Joma/Sportsgear Direct Cup v Strand United in Ballyadam Park on Sunday 15th January 2017
Carrigtwohill United 2 Strand United 1
Scores: David Rooney, Zach Casagranda.
This was our first game of 2017 and were determined to get off on the right foot! Carrig started very well playing good football and giving the Strand defense a lot to do. After 10 minutes David Rooney opened up the defense with a through ball to Oscar who was taken down in the box! Up stepped Rooney to dispatch his third penalty of the season! Carrig pushed on for the next 15mins keeping possession with Cormac Flynn pulling the strings in midfield with Ethan and Jack causing problems on both flanks. We had a few chances to kill the game off before half time but could not take them,with the rest of the first half ending with nothing else of note happening!
The second half began with Strand looking more threatening and Carrig’s back three were called in to action to keep them out with Conor Lee making some vital interceptions. Carrig got their passing going again and got a corner after good play from Billy Scully. The resulting corner was swung in and was met by Zach Casagranda to put Carrig two up and settle the nerves a bit. As Strand tried to get something out of the game they left gaps which Carrig couldn’t take advantage of with final passes just going astray and their keeper making some good saves! At the other end Carrig’s resilience was finally broken from a corner kick. This put us under pressure but Cillian, Kevin and Conor were defending very well, along with the introduction of Jack O’Mahony who relieved the defense with some sublime skill to take the pressure off! Carrig saw out the rest of the game with Daragh in goals rarely threatened! A great way to start the year and get into the next round!
Player of the Match – Oskar Janke