SFAI National Cup
Park 7 Charleville 1
After twenty minutes of this game nobody would have believed the score would end up as it did, with a pretty easy win for Park.
Although Park had fallen behind to a counter attack goal after nineteen minutes, the boys were playing really well. Fast, accurate passing allied to a really strong work rate had given them a vice like grip on the game.
Cianan Cooney, who had an excellent game throughout, equalised, when Charleville failed to clear Seán O’Connor’s shot, just five minutes after going behind.
The Charleville keeper then kept the scores level until half time as he produced fine saves from Kieran O’Connor and two more from Cooney.
The second half started with Park once again in the ascendancy and firing a few shots over as they tried valiantly to set their sights a bit lower.
Excellent interplay between Seán O’Connell and Cianan Cooney, after ten minutes of the half, had Cooney just over with a right foot piledriver but soon afterwards he made amends.
He shimmied past a Charleville defender before hitting a sweet drive to the top of the Charleville net. Two one to Park and they were still playing well within themselves.
Ben Hanafin set up Messiah Chirwa five minutes later but his shot was saved by the young Cork custodian. A third was surely in the offing and it duly arrived on twenty minutes.
A cross into the box was met by the in-rushing Josh Connolly to score the goal that finally broke the Charleville resistance.
Kieran O’Connor with a superb free kick, Conor Kerins (who was outstanding all day) from 30 yards, Seán O’Connell from a similar distance and Josh Connolly from close range put the icing on the cake.
All sixteen players were excellent and continue to improve. There will be tough challenges ahead but sometimes you just have to be happy with a fine performance from some excellent young players. This was one of those times.
Thanks to all the supporters, parents and especially the club members who had the pitch and facilities in excellent order today. Thanks also to the Charleville team and management for a very sporting game.
Squad:
Liam Carmody, Samuel Aladesanusi, Seán O’Connell, Seán Hill, Kieran O’Connor, Conor Kerins, Colin Doody, Josh Connolly, Messiah Chirwa, Seán O’Connor, Cianan Cooney, Ben Hanafin, Luke O’Connell, Killian Murphy, David Feeley and Cian O’Neill.
