Merville Utd 6-2 Kiltullagh Pioneers (Tom Daly (2))

Our U14S went down fighting this afternoon in Sligo in the SFAI cup and the final score line doesn’t really do justice to the story of an excellent match. 

It was quite even at the start with chances at both ends with Tom Daly going close with a header on 4’ while Danny Keane was causing the opposition a lot of problems with some great runs down the left wing. 

We fell behind on 15’ to a well struck free kick that was bent expertly around the wall, but we almost equalized immediately when Jamie McDonagh crossed in a great ball that Tom came very close to finishing off. 

Tom then went on a tremendous run but pulled his shot wide of the right hand post. He made up for it a minute later on 27’ when he finished expertly after great work by Oscar the Grouch. 

Parity only lasted 2 minutes and we had a disastrous 3 minutes before the break when we conceded two goals to go in 3-1 down. 

We knew that if we could get one goal back we would be right back in it and sure enough, 2 minutes into the second half a free kick by Oisin Coyne was headed on by JOB and Tom threw himself at it and got the header over the line. 

2-3 and game on at that stage!

A minute later the Grouch played Tom through but he pulled his shot wide. He had a good shout for a penalty after 6’ but it wasn’t given and we played on. 

The defining moment of the game came on 10’ when the Grouch brilliantly beat 4 players, advanced into the box for a shot, only for their keeper to pull off a magnificent save and we were very lucky not to concede on the counter attack, but James Cannon saved brilliantly in our goals and Sean Mulry completed the clearance. 

However, Merville scored from the resultant corner and try as we might, we just couldn’t claw our way back into it. 

We had other chances and both Tom and Oisin came close but it wasn’t our day and Merville scored a couple of more to close out a comfortable win in the end. 

Our boys were not happy with their performance last week in the league and there was a huge improvement in attitude and performance today in Sligo. To a man, they worked hard, tackled and hassled their opponents from start to finish. 

James did very well in goals and is learning every match. The back four of Sean Muldoon, Sean Mulry, Michael Walsh and Kevin Walsh were superb today - they were under pressure for a lot of it but put their bodies on the line and kept coming back for more. 

JOB played in midfield today and did well with Oisin and the Grouch in the engine room. The wingers, Danny and Jamie were flying, while Mr Goals was back to his best in a superb performance. 

The whole squad got a run and the lads who came on, Cathal, Colm, Oisin, Andrew and Dara all put themselves about to great effect. 

Sometimes you don’t win in sport, but the team left nothing behind today and can hold their heads high. 

Well done boys