League v Blarney United A in Ballyadam Park on Friday 13th May 2016
Carrigtwohill United 2 Blarney United A 2
Scorer – Abdul Rahim 2.
A lovely summer’s evening was the setting for a tough home tie against table toppers Blarney. In fact, the visitors had been crowned Division 3 Champions this week with 3 games to spare.
Carrigtwohill started nervously, giving too much respect to their opposition and it took some time for them to settle into the game. Blarney were moving the ball well through midfield but unable to make any clear cut chances. However, gradually, Carrigtwohill started to impose themselves in the game. Jamie Dunlea was doing great work up front and Carrigtwohill started to spread the ball wide onto both wings, where both Darragh Hoare and Abdul Rahim were constantly pressing the Blarney defence. As the half wore one, both teams had chances but it was Carrigtwohill who came within a whisker of opening the scoring, when the Blarney keeper pulled off a fabulous double save firstly from a Robert Adam pile driver and a James Barry header from the rebound.
Carrigtwohill reorganised at half-time pushing two players up front and this progressive move was soon to yield results when Adbul finished to the net after a Robert Adam shot. It was all Carrigtwohill during the third quarter of the game with several gilt edged chances created but not converted. In the 55th minute, Adbul scored again after a great run on the right wing. 2-0 and Carrigtwohill were dreaming of 3 points. However, Blarney showed why they have swept aside all others in this division with a gritty last 15 minutes. Shortly after Adbul’s goal, Blarney won a corner and somehow managed to force in a deflected cross at the near post – game on !
The last ten minutes were end to end – Carrigtwohill were under constant pressure and finally the opportunity came when in a fine team goal, Blarney were to thread a killer pass behind our back line for a handy finish from the Blarney attacker. The Blarney team and bench were ecstatic with the equaliser as it preserved their unbeaten record this season. The game finished with half chances for both sides. Carrigtwohill were disappointed having been 2-0 ahead but very satisfied with such a powerful performance which bodes well for the remaining games this season
Player of the Match – Abdul Rahim