Another big game for the u13A’s took place in Christy Leahy Park on Saturday morning. This time the game was somewhat of a league decider in that if the A’s didn’t win the game the league title would almost certainly go to Killorglin. Win and the league might go to a playoff game against the same opposition.
With a lot to play for and two very evenly matched sides, the game was likely to be a tight affair. Park played the first half into a considerable breeze and started very much on the front foot. Almost from the kick off the lads put together a great move which ended with Cianan one and one with the Killorglin keeper but the keeper did well. In the 4th minute Messieh turned on the edge of the box and struck a shot that went over the Killorglin keeper and into the net to give the lads a deserved early lead. Park continued to play most of the ball and after good work from Sean O’Connell and Cianan, Messieh shot over. The Parks’ midfield and defence were doing really well to keep Killorglin at bay. However with 5 minutes left in the half Killorglin got a shot away that Liam did really well to save. This was a spur for the lads to finish the half strongly and they were really unlucky not to double the lead when Messiah slipped Colin through and he cut inside to hit a super strike which came off the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. HT Park 1 – 0 Killorglin .
While Park controlled the majority of the first half the second half was a different story. Even though we were now playing with the wind it was Killorglin who had lots of possession although we did well defensively to keep the shots to a minimum throughout the half. Park did have one or two chances and one of those fell to Cianan who hit a strike from the edge of the box that the keeper did well to push on to the cross bar. All 16 of the squad worked really hard on the day to ensure that they won by the narrowest of margins.
Depending on results it looks like Killorglin might be the opposition a couple of times between now and the end of the season as the Kerry Cup semi final has drawn the two teams together with Killorglin at home this time. Well done to all the lads.
Squad: Liam Carmody, Jack Kearney, Kieran O’Connor, Sean O’Connell, Ben Hanafin, Samuel Aladesanusi, Conor Kerins, Sean O’Connor, David Feely, Danny Jeffers, Cianan Cooney, Messiah Chirwa, Colin Doody, Adam Wharton, Sean Hill .
Match report by Pat Carmody .
