Last-16 beckons for Duleek
DYLAN O’Boyle was the match-winning hero for Duleek as they squeezed past Kingscourt Harps to progress to the last 16 of the Under-14 Skechers SFAI Cup at Carranstown last weekend.
The tie started at a very fast pace that surprisingly was maintained throughout the match and Kingscourt were quicker off the blocks and pinned Duleek back in the early stages.
That pressure paid off after 10 minutes when Kingscourt took the lead, but Duleek responded brilliantly and a fantastic move through the middle led to their equalising goal.
The ball was switched wide and then a low cross from Altay Guneyer picked out Sean O’Halloran who placed the ball deftly beyond the Kingscourt netminder.
Duleek were now having the best of the exchanges and they made it count by conjuring a lead goal. Evan Haddock placed a free kick just inside the Kingscourt half and the ball was controlled brilliantly by Guneyer who then turned and finished nicely from the edge of the box.
The game ebbed and flowed and Kingscourt were proving quite a handful with their direct approach, aiming balls towards the left wing where their number 6 caused a few problems. However, Duleek’s keeper Matthew Kealy was equal to everything with two fantastic saves and the Meath side retained their 2-1 lead going into half-time.
The second period was as hectic as the first, with both teams having opportunities. Duleek’s defence was marshalled excellently by Joseph Colmey and Evan Haddock and Liam Osborne and Karl Miland also worked tirelessly to keep Kingscourt out.
However, they could do nothing to prevent the Cavan boys fashioning an equalising goal just 10 minutes in.
Duleek, though, hit back almost immediately, restoring their advantage within three minutes. Captain Cian Towey, who was growing into the game, played a neat ball to James McGarvey who then passed through the middle to Matthew O’Brien. After a nice exchange with Callum Paisley, O’Brien sent a lovely ball into the box for the brave O’Boyle to head the ball into the net.
Tadhg Dixon replaced Osborne, and with fresh legs at left-back the substitute combined with his teammates to keep out Kingscourt as they tried in vain to grab an equaliser to force extra time.
It was a fantastic achievement by Duleek who now await their opponents for the round of 16, and in the meantime they look forward to continuing the defence of their North Leinster title against Ardee Celtic this Saturday in Carranstown at noon.