Final heartache again for U17s
SSE AIRTRICITY UNDER 17 SHIELD FINAL
Kerry 1 Sligo Rovers 2
KERRY’S bid to end the season with silverware for the mantelpiece failed to materialise at Mounthawk Park on Saturday evening when they went down to Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Under-17 Shield Final.
While they came into the game as outsiders they matched their opponents all the way and with a bit of luck could have forced the game to extra-time.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time Kerry turned in a tremendous second half performance full of guts and passion but they just came up short in an exciting and tension charged game that hung on a thread right up to the final whistle.
Aided by a stiff breeze the visitors were the dominant side in the first half perfecting their passing game at midfield and making Kerry work hard to get possession. They went close to opening their account in the third minute when Irish International Darragh Reilly delivered the delicious over the top ball for Cillian Heaney and he was denied by a brilliant save by Kerry goalie Dylan Doona who flung himself to the left to push away the fizzing shot from 10 yards.
They went close to scoring again five minutes later from a Cillian Heaney corner-kick with Peter Maguire ghosting in at the back post and his header was just inches wide. Cian Brosnan was the lone Kerry striker up front and he turned in a great shift chasing every ball and used his pace and tenacity when he gained possession.
He went close to scoring the opener for Kerry in the 11th minute after a great run his low shot was saved by Sligo keeper Tommy Scahill. In the 20th minute Brosnan done brilliantly to rob Sligo defender Darragh Reilly but was caught on his wrong foot for the shot and his effort on goal was blocked.
By now Sligo were very much on the offensive and the Kerry defence were getting a torrid time by their excellent striker Cillian Heaney who was popping up everywhere and was taking on defenders at every given opportunity. However, the Kerry defence excellently marshalled by Tom Doyle and Ryan Guerin were doing a superb job at the back and rebuffing everything Sligo threw at them.
The Sligo goalkeeper was called into action in the 35th minute after a great run by Colin Walsh he was forced to make a save. After a period of sustained pressure
Sligo went ahead in the 36th minute.
It came after a breakdown in communication at the back by Kerry gifting their opponents possession and Oran Groarke breezed past a defender and he then set up Cillian Heaney and his shot went in off the butt of the post.
Play then moved down the end and Kerry forced two successive corners and from the second one Ryan Guerin put his effort on goal wide.
Kerry manager Billy Dennehy must have been reasonably happy by the first half performance but he knew they would have to up their game significantly if they were to have a chance of winning the game.
Unfortunately just five minutes into the second half Sligo doubled their lead when a great cross from Aidan McHale found Ciaran Jennings and he had too much pace for Patrick O’Connor and he finished to the net despite the valiant effort of Kerry goalie Dylan Doona who managed to get a hand to the ball but just could not keep it out
Then a Kerry free kick from Cian Brosnan produced a corner-kick which was taken by Colin Walsh finding Ryan Guerin, but his effort on goal went wide. Now Kerry were beginning to play some very spirited football and began to put the visitors defence under a lot of pressure.
They got the break through their endeavour deserved in the 64th minute when a superbly measured corner kick by Cian Brosnan went in off a defender in a packed goalmouth.
They went close to equalising in the 67th minute when some hesitation in the Sligo defence resulted in Cian Brosnan winning the ball and squaring it to Nathan Gleeson, but his shot from 10 yards was brilliantly blocked by Sligo’s Darragh Reilly who was injured in the process and had to be replaced.
Sligo were only a lick of paint away from securing their third goal in the 83rd minute when they hit on the break and a blistering shot from Rossa McAlliseter came back off the post.
As the clock wound down Kerry continued to apply pressure on the Sligo rearguard and they were only a whisker away from equalising in the 88th minute after a Cian Brosnan corner-kick sub Kian Clancy stole in at the back post, but was unable to make contact with the ball where any touch would have produced a goal.
Kerry kept the pressure on for the six minutes of added time but the much sought equaliser failed to come to fruition. While Kerry were very disappointed to lose the game all the players can hold their heads high as they had a fantastic season and gave great entertainment and enjoyment to everyone who attended their games over the past six months.
They got to two national finals which was way beyond their expectations. All the squad were great ambassadors of Kerry soccer and clearly showed how the standard of the game in the county has improved so much in recent years.
Manager Billy Dennehy done an excellent job with the team and after a poor start to the season they improved with every game and got some consistent results