Dennehy’s Health & Fitness Cup v Macroom in Ballyadam Park on Sunday 19th March 2017
Carrigtwohill United 0 Macroom 7
A Cup match can often throw up interesting pairings and Carrigtwohill did not quite know what to expect facing a visit from premier division side Macroom on a brezzy Sunday morning.
Carrigtwohill played with a strong breeze in the first half and the match started very brightly for the home side, with several chances being created. Anesh Swani and Ronan Ymedi up front were causing a lot of problems for the Macroom defence and came close on several occasions to opening the scoring. James O’Shaugnessy and Ebe Imoh, both in wing back positions were doing well, but in truth Macroom were making life difficult. The strength and passing of the premier division side was precise and quick and the match was highly competitive with no quarter asked or given. The opening goal came towards the end of the first half with the Macroom striker superbly finishing a cross from the right wing and with a second clinical finish just on the stroke of half-time, it seemed the home side would now have a battle on their hands just to stay in the match.
Facing into a very stiff breeze and two goals down in a Cup match, Carrigtwohill really only had one option – attack – and the lads deserve great credit for the performance in the second half, where they constantly pressurised the Macroom defence with Darragh Hoare and Ronan coming close to reducing the deficit. However, Macroom used their experience to soak up the pressure and were able to use the assistance of the wind to hit on the break at every opportunity. The second half was still in the melting pot with just 15 minutes to go and in truth it was tiredness that eventually beat the Carrigtwohill side as the work-rate put in wore them down and Macroom punished the gaps left by the weary legs.
The scoreline suggests a very one-sided match, but Carrigtwohill actually accounted for themselves very well and considering the gap of 3 divisions between the sides and the lack of league matches over the last 3 months, it was a strong performance by the home side which will prepare them for the final assault on the league over the coming weeks. Some superb performances, Bartek Stepaniuk, Darren Flynn and a man of the match display by Ebe Imoh who was masterful at left-back both defensively and pushing up in attack. Well done all round.
Player of the Match – Ebe Imoh