League v Corinthian Boys A in Ballyadam Park on Sunday 14th September 2014
Carrigtwohill United 2 Corinthian Boys A 4
Scorers: Robert Adam, Daniel Ciolacu.
A game of two halves – well this was a game of three halves ! On a perfect morning for soccer, our team started very well. Corinthians were expected to provide a very tough test so early in the season, but Carrigtwohill made light of this and dominated the opening exchanges.
For the opening 10 minutes, Carrigtwohill dominated the midfield area where Ebe Imoh was to provide the spark for the opening goal. Picking up the ball in the middle circle, he played a perfect pass to Daniel Ciolacu whose cross found Robert Adam perfectly positioned to score.
Within a few minutes, Carrigtwohill United doubled their lead. Again, it was the our flying winger who delivered – picking the ball up on the half way line and running at the defence, Daniel turned the corner back and struck a sweet shot into the far corner of the goal – a contender for goal of the season already !This was a superb performance at the mid-way point in the 1st half, Carrigtwohill were in control. Robert Adam, having been put through by Darragh Hoare was just about to extend the lead to three goals when a last gasp tackle saved Corinthians. However, the game started to change at this point. Gradually, Corinathians took control of midfield and attacked down our left wing where Daire Sullivan was very busy. If we had a contender for goal of the season, we definitely had a contender for save of the season as Darren Flynn pulled off yet another super-save ! The attacker was one on one with the keeper and unleashed a powerful shot which Darren dived to his left to touch the ball onto the post and away to safety. However, the mounting pressure would eventually bear fruit for Corinthians as a break down the left and some neat passing yielded an opening goal and this would bring an element of confusion to the Carrigtwohill defence. For the 10 minutes leading up to halftime, Carrigtwohill lost their shape and relentless attacking from Corinthians yielded three more goals to give a half-time deficit of 4-2.
It would have been easy for heads to drop at this point, but great credit to the team for the manner in which they approached the second half. Darragh Cullinane came in to take over from Adam Walsh who picked up a knock in the first half and Joshua Joseph came on to replace Darren who was also injured. Ebe moved into goals, Joshua went to partner Abdul and James Barry moved into the defensive midfield slot alongside Cian Olden. The team switched up a gear in the second half with another outstanding display from Abdul at center back and Scott McCarthy in the corner. Scott was fearsome in his tackling and would not allow himself be affected by a bad knock he got during a goal line clearance. Daire Sullivan, unable to play on with the knock he was carrying for most of the game moved into goals – three goalies in one match must be a record ? However, the effort and industry of the tired bodies was not rewarded in the second half and Carrigtwohill failed to claw back the advantage handed to Corinthians in a mad second quarter. A lesson for this squad that they will have to learn.
Ballyseedy Home & Gardens Man of the Match: Scott McCarthy