Connaught U14 SFAI Shield

Athenry B 0 – 5 Kiltullagh Pioneers
(Tom Daly (3), Dara McGillicuddy, Jack O’Brien)

Our U14s had an excellent win yesterday on a sunny afternoon in Athenry in the first round of the Connaught shield. A depleted squad travelled and we had a number of U13s playing also, but the players played extremely well and played some great soccer in a comprehensive win.

The game had everything – Mr. Goals had a hat-trick, missed a penalty, missed the rebound, had a goal disallowed for hand ball and generally caused havoc every time he got on the ball. He had two early runs from midfield but was just wide with both shots. Oisin Coyne had a shot on 11’ and JOB had one on 14’ but we just couldn’t get the breakthrough.

The first goal finally came on 18’ when Sean Muldoon played a sublime through ball to Tom and he finished expertly. He was then bundled over in the box on 22’, dusted himself off and blasted the penalty off the cross bar and was denied on the follow up by a super save from Athenry’s ‘keeper. There was pinball from the subsequent corner and Tom put the ball in the net after good work by Andrew Power, but was adjudged to have used his hand in the finish.

The second came on 24’ when Dara McGillicuddy took control of the ball outside the box, neatly side stepped the defender and smashed a shot past their ‘keeper.

We took complete control of the game in the next 5 minutes when Tom scored in the 28’ and 30’ to give Athenry a mountain to climb.

We had another chance just before half time when JOB played a lovely ball down the wing, Andrew did brilliantly to run on to it, cross it in and Dara O’Brien was very unlucky to see his shot hit the cross bar and drop to safety.

The second half was a more mundane affair, we had some chances when Cathal Duffy had a shot and Andrew came close as well. The highlight of the second half was a 30 yard screamer from JOB that flew high into the net, giving the ‘keeper no chance.

It was a comfortable win, but a good performance also from some players who might not always be starters, but showed they are well able to contribute when given the chance.

Well done boys!

Squad: James Cannon, Sean Mulry, Dara O’Brien, Michael Walsh, Sean Muldoon, Cathal Duffy, Dara McGillicuddy, Oisin Coyne, Jack O’Brien, Tom Daly, Oisin Flaherty (C), Andrew Power, Michael Judge