Under-16 Cork Schoolboys League
Sun, 10 Mar 24 at Ballyadam
Carrigtwohill United – 2
Midleton – 1
Midleton were the visitors to Ballyadam this weekend for the return league fixture of this East Cork local derby. This is the third meeting of both these team so far this season. Carrigtwohill with an away draw in the league and a loss in the last 16 of the National Cup.
The first few minutes set the tone as to how the game would be played, end to end with both sides fighting tooth and nail for every ball, every blade of grass.
Carrigtwohill United were exerting more pressure early on the games and nearly opened the scoring with some nice play when Rian Thornhill used some trickery from his skill set to get away from the Midleton defence and get a shot off which went just wide of the post.
Carrigtwohill finally opened the scoring and took the lead when Noah Eddins picked up a loose ball in the final third of the pitch and placed a well weighted pass into Noah Nsengiyumva who somehow evaded the opposition players around him to let fly with a well hit shot outside the ‘D’ into the top corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.
Carrigtwohill kept applying more pressure and went hunting for a second goal. Kyle Kidney, Roan O’Keefe and Rian Thornhill kept attacking Midleton every opportunity they could as there were getting great supply from midfield and the full backs.
The relentless pressure was working as Carrigtwohill scored the second goal from a free Kick. Sean Og Madden lofted a well-placed free kick into the danger area, the ball bounced, Rian Thornhill acrobatically and bravely slide in make contact with the ball on the half volley in a 60/40 challenge against him to double Carrigtwohill’s lead. 2 Nil to Carrigtwohill. The Carrigtwohill defence worked hard and stayed compact to restrict Midleton to a few speculative long shots from outside the box which Jarlaith Cullimore dealt with.
Carrigtwohill were full value for their 2 nil lead at halftime and knew the job was only half done. With this being the third meeting between these 2 sides they knew Midleton would throw the kitchen sink at them in the second half.
Midleton made a few changes, started the second half with greater urgency and some neat passing football and got one goal back. 2 to 1 now to Carrigtwohill.
Midleton went searching for the equalizer, but it never came.
Carrigtwohill soaked up Midleton’s pressure being applied with some last ditch defending and stubbornness. There was one last late bit of drama at the end when Midleton thought they had secured a late equalizer only for the ball to crash off the post and was scrambled clear by the Carrigtwohill defence. Carrigtwohill secure the win in the East Cork Derby.
Today was a day about Carrigtwohill taking their chances when they came and determination to defend and willingness to keep going for the 90 plus minutes.
To a man the entire match day squad contributed to this performance to get this valuable home 3 points.
