League v Bandon in Ballyadam Park on Saturday 16th March

Carrigtwohill United 0 Bandon 2

Carrigs U15s first league defeat of the season came at home in a game played in perfect conditions at the weekend. Indeed, this first loss may have a massive influence on the destination of the league title as it came against our closest and strongest rivals, Bandon. Carrigs cause was weakened by the withdrawal of several first choice players, the most notable loss being centre half Tom O'Brien through injury. In a new look back four, free scoring striker Conor Keegan took up an odd position in central defence in place of O''Brien and acquitted himself very well. The game opened with the away side making all the running and Carrig had no answer to the Bandon midfielders passing and movement. Keegan snuffed out several early Bandon attacks but on eight minutes the away side were awarded, and scored, a penalty following a challenge inside the box. Carrig never threatened the Bandon goal despite good probing balls from Keegan, and a lack of of effort in midfield allowed the away side to dominate possession.

The second half continued in the same manner with Bandon in control, enjoying comfortable possession without any pressure applied by Carrigs midfield pair. With twelve minutes left Keegan was dispatched to a more usual position up front in search of an unlikely equaliser as Carrig went to three at the back. Although he caused Bandons defence a few problems the move was to be in vain, as once again Carrigs midfield gave away cheap possession on the halfway line allowing Bandon to break and score a second goal securing all three points. Carrig are now in second spot two points behind Bandon. With a game less played, they still have a say in where the title goes but need a massive change in workrate and attitude to be in contention at the end of the season.

 

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Conor Keegan

 

 

Local Cup v Churchvilla in Ballyadam Park on Saturday 16th February

Carrigtwohill United 5 Churchvilla 2

Scorers - Conor O'Mahony 2, Victor Mazur, Conor Keegan, Liam Gosnell.

Carrigs u15s progressed to the third round of the local cup competition with a good home result against close rivals Churchvilla on a frosty Saturday morning. The home side were slow out out of the blocks and allowed Churchvilla to dominate the early exchanges and had to settle for scraps early on. With his team's first and only attempt on goal in the first half Cormac Horgan missed from close range on fifteen minutes with only the keeper to beat. Churchvilla, lifted by this let off, were pushing on well and were one up after twenty minutes following a bad mix-up in defence when Carrig's keeper and centre half both hesistated to allow Villa's striker an easy tap in from six yards.

A stern half time talk by team management had Carrig in a better frame of mind for the second period and it showed from the whistle with the home side attacking with purpose. Right full Victor Mazur came close inside a minute with a decent effort. Conor O'Mahony came close two minutes later when he put a Morgan Doody cross narrowly wide. Carrig's tail was now up and they levelled the game five minutes into the second half when O'Mahony scored a great goal following a fantastic move involving five Carrig players. O'Mahony put Carrig ahead four minutes later having been played through by Conor Keegan. Villa made it two all soon after but for the final fifteen minutes it was all Carrig. Mazur scored with a great left foot shot and Keegan made it four with nine minutes left following great attacking play by Mazur. The lethal Liam Gosnell finished the scoring with three minutes on the clock to make it five goals to two to the home side. Roll on round three!!

 

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Victor Mazur

 

 

 

League v Carrigaline United in Ballea Park on Saturday 2nd February

Carrigaline United 0 Carrigtwohill United 9

Scorers - Cormac Horgan 3, Conor O'Mahony 3, Liam Gosnell, Conor Keegan.

Carrig were again on the road to face Carrigaline without a number of regular starters, but did not let this slow their momentum at the top of the table with a comprehensive nine nil win. Carrig went one up on six minutes with Cormac Horgan tapping in from close range after the keeper failed to hold a Conor Keegan shot. The score was two nil shortly after when the home teams centre half turned the ball into his own net while under strong pressure from Horgan who was a constant threat. On seventeen minutes it was three nil when Horgan was first to react to a half cleared corner to knock the ball home. Carrigaline did have a chance to pull one back but Gearoid Cody made a fine save to keep his goal intact.

In the second half it was all Carrigtwohill. Conor Keegan blasted in the fourth after linking very well with Horgan and Conor O'Mahony. Liam Gosnell showed his class with a great lob from the edge of the box to make it five and now it was a question of how many would be scored!
With sixteen minutes left on the clock Horgan secured his hat trick with a good finish from Gosnells superb pass. Conor O'Mahony then took on the scoring duties and notched up his second hat trick in three games with three goals inside the last eight minutes, the best being his second coming from great interpassing play from Horgan and Keegan.
Top spot in the league remains in Carrig's possession and are in confident form going forward.

