Fenit score four to win Youth Cup

MUNSTER YOUTH CUP, KERRY AREA FINAL

ALL the years of fostering and promoting underage soccer is reaping rich rewards for Fenit Samphires and that was clearly demonstrated at Mounthawk Park on Saturday afternoon when they added another piece of silverware to their trophies cabinet after they were crowned Munster Cup Kerry area Champions with a very impressive win over Listowel Celtic.

This was quite an entertaining game with some good passages of football in a game that was played in ideal weather conditions.

While Fenit were the superior side on the day Listowel Celtic had their moments also and could have registered a couple of goals but for poor finishing and a couple of very good saves by the Fenit goalie Brian O Regan.

The game got off to an explosive start with Fenit going ahead after just 70 seconds.

It was a beautifully engineered goal with Sean Donnellan gaining possession at midfield and he laid the ball off to Conor Lowe who saw off the challenge of a defender and crossed the ball for the unmarked Christopher Murphy and his rasper of a shot went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Celtic had a great chance to equalise two minutes later when Callum McSweeney broke the Fenit offside trap running on to an over the top ball but he was denied by a terrific save by the Fenit goalie Brian O Regan who dived low to push the ball around the post.

Then play switched down the other end and as Cormac O’Brien cut in from the byline he was needlessly brought down and referee Adrian O Shea pointed to the spot. O’ Brien picked himself up and drilled the spot kick low to the bottom corner.

The timber work came to the rescue of Fenit in the 27th minute with Gavin Casey’s shot clipping the post.

Just past the half hour mark Celtic had another chance but Callum McSweeney’s effort on goals was pushed over the bar by the Fenit keeper.

However Celtic’s chances of getting back into the game took a serious set back two minutes later when the elusive Conor Lowe left a defender helpless after a spectacular turn and he set up Christopher Murphy who applied a great finish.

Celtic brought on Neil Downey for the injured Aaron Kelly and he went on to have a huge impact in the game in the second half.

Early in the second half Fenit were penalised for a back pass to their goalie and Neil Downeys free kick came back off the outside of the post.

As the half progressed both sides used their benches and Fenit slowed down the pace of the game.

The seasiders put the game to bed just past the hour mark when Christopher Gorman took down sub Ed Moynihan inside the box and the ref pointed to the spot. Conor Lowe took this one and he gave the Celtic keeper no chance with a clinical finish.

The game ended in a bit of a sour note with a player from each side, Devon McKenna for Celtic and Sean Collins Fenit, sent off for second yellow card offences in the concluding stages.

Now Fenit go on to represent Kerry in the last 16 in the competition and will be hoping for a favourable draw in the next round.

There was a great reception for the captain of the Fenit side Christopher Murphy as he was presented with the cup by the secretary of the KDL John O’Regan.

The future of the game in Fenit is looking very healthy as they won the youths league and Cup last season and another stream of very talented players are now coming through this year who are destined to star for the senior team in the not too distant future. AFTER the game Fenit manager Dave Staunton said he was delighted with the win.

“It was a tough game as we expected from Listowel and while we won 4-0 there was not too much between the sides. They had a good few chances to score but did not take them and our goalie made a few good saves also to deny them.

“These are a good bunch of lads and we will try and keep the momentum going and will be looking forward to representing Kerry in the open last 16 draw of the competition. We would love a home draw and take our opponents out to Fenit on a good wet day,” he joked.