1st Half
The park lads started fast as they did in previous games, Junior, Kevin and Colin in centre midfield were controling possession and with Nathan & mervin pace on the wings started to unlock the Harps defence creating a few great chances within the 1st 10min period for Sean upfront, and should have been a couple of goals to the good. The visitors played a simillar pass and move style with some good technical players in particular their No 9 & 10 who made it hard work for the park back four in the early exchanges and could easily have been the first to score. The park lads got the tonic they needed on the 13th min mark when a simple ball out from left full back Rhys found mervin on the left, a good run down the wing mervin swung the ball into Sean in the box who clinically finished to the left corner 1-0 up, The park were now dominating in the middle third thru great creative play from Junior, Kevin and Mervin, defensively they were solid in all areas with Tide and Cian snuffing out any opportunities coming thru the centre, both full backs Darra & Rhys providing the cover, mopping up any loose ball.
The park’s pressure was rewarded on the 22nd minute when a cross from Mervin across the box fell to Nathan who controled the ball and showed great composure laying the ball back to Darra outside the box on the right, one touch, strike, Goal, what a finish!! 2-0 to the park.
5 mins later and Mervin was the provider angain this time from the right with an outswinging ball Colin gambled with a run from left wing to the back post, tapping the ball to the net 3-0. and 3 mins later Sean made it 4-0 with a fine individual goal breaking thru a crowd of 4 players to side foot past the keeper, 4-0 at the break
2nd Half
The park remained in command and controlled possesion of the ball in all sectors but failed to penetrate, Conor came in for Mervin upfront to freshen things up and battled hard creating opportunities, it wasnt til the 45th minute before the park scored again and what a finish from Colin, another fine delivery from a corner kick by Kevin, colin rose nearly his own height and a bullet of a header to the top corner 5-0 to the Park. Bt harps came into the game creating chances of their own but the park were resilient in defence and with Gavin in goals keen to keep a clean sheet, any danger was dealt with in commanding fashion. Further changes were needed as the Park midfield tired with Liam coming in on the right for Nathan, Greg on the left for Colin and Jordan in centre for Kevin, this injected a bit more life into the game and Park created a few more chances thru greg and conor but failed to convert. Final whistle 5-0 to the park,
Well done to the lads,a solid squad performance in which we showed great composure thru out the pitch.
Fair play to the BT Harps management team who were gracious in defeat saying “That’s how the game should be played” nice comments from a sporting side, we wish BT Harps success in their domestic league campaign
The lads now progress into the Round 32 open draw to be made in December, lets hope it’s a kind one!!!
Players of Note: Kevin, Tide, Mervin, Sean, Colin & Rhys
Man of the Match: Junior Ankomah: Superb distribution in central midfield coupled with an outstanding defensive display, ferocity in the tackle which broke the spirit of the opponents
Squad on the Day: Gavin Doody, Cian Purcell, Darragh Moriarty, Kevin Goulding, Rhys Keane, Junior Ankomah, Colin Walsh, Mervyn Shalemba, , Nathan Gleeson, Liam Tobin, Sean McGrath, Greg Scanlon, Conor O’ Sullivan, Tide Osinubi, Eoin Higgins, Jordan Mason, Nathan Holden.
Note: New winter training times Mondays & Fridays 7 – 8pm.