 

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Cormac Horgan

 

 

 

League v Midleton A in Ballyadam Park on Saturday 5th January

Carrigtwohill United 9 Midleton A 0

Scorers - Cormac Horgan 3, Conor O'Mahony 3, Liam Gosnell 2, Conor Keegan.

Carrigs u15s welcomed close neighbours Midleton to Ballyadam for only their second home game of the season and made home advantage count from the word go. Carrig pressed against a stiff breeze from early on and went one up on seven minutes when Cormac Horgan finished following good play from Liam Gosnell. Horgan made it two nil three minutes later when his cross went straight to the net. Carrig were at full speed now and the away side were struggling to compete. Gosnell scored his first and Carrigs third on twenty minutes and from this stage on the points were secure. Cormac Horgan secured his hat trick three minutes before the break to make the half time score four nil.

 

With the strong breeze now at their backs Carrig totally dominated the game. Conor Keegan made it five nil two minutes in when his shot was deflected to the net. Midleton had no answer to Carrigs pressure and the home side drove their superiority home for the last fifteen minutes. Gosnell scored his second with a cool finish and Conor O'Mahony then found his shooting boots, producing a hat trick of goals within seven minutes to top off a a very strong performance.
With this nine nil victory Carrig have stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points, and are now the team to beat!

 

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Conor O'Mahony

 

 

 

League v Killinardrish Coachford in Dam Road on Saturday 8th December

Killinardrish Coachford 3 Carrigtwohill United 4

Scorers - Liam Gosnell 3, Conor Keegan.

Carrigs u15s remain top of the league following their latest game away to Coachford. As the scoreline suggests, this was a hard fought battle but in the end, Carrig deserved all 3 points on offer. Inside 2 minutes the home side were a goal down when their keeper allowed a weak Liam Gosnell cross slip through his hands and over the line. Conor Keegan made it 2 nil on 6 minutes blasting in from close range when Coachford failed to clear a corner. The home side did not allow their heads to drop however and pulled a goal back 5 minutes later from a corner kick. Carrigs defence were slow to pick up movement in the box and allowed the opposition a free header from close range. Coachford were now driving on and were soon level when sloppy play allowed Coachford to put in a dangerous cross from the left. Carrigs keeper remained on his line when he should have come to claim the cross and the ball ended up in the goal from the head of Darragh McCann. Gosnell got his second when again the Coachford keeper allowed a weak effort through his hands on the stroke of halftime.

The second half was to be a very tough 40 minutes of football, with both teams enjoying decent possession. Carrigs midfield of Billy Manning and John Hyde, on for the injured Conor Harte, worked tirelessly and Jamie Long in defence cleared up several dangerous attacks by the home side. The scoreline remained the same until the last minute of normal time when Gosnell secured the 3 points and his hat trick with a great solo effort. Coachford did pull another goal back with a free kick deep in injury time but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. Carrig can now look forward to the second half of the season with confidence as they will start the new year top of the table.

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Jamie Long

 

 

 

League v Leeds A in Leeds Park on Saturday 24th November

Leeds A 0 Carrigtwohill United 9

Scorers - Conor Keegan 3, Liam Gosnell 3, Cormac Horgan 2, Conor Harte.

Carrigs u15s kept their unbeaten record intact when taking on Leeds on a frosty Saturday morning. From the off Carrig controlled possession and threatened with each attack. Conor Harte opened the scoring on 5 minutes with a good left footed shot giving the keeper no chance. 5 minutes later the keeper failed to hold Cormac Horgans long range effort for Carrigs second. Conor Keegan got his first on 15 minutes after very good inter-passing between Horgan and Liam Gosnell. Leeds were struggling to get out of their own half at this stage and 5 minutes before the break Keegan made it 4 nil with a headed goal from a good delivery from Gosnell who was causing the home side problems each time he had the ball.

