Under 15s Out Of Cup Despite Good Performance

We bowed out of the cup last weekend losing to the current league champions at this age group. We played well throughout even though theĀ  5-1 scoreline would suggest otherwise. The first quarter was pretty even and it is great to see our team face up to and put it to up a team of the quality of the Park. We had the aid of the breeze in this half and used it to good effect when Eoghan used his kick out to put their centre halves under pressure and once or twice Jimmy Shanahan and Gordon Burrowes forced some last gasp tackles. At the other end our defence were doing well against some very quick offensive players. Our full backs Jamie Hogan and Padraig O Connor forced their men away from the goals most of the time and when they got turned David Murphy and John O Shea were there to cover. Behind them keeper Eoghan O Brien was again in top form and becoming a greater presence game by game. After 20 minutes we had a period of pressure at the end of which we forced a corner. Jack Mac hit a smashing effort across the box not for the first time in the game but the Park cleared and countered at top speed. Our defence though aligned properly, failed to make the tackle when it needed to be made and our opponents were clinical to give them the lead which they held till half time. In the last 10 minutes of the first half we were under the cosh but defended well to keep them out. 2nd Half – The Park started in the ascendancy in this half and one or 2 of our lads felt the going tough but with Ryan Dolan directing his midfield teamates David Egan, Thomas Lenihan and Jack McCarthy all of whom clocked up miles for the cause we kept our shape and kept the Park outside our box in the main. 10 minutes into the half the ref penalised us quite harshly a number of times and from one of these frees they put one into the top corner beyond Eoghan who 5 minutes earlier made the save of the game when he pushed one onto the bar. Our opponents were on the up now and eventually got behind us down the wing and again were clinical from a low cross to the front post to make it 3. Our lads responded very well to this and we had a period of pressure at the end of which David Murphy, who was outstanding, scored for us from close range. There were 10 minutes left but we were unable to make any more inroads into our opponents who kept the ball well. Both teams had their subs on at this stage and for us Antoin Stanton did well on the right and linked well when he got the ball. We conceded 2 more in the last few minutes through tiredness in the main which put a bit of a gloss on the scoreline for the Park but we congratulate them and wish them well in the rest of the competition. Well done to our lads on their performance and this game will bring us on no end. We see now the standard of play and level of fitness required to match the very top teams in the county and we’re not too far off that.