West undone by late winner

Cork leave it late to clinch three points in U15 clash

WCSL 0

CSL 1

THE West Cork Schoolboys League suffered a gut-wrenching SFAI Subway U15 Championship 1-0 defeat at home to the Cork Schoolboys League at the Baltimore Road last weekend.

A local derby between two well-matched sides produced a quality game on Skibbereen AFC’s pitch where the visitors dominated possession for long spells. Deploying a 5-3-2 formation that served them well in their previous 1-0 victory away to Waterford, West Cork were content to sit deep and counter-attack whenever an opportunity arose.

But failure to adequately test goalkeeper Callum Dungan proved costly as Cork upped the tempo in the second period only to be repeatedly thwarted by a combination of Skibbereen net-minder Micheál Sheehy plus defenders Robert McCarthy, Sean Lawless and Finn Moroney.

The WCSL’s brave performance looked set to earn the home side a share of the points until Cork conjured up the fixture’s best clear-cut chance five minutes from the end. Moving the ball swiftly down the left wing, the visitors found substitute Brandon Idah inside their opponent’s penalty box. Idah didn’t hesitate, unleashing an unstoppable shot – via a slight deflection – into the roof of the net to hand Cork a lead they would never relinquish.

There was barely enough time for West Cork to mount a comeback in a game Jack Kevane, Isaac Harte and Ciarán Santry worked hard up front on meagre possession. The WCSL’s defence was in excellent form throughout the 70 minutes and well protected by Peadar O’Rourke and James O’Neill. Wing backs, Dylan McCarthy and Niall Keane can also be pleased with their contributions. 

But for all their endeavour, Zoran Teodorovic’s team’s inability to find the target from a succession of counter-attacks permitted a talented Cork outfit to claim all three points.

As a result of last weekend’s 1-0 loss, West Cork will travel to Kerry for their final Subway SFAI U15 Group 2 fixture needing a positive result to confirm a top-two finish. 

Avoiding defeat to Kerry may be enough to earn the WCSL a Munster semi-final berth, the least this talented squad of players deserve following impressive back-to-back inter-league displays.

West Cork Schoolboys League: Micheál Sheehy (Skibbereen), Isaac Harte (Skibbereen), Niall Keane (Ardfield), Dylan McCarthy (Skibbereen), Robert McCarthy (captain, Castlelack), Ciarán Santry (Ardfield), Sean Lawless (Ardfield), Finn Moroney (Lyre Rovers), James O’Neill (Skibbereen), Peadar O’Rourke (Ardfield), Jack Kevane (Skibbereen).

Subs: Jack Enright (Ardfield), Matthew O’Donovan (Drinagh Rangers), Jason Mayiji (Castlelack), Chinaza Ogwudiegwu (Ardfield), Seamus O’Mahony (Ardfield).

Cork Schoolboys League: Callum Dungan, Godfrey Elue, Adam McCarthy, Jack Hayes, Ian Drinan (captain), Ryan McCarthy, Cian O’Flaherty, Paul Harding, Jack Dawson, Eric Nolan, Leon Hennessy.

Subs: Thomas Lambe, Lee Kelly Obi, Brandon Idah, Conor Hanley, Ben O’Leary, Liam McGrath, Ryan Heaphy.

Referee: Patrick Hurley.