The second half was more of the same with Carrig always in control. 11 minutes in Keegan secured his hat trick after again linking up with Gosnell, who himself got on the scoresheet soon after when Leeds failed to clear. With 20 minutes left Gosnell got his second when played in well by sub Brendan Twomey. Carrig kept the pressure up and Cormac Horgan got his second with 16 minutes left after latching onto a long ball from midfield which was being marshalled very well by Billy Manning. The mauling was completed when Liam Gosnell got his third and Carrigs ninth with a great individual effort 7 minutes from time. Another good 3 points secured away from home and challenging strongly at the top end of the table.

 

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Billy Manning

 

League v Lakewood Athletic A in Ballincollig on Saturday 10th November

Lakewood Athletic A 0 Carrigtwohill United 8

Scorers - Conor Keegan 3, Cormac Horgan 2, Victor Mazur, Billy Manning, Brendan Twomey.

Our u15s travelled to Ballincollig to take on Lakewood Athletic A hoping to keep an unbeaten league record intact and did so in style.
From the first whistle Carrig were in control, putting the home side under pressure with great passing all over the pitch and after 5 minutes were a goal up when Victor Mazur found Conor Keegan who scored from close range. Liam Gosnell was provider for Carrigs second when he found Cormac Horgan from the left wing for Horgan to finish neatly. Less than 2 minutes later it was Mazurs turn to score after Gosnell again supplied the telling pass. Carrig were in total control now and the home team heads had dropped. Keegan scored his second on 30 minutes having again linked up with Gosnell, who was causing Lakewood problems each time he received the ball. Horgan made it 5-0 on the stroke of half time with his second of the day, supplied once more by Liam Gosnell.

 

The second half began with Carrig again dominating possession, but the scoreline remained the same until sub Brendan Twomey got on the score sheet with 19 minutes left. Billy Manning made it 7-0 after a great passing move with Morgan Doody. With 12 minutes left on the clock Keegan completed his hat trick when once again Gosnell supplied a great ball into the danger area. A very good team performance against a weakened home side ensures Carrig's hopes for promotion are kept very much alive.

 

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Liam Gosnell

 

 

League v Churchvilla in Ballyadam Park on Saturday 27th October

Carrigtwohill United 5 Churchvilla 3

Scorers - Conor Keegan 2, Cormac Horgan, Victor Mazur, Aaron Pender.

Carrigs u15s first home game of the season saw them play local rivals Churchvilla on a cold and blustery Saturday morning. Though missing a few regular players through injury Carrig started strongest and enjoyed most of the early possession, however chances were few and the game remained scoreless for 35 minutes. Carrigs first chance fell to Conor Harte on 20 minutes but he somehow shot wide at the back post from only 2 metres. Good wide play from Victor Mazur caused major problems for Villa all day long and it was from his cross that Carrig scored the first goal on 35 minutes, when Conor Keegan pounced to score after the away team's defence were slow to clear their area. 5 minutes later Keegan made it 2 nil when again he linked up with Mazur to curl a great shot into top corner. The halftime score however read 2-1 as just before the whistle Darragh Mc'Cann tangled with a Churchvilla striker just inside the box and the resultant penalty was tucked away neatly.

The second half again saw Carrig dominate possession and scored a third when Cormac Horgan rose highest to head home from 7 metres. Victor Mazur made it 4-1 10 minutes later with a well taken left footed shot. Churchvilla did'nt give up though and pulled a goal back when Carrig were very slow to clear a corner kick and conceded from close range. Aaron Pender made the 3 points safe with 20 minutes on the clock when he got on the end of a good passing movement to make the score 5-2. That wasn't the end of the scoring, as Curchvilla made it 5-3 7 minutes from time when Carrigs keeper allowed the ball to bounce inside the 6 yard box for a simple tap in. The home side kept Villa at bay for the remainder of the game with good play from the solid Billy Manning. A vital 3 points secured on the day but Carrig must must improve their defensive record!

 

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Victor Mazur

 

 

 

League v Bandon in Bandon on Saturday 13th October

Bandon 4 Carrigtwohill United 4

Scorers - Brendan Twomey 2, Conor Harte, Cormac Horgan.

