Our u13A team travelled to Limerick on Saturday to play Regional United. Playing on a poor pitch really made it tough for our boys who wouldn’t be used to a surface which was very bobbly and had recklessly long grass. But credit to our lads they just got on playing and had a very fruitful day. We began very quickly had had a couple of chances within the first couple of min’s when Earnan Ferris fizzed in a cross from the left that no could get on to and it made its way to Leon Daly, who delivered it straight back into the danger area only for Earnan within an inch of putting us one nil up.
We continued to dominate the opening minutes and got the fruit of our labour when the two Leon’s combined down the right, Leon Daly played the ball from wide right into the centre circle Leon Gallagher who played a weighted pass in behind the Regional defence ,who were playing with a very high line, Daly continued his run and got to the ball ahead of the left back which left him in a 1v1, which by the way is Leon’s speciality, he skint the defender and delivered a ferocious cross but the Regional headed straight back into his path. He took the ball sublimely steadied himself and coolie curled the ball into the top corner on the opposite side of the goals much to the out stretched keeper dismay. One nil after five minutes a great start indeed .
We continued to dominate the first half with Sean McGrath, John o Connor and Armin Heinrich really dictating the pace of the game through the middle. On both wings we were having great joy with captain Cian Brosnan and Earnan on the left and Darragh O Connor and Leon Daly from the right but we couldn’t find the cushion of the second goal with Earnan hitting the side netting from a tight angle and Leon Gallagher having a couple of half chances but nothing clear cut. While at the other end we defended very well with our two centre halves Alan Brosnan and James Charles looking very comfortable when dealing with any attacks that Regional could muster and We had a one nil lead at the half.
We made a double sub at half time our customary change in the keeper department with Sean Broderick coming in for DJ Griffin and swapping Darragh Caplis on for Leon Gallagher. The second half began and the breeze had picked up which meant that we played into a strong cross breeze but the lads coped well .Darragh nearly made an instant impact but his shot only found the keepers grateful grasp. Regional had started to come into the game more at this stage and we had Sean McGrath to they didn’t equalise when his desire to retreat back on the goal line after the ball that had been clipped over the on rushing Sean Broderick it looked to be on the way into the net but only for McGrath to clear the ball to break the Regional hearts.
With ten left on the clock Regional had been putting under pressure at this stage when we hit them with a clinical counter attack when Robert Vasiu broke down the right and hit an unstoppable shot across the keeper only to find the post thwart his ferocious effort and while the defence were thinking how lucky they were that it wasn’t a goal Darragh Caplis was on hand to steal in unnoticed to tap the ball into an empty net. Two nil is what the game finished.
Best on the day were Alan Brosnan, Leon Daly, Earnan Ferris and Darragh Caplis.
Man Of The Match Darragh o Connor
Report by Robert Powell
