Brilliant Bunclody
Under-12 league title sealed in style
BUNCLODY FERNS UNITED
RAMPANT HOSTS Bunclody wrapped up the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-12 Division 2 title with a stunning performance against Ferns on Monday of last week.
The champions have ridden the crest of a wave to the summit, winning all eight league games they have played this season.
Such is their confidence, with a cup semi-final against North End to come, they may well go unbeaten and claim the double.
It will take a serious side to match their level. Ferns gave it a real go in the first-half and stretched the champions a few times, but the sheer quality throughout this Bunclody team is almost impossible to curtail for 60 minutes.
Not only do they have quality from front to back, they have players that can move around the formation and adapt their skill set accordingly.
Every one of their players is comfortable on the ball, and if they continue their progression they will go all the way to the top of Division 1 in the coming seasons.
With Charlie O’Hara, Alex Murphy and Fionn Andrews probing, Ferns created a couple of half chances that they couldn’t take in the opening quarter.
At the other end Bunclody took the lead in the 14th minute when Jake Nolan split the defence open and Conor Doyle jinked his way through to net.
Jack Reck made two solid saves from Seán and Alex Murphy as Ferns looked for a way back into the game, but they fell two behind in the 21st minute.
Realistically, Lorcan Kinsella should have had a penalty immediately preceding Oisín O’Leary being hacked down. The striker took the spot-kick himself, Bryan Kearns made a fine save, but O’Leary fired home the rebound.
It stayed at two right up to halftime. However, Bunclody didn’t have to wait long for their third after the resumption.
O’Leary turned provider this time, with Eamonn Murphy firing home the rebound after his initial shot came off the post. A powerful Ciarán Scott strike made it 4-0 moments later as Bunclody started to purr.
Ferns kept their in-form hosts at bay until the 44th minute when O’Leary netted his second with a classy finish.
The goal of the game arrived five minutes later when Scott broke in on the right and nonchalantly scooped the ball over Kearns to the net to make it six.
The last ten minutes proved to be a procession of goals. Jake Nolan shot low past the ‘keeper to get his name on the scoresheet, and that was quickly followed by an excellent finish from Des O’Connor.
There was still time for O’Leary to double his tally, with the talented attacker netting the last two goals to complete a title-winning effort in style.
Bunclody: Jack Reck; Eamonn Murphy, Des O’Connor (capt.), Lorcan Kinsella; Conor Doyle, Jake Nolan, Ciarán Scott, Ryan Butler; Oisín O’Leary. Subs. (rolling) - Ryan Kavanagh, Oisín Cowman, Oisín Finn.
Ferns United: Bryan Kearns; Jack Brennan, Oisín Cronin, Ben O’Connor; Charlie O’Hara (capt.), Seán Murphy, Seán Gahan; Fionn Andrews, Alex Murphy. Subs. - Seán Dwyer, Paul Kehoe, Finn O’Flynn, Leon McLoughlin.
Referee: James Doyle.