Our U15s travelled to Bandon for their 2nd league game of the season in fine sunshine on Saturday morning, but there was nothing fine about the 1st half display. Before 60 seconds had elapsed we found ourselves a goal down when a totally static midfield allowed Bandon to waltz through unopposed to score easily against a dreamy defence. Carrig had hardly touched the ball by the time Bandon scored their 2nd on ten minutes. Again, with complete ease, the home side sythed through an invisible midfield unit to overrun the defence and score another tap-in. A lack of effort, commitment and communication was the order of the day and Bandon took full advantage, dominating every section of the field. This dominance resulted in a third goal on 25 minutes when both defence and goalkeeper somehow allowed the ball to bounce inside the 6 yard box for yet another tap-in.

It was hoped that a couple of changes and some very harsh words at halftime would make a difference and it worked. A goal inside 30 seconds from sub Brendan Twomey sparked Carrig into life. The dour, lifeless and non-working team of the 1st half was gone. A midfield appeared, and Conor Harte began to drive things on and pulled a second goal back with a good move through the middle. Every ball was now being challenged for and Carrig were now enjoying most of the possession. But once again a lapse in defence allowed Bandon in to score a fourth. Carrig, in fairness, upped the work rate again and pulled another goal back with Twomeys second. Billy Manning began to lead the charge and Bandon were under severe pressure for the last quarter. With time running out Carrig attacked with every chance and finally got their reward when Cormac Horgan acored an equaliser in injury time. A point saved but a big improvment needed if Carrig are to challenge for the title.

Ballyseedy Man of the Match - Billy Manning.

 

National Cup v Carrigaline Hibernians in Ballea Park on Saturday 29th September

Carrigaline Hibernians 3 Carrigtwohill United 2 AET

Scorers - Conor Keegan, Liam Gosnell.

Our u15s travelled to Carrigaline for this first round National Cup clash without a few regular players, but this did not stop them from dominating large parts of the game. Indeed, we were disppointed not to come away with a victory.
From the first whistle Carrigtwohill took control of the game with John Hyde, Aaron Pender and Conor Harte dictating midfield with relative ease, supplying great ball to our attacking wide men Victor Mazur and Liam Gosnell. Up front, Conor Keegan and Cormac Horgan never ceased tormenting the defence. Good midfield possession coupled with strong performances from our back three limited the home team to very little chance to worry Ben O'Leary in goal.

With no score at half time Carrigtwohill began the second half as they finished the first, continuing to limit the home team to long range efforts, while attacking with every oppurtunity they got. We were rewarded with fourteen minutes left when Harte played Keegan in with a great pass to open the scoring. It looked like Carrig were going to record an unexpected win until they lost Pender to injury five minutes from time and had to play on with ten men having used all subs. With two minutes remaining slack marking allowed the home team in to level and send the game to extra time.

Against ten men Carrigaline were now in charge and scored their second midway through the first period of extra time. A mix-up in defence gave away a third goal when Jamie Long headed to his own net with five minutes left to play. Liam Gosnell pulled one back close to the end to make it 3-2 but time ran out for Carrig to complete the comback. The difference of three divisions was not evident and Carrig came away having ran the division one side all the way.

 

Ballseedy Man of the Match - Victor Mazur

 

 

League v Blarney United in O'Shea Park on Saturday 8th September

Blarney United 1 Carrigtwohill United 4

Scorers - Cormac Horgan, Conor Keegan 2, Morgan Doody.

For their first league outing of the new season our U15s travelled to Blarney for a lunchtime kick off. Both teams began warily but it was Carrig who probed most in the opening quarter and were rewarded with a Cormac Horgan goal on 20 minutes after he ran onto a through ball from midfield and beat the keeper. Further pressure from Carrig did not however stretch their lead and slow play in our defence allowed Blarney in for an equaliser against the run of play 10 minutes before halftime. When Cormac Horgan blasted a penalty straight at the keeper minutes later, Carrig heads dropped and the halftime break was needed badly.

The introduction of Aaron Pender, Conor Keegan and Victor Mazur for the second half gave Carrig a lift and we threatened from the off. Good play from Billy Manning and Aaron Pender drove the team on and when Conor Keegan scored his first from close range it was full steam ahead for Carrig Utd. 2-1 became 3-1 5 minutes later when Keegan ran onto a great through ball from Horgan and lofted it over the advancing keeper. A fourth from Morgan Doody ten minutes from time ensured all 3 points for Carrig.
A good start to the season for a team looking for, at least, promotion.

Ballyseedy Man of the Match  - Billy Manning.