Local Cup v Leeds in Leeds Park on Saturday 24th January 2015
Leeds 2 Carrigtwohill United 1
Scorer – Mark O’Connor.
This weekend, Carrig’s U11s took a break from their league adventures to play their first local cup game of the season. The draw did not seem too favourable however, as Carrigtwohill pulled Leeds’ top team out of the bag. Unbeaten in 13 league games and top of Division one, this seemed to be a tough oppsition. U11 soccer however is sometimes unpredictable and so it proved as Carrig came out all guns blazing. After 10 minutes that were very even, Dave Williams pushed the ball wide for Liam Moore whose right footed shot ran just past the post. Leeds got their chances too and it took a Man of the Match performance from goal keeper Dennis Ogenete to keep them out. After 20 minutes, the ball broke wide on the right end side and Mark O’Connor chased after it. From 20 yards, he then calmly blasted the ball under the cross bar and the Leeds goalkeeper was unable to get to it.
In the second half, things changed a bit. Carrig were up and Leeds did not intend to leave things as they were. This was still an even match, but Leeds’ superior passing was threatening to make the difference and so it did, twice, where excellent through balls found the Leeds centre forward ideally placed to win his one on ones on Carrig’s keeper both times. In the last ten minutes, Carrigtwohill’s finest went in search of an equaliser, but sadly it never came, Leeds’ defence staying very solid and with Carrig’s final pass never quite accurate enough. A marvellous match however played in fantastic spirit.
At the very end, before the jerseys were put away till the next match, there was still time for a little talk by the coach and for presenting the December player of the month award to Eric O’Sullivan for his superb performance in previous league matches as well as his impeccable application in training.
Ballyseedy Home & Gardens Man of the Match: Dennis Ogenete.