Killarney Athletic A 0 – 3 Park A
A fantastic team performance by the lads today in Woodlawn, in a match we dominated on the whole with a few heart stopping moments along the way.
The park Lads were unbeaten coming into the game but were not the bookies favorites prior to this clash despite being a point ahead, Killarney Athletic were confident after big wins in their last two games.
The stage was set, pitch in good nick, the sun was shining little or no wind and both teams fired up to do battle for the Division 1 League Title.
The 1st half
The park lads started with great purpose battling for every 50/50 ball and moving the ball up from defense through the wings into attack, Conor and Dylan were posing a great threat to the Killarney defence both creating a couple of half chances. The park were on top in most areas of the pitch with Athletic’s dangerman “Potts” being well marshalled in midfield by Shane and Minors.
8 mins in and the Park were rewarded for their efforts with a tremendous goal created from Dave on the left delivering a pinpoint pass to Dylan in the centre, a fast pass onto Conor who struck from outside the box, a floating ball over the head of the Athletic keeper to nestle in the bottom right side of the goal. 1-0 up and the park were in command creating further chances for the front two Conor and Dylan with great runs from Jacob and kiwi on the wings.
23 mins in and it was 2-0 to the park from great link up play in midfield with a ball over the top into Dylan who drew the goalkeeper and unselfishly squared the ball across to Kiwi who steadied himself before smashing the ball to the empty net.
True to the Athletic lads they didn’t give up and exerted a lot of pressure on the park defence in the final quarter of the half, and were close to scoring on a couple of occasion striking the post and the ball cleared off the line. 2-0 at the break and The park were looking favorites.
The 2nd half
The park resumed as they did in the 1st half playing with a steel determination that they were not going to concede. Conor had a great chance on the 10min mark that brought the best from the keeper tipping over the bar. Athletic were dangerous from corners and were nearly rewarded from a corner that struck the near post and cleared by Kiwi. The park back 4 Dave, Sean, Alan and Cian were like a rock through out clearing their lines with confidence. on the 20 min mark and another great break through by the park lads, this time Conor was the distributor finding Kiwi with a lovely through ball catching the Athletic defence, Kiwi returned the favour squaring the ball across the goal to Dylan who calmly stroked it to an empty net breaking the hearts of the Athletic players, 3-0 up and the Park were not going to be caught and were keen to keep a clean sheet.The Park management cleared the bench so that all the players could savour the occasion.
Killarney put pressure on though looking for a consolation goal and were close to scoring in the closing mins with a strike that agonizingly shaving the far post.
The final whistle and the celebrations began!!!
Well done Lads and well deserved for a team that played the best football in this league!!!
Credit to the Killarney Athletic Players and Coaches on a truly sporting game and credit to the players who clapped the Park Lads off the Pitch. A great Sporting gesture by a nice bunch of lads.
We wish to thank the Killarney Athletic Club for their hospitality providing a good spread after the game. A nice touch!
Squad on the day: Eoghan Murphy, Cian Holden, Sean Collins, Alan McElligot, David Fitzmaurice, Eoin Lynch, Shane Walsh, Ciaran Killeen, Dylan O’Sullivan, Conor Lowe, Owen Moynihan, Dean O Connell, Jacob Lukco, Matus Lukco, Maciek Morowski,Ruairi o Kelly
Players of Note: Cian Holden, David Fitzmaurice, Dylan o Sullivan, Shane Walsh,Sean Collins,Ciaran “Kiwi” Killeen,Conor Lowe, Jacob Lukco
Player of the Match: Eoghan Murphy (GK) – First clean sheet of the season, great confident and consistent deliveries out from the back to find Park team mates with precession .
Training has now finished for all U14 for this season.
The Park U14 Management Team of John, Adrian, Neil and Padraig would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Players for their commitment and the Parents for their help and support throughout the season. Best of Luck in Future!!
