23rd January 2022
Under-14 Div 2 at Ballyadam Park
Carrigtwohill United – 0
Corkbeg – 0
Carrigtwohill United welcomed Corkbeg to Ballyadam Park early Sunday morning in an East Cork derby. The home side lined out with Adam Lee in goal, a back four of Cillian Rooney, Noah Nsengiyumva, Sean Og Madden and Niall Barry, in midfield Roan O’Keeffe(c), Morgan Foley and Evan O’Regan O’Connor would set the tone and hope to supply a front three of Noah Eddins, Kyle Kidney and Rian Thornhill. The bench looked equally strong with Osas Aghedo, Tom Walsh, Cathal Seymour and Jarlath Cullimore waiting to see the action.
The opening 20 minutes were evenly contested with both sides battling for possession in a busy midfield area. The home side tried to stretch the game and bring their wingers into play but some dogged defending from Corkbeg denied Carrigtwohill any clear cut chances. Noah Eddins took a hefty blow to his thigh and had to be withdrawn just as he was getting the better of the Corkbeg left back and the sides would go in level at the break.
The introduction of Cathal Seymour (for Eddins) and Tom Walsh (for Kyle Kidney, who was carrying a knock going into the game) along with a reshuffle gave the home side the impetus to take the game to Corkbeg in the second half.
On 53 minutes following a free kick from Madden which was volleyed back across the box by Aghedo, O’Regan O’Connor should have gave United the lead but the Corkbeg keeper was equal to his header. Carrigtwohill now controlled the game as O’Keeffe and Walsh had found the measure of their opponents in the midfield. Madden was dictating things in defence and driving forward along with left back Nsengiyumva but Carrig had to be alert to any counter attacks and Adam Lee pulled off a fine stop from a Corkbeg winger.
The home side continued to apply the pressure and surely the breakthrough would come following a series of 4 consecutive corners but the Corkbeg defence stood firm with a goal line clearance and a header behind. Cillian Rooney had a penalty claim denied when he was up ended in the box and really should have snatched the winner in the dying seconds but his effort just fell the wrong side of the post. Corkbeg will be happy with the point while Carrigtwohill will see it as 2 points dropped as they battle for promotion among a very congested top five in the table.
Best for Carrigtwohill United were Sean Og Madden, Noah Nsengiyumva and Cillian Rooney.
Man of the match goes to United captain Roan O’Keeffe who had a terrific game in the engine room.
Well done to all and thanks to referee Austin Stack who also had a good game.
Player of the Match: Roan O Keeffe