Cloughbawn claim U-11 title
Magnificent achievement for minnows from small club
CLOUGHBAWN WEXFORD ALBION 7 1 EVERY NOW and then a team comes along with the quality to defy logic. Cloughbawn, now officially the best Under-11 side in the county, after winning the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Division 1 title, are one of those teams.
When the season started, Wexford Albion, Forth Celtic, St. Joseph’s, New Ross Town and Gorey Rangers sat in Cloughbawn’s way. They really were the minnows. To put it in perspective, the club’s next highest-ranked schoolboys side, their Under-15s, are going well too - in Division 2A.
It was all set up for the perfect end to the league season. Gorey were playing earlier in the day, aiming to keep their slim hopes of glory alive, but the small little club just off the N30 were determined to make that fixture immaterial.
All they needed was a win; sounds simply enough. But Wexford Albion, as they have shown this season, are no mugs. For once, they travelled with a full contingent of players too, not afraid to act as spoilers and happy to see the league trophy remain in league Vice-Chairman Don Hearne’s car.
The early stages were competitive. Lucas Fitzpatrick headed a corner over for Cloughbawn, while at the other end Adam Tierney’s glancing effort from Seán Denton’s cross fizzed wide of the goal.
With 13 minutes on the clock Cloughbawn made the breakthrough. Oisín Rochford fed the ball down the right for Charlie Murray. The dangerous winger whipped the ball across for Fitzpatrick on the edge of the box and he cannoned his shot in off the post.
Deadlock broken, Cloughbawn oozed confidence. When Fitzpat- rick’s shot caromed into his own team-mate, Shayne McDonald, two minutes later, Cody Doran was on hand to rifle the rebound past Flavio Valentini from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.
There were chances at both ends for what would likely be a vital third goal, none better than when Tierney sauntered away from the hosts’ defence but sent his shot from just outside the area flashing wide of the left post.
Just seconds after half-time Cloughbawn got their third when McDonald’s glancing header from Fitzpatrick’s inviting ball flew past Valentini. Three became four six minutes later when Kevin Barron and Charlie Murray combined on the right, with the latter crossing for Fitzpatrick to head in.
Fitzpatrick completed his hattrick seconds later, crashing in off the underside of the crossbar. Albion pulled a goal back with 16 minutes remaining when Jake Kelly sent a dipping half-volley flying past Shane Kehoe.
Any hopes of a dramatic revival were shortlived. Two minutes later Fitzpatrick’s shot was deflected to the net with Killian Tierney lurking. Cloughbawn wrapped up the title in style, scoring a seventh when McDonald poked home his second with two minutes remaining.
The league champions will certainly enjoy this win, but attention will soon turn to the cup semi-final, against unbeaten Bunclody, as the pre-season underdogs look to complete a stunning double.
Cloughbawn: Shane Kehoe; Oisín Rochford, Kevin Barry; Charlie Murray (joint capt.), Lucas Fitzpatrick (joint capt.), Cody Doran; Shayne McDonald. Subs. (rolling) - Killian Tierney, Ryan Sinnott, Dean Browne.
Wexford Albion: Flavio Valentini; Rory Gilbert, Seán McCleane (capt.); Jake Kelly, Adam Tierney, Seán Denton; Evan Donohoe. Subs. (rolling) - Aaron O’Farrell, Ben Gulliver.
Referee: Ger Cleary.