Under-16 Cork Schoolboys League Premier
Sun, 28 Jan 24 at Ballyadam
Carrigtwohill United – 2
Avondale United – 0
Avondale United Under-16’s were the visitors to Ballyadam this weekend. Both teams were unsure if the game would go ahead due to the punishment the pitch took over the previous days and early mornings action. Underfoot conditions were poor, and the pitch surface was quite heavy and muddy.
Carrigtwohill were not going to let the poor underfoot condition hamper their game play and set the tempo attacking Avondale from the off with the Sean Og Madden’s header from a Roan O’Keefe cross just flashing wide of the far post.
Carrigtwohill made the breakthrough on the 14th minute when Roan O’Keefe scored from a free kick he had won. Roan lofted the ball into the danger area of the 6-yard box making the keeper undecided to claim the ball as Rian Thornhill tried to attack it, resulting with the ball ending up in the back of the net. 1 Nil to Carrigtwohill.
Carrigtwohill were beginning to get a grip on the game, Evan O Regan-O Connor were on a run down the wing flashed the ball across the box, Rian Thornhill almost guided the ball into the net only for some last ditch defending to clear the ball away.
Luke McDonnell was the next to come close to doubling the score when his header just rose over the cross bar from a well-placed corner kick from Rian Thornhill.
Rian Thornhill tried his luck next and almost doubled Carrig lead when was put through on goal, he took a one touch finish only for the keeper to make a spectacular save with his trailing leg.
The introduction of Morgan Foley in the second half gave Carrigtwohill an impact straight away. The player had a fine game and worked hard throughout.
Carrigtwohill started the second half how the ended the first, attacking the Avondale goal with some nice interplay between backs, midfield and forward.
Rayhan Soumaila thought he had scored Carrigtwohill’s second goal with a neatly taken header from a Sean Og Madden cross only to be chalked off for offside.
Osas Aghedo was unlucky to not get on the score sheet as his shot just went wide of the post from a cross from Luke McDonnell.
Carrigtwohill second goal finally came on the 55 minute when Dominic Juric threw the ball into the danger area where it was met by an Avondale defenders head, Roan O’Keefe took the ball down and placed the ball past the keeper giving him no chance. 2 Nil to Carrigtwohill.
Avondale hit a purple patch and almost scored with a speculative shot from 30 yards that rattled off the post and was scrambled clear by Carrigtwohill.
Rian Thornhill was very unlucky not to score today and thought he had scored Carrigtwohill’s third goal when he gave the ball an extra nudge over the line from a Roan O’Keefe header which unfortunately was adjudged to be offside.
Avondale came close again to scoring only to be denied by the acrobatics of Jarlath Cullimore saving with his feet doing his best impression of Peter Schmeichel’s starfish(Only the older generation will understand!!)
Best on the day were Luke McDonnell, Sean Og Madden and Osas Aghedo but player of the match goes to Roan O’Keefe for his two goals.
