Walshestown over the Moone
Walshestown Moone Celtic
DDSL side Leicester Celtic of Rathfarnham stand between Walshestown and a place in the U-14 SFAI Cup quarter-finals after they defeated Moone Celtic of Kildare last Saturday.
Even to progress this far is a great achievement as it’s 11 years since the club last reached the last 16 and that year they eventually bowed out in the quarter-finals, with current intercounty GAA players Andy McDonnell, Ronan Holcroft and William Woods all togging out in the red and white of Walshestown!
In heavy pitch conditions last weekend the Rinkinstown outfit started strongly, with Lennon McCormack and Oisin Gray pressing hard up front and good support play out wide from both Turlough Dowley and Jamie Donagh.
That early pressure was rewarded when McCormack pounced inside the six-yard box after the Moone Celtic goalkeeper was unable to hold a strong drive from Gray.
Walshestown continued to press forward and they doubled the lead on 19 minutes when Gray found the net himself following great work in midfield by Sam Murtagh and Craig Callanan.
However, despite their early dominance Walshestown were fortunate to reach half-time with that two goal lead still intact and some resolute defending was required from Aaron Garvey and Sean Boyle, as well as a very smart save low to his right by Kyle Meegan.
Early in the second half Walshestown should have sealed victory as Dowley, McCormack and Gray all had chances to get the third goal but were thwarted by some excellent defending and goalkeeping from the travelling team.
With five minutes to go Walshestown looked as if they might rue those missed chances when Moone Celtic were award-
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ed and duly converted a penalty, to ensure the game finished on a knife-edge.
With the Kildare boys pressing hard for the late equaliser it took the calming presence of Matthew Lynch in midfield and some clever defending by Dillon Carolan and Freddie Morgan to keep the visitors team at bay.
As the game entered injury time a final rallying call from captain Tadgh O’Brien and man of the match Aaron McGlew ensured the home team held on to make the last 16. WALSHESTOWN: K Meegan, A Garvey, T O’Brien, A Mc Glew, S Murtagh, C Callanan, L McCormack, O Gray, J Donagh, S Boyle, T Dowley, D Carolan, M Lynch, F Morgan.
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