Hoops ‘rock Dromin with comeback
SHAMROCKS DROMIN UNITED 2 1
GUTSY and determined Shamrocks lying second from bottom defied the odds to snatch victory with a late goal after coming back from behind in this under-14 meeting at Bellew Park.
The early part of the encounter looked ominous as Dromin set out by forcing a succession of corners resulting in a great tip over save by goalkeeper Sean Brown, one of the Shamrock stars, with his assured handling and vital interventions that was essential in his side coming out on top.
They managed to resist this early surge, but Dromin kept the pressure on with Shamrocks living precariously and twice they were on the verge of falling behind. Brown was their saviour as he advanced to foil Caolum Woods who was put free inside the penalty box by a diagonal ball over the top by Adam Cromwell .
The ball broke to the supporting Cameron Maher but he couldn’t direct his shot on target.
The same player made no mistake with a superbly struck half volley from outside the 18 yard line that gave Brown no chance to put Dromin ahead after 15 minutes.
However, their lead was short lived. Shamrocks barely were able to break out of their own half, but the highly industrious Alex Tugulea seized upon an under-hit back pass to equalise a couple of minutes later.
He showed wonderful composure and control, as he rounded Josh Lynch in the Dromin goal inside the penalty box and weaved across the front of goal as three defenders closed in on him to pick the right time to steer his shot past a defender on the goal line.
Shamrocks grew into the game and started to look dangerous, but Dromin still created more and the better of the scoring chances in the closing minutes of the half.
They continued to threaten after the break, but they also then were stretched to hold out with Tugulea and James O’Connor who became an increasing menace as the game progressed, proving a big thorn in the side of Dromin.
Sean Connolly should have scored after a incisive run by O’Connor who went past two players on the right wing and picked out his team mate whose shot from in front of goal was weak and straight at the Dromin goalkeeper.
Brown produced a brilliant save as a Dromin player towered over the Shamrocks defence to connect powerfully with his head with a corner kick by Ronan Dufy.
Then it was the turn of Tugulea to take off on a scorching run from near half way to sprint past a couple of opponents and into a wide open channel to enable John Hodgers to shoot on the edge of the box.
However, O’Connor’s persistence won the day as he per- sonified his side’ determination taking on two defenders forcing Jack Reagan into a lunging last ditch tackle inside his box for the ball to fly across goal to the lurking Peter McLaughlin and he swept it sweetly into the net with seven minutes left.
In the remaining minutes an attempted headed interception of a cross by Kaylem Casey, another of the winners strong links, was gathered by the well positioned Brown, while it took a perfectly timed challenge by Gareth O’Hare in the middle of his penalty box to deny Ronan Duff what like being an equaliser. SHAMROCKS: Sean Brown, TJ Murtagh, Gareth O’Hare, Kaylem Casey, Nathan Smith, Jake Mackin, Alex Tugulea, Jamie Joyce, Peter McLaughlin, Ben Gorman, Sean Connolly, James O’Connor, Ciaran Lindsay, John Hodgers, Stephen Myles.
DROMIN: Josh Lynch, Cian Martin, Jack Eagan, Sam Shearman, Keelan Maher, Adam Cromwell, Caolum Woods, Emmet Connell, Ronan Duff, Lorcan Callaghan, Cameron Maher, Tomats Guinaa. Shamrocks v Muirhevnamor, Fatima 6.30; Glenmuir Utd v Ardee Celtic, Glenmuir Pk 6.45
Blayney Acad v Glasslough Villa, Ballybay 6.30; Bay Utd v Quay Olym, Rock Rd 6.30
Ardee Ath v Rockville, Ardee 6.45; St Dominics v Redeemer, Friary Field 6.30; Bellurgan Ath v Muirhevnamor v Woodview, All/Weather 10.00; Ardee Celtic v Blaybey Acad, Ardee 10.00; Shamrocks v Rock Celtic, Fatima 10.00; Bellurgan Utd v Glenmuir Utd, Bellurgan 10.00; Quay Celtic v Bellurgan Celtic, Clancy Pk 10.00 Bellurgan Utd v Woodview, Bellurgan 10.00; Shamrocks v Glenmuir Utd, Fatima 10.00; Ardee Celtic v Quay Celtic, Ardee 10.00; Rock Celtic v Ardee Utd, Blackrock 10.00
Glenmuir Celtic v Rockville, Glenmuir Pk 10.00; Ardee Greens v Bellurgan Celtic, Ardee 11.00; Muirhevnamor v Quay Ath, All/Weather 10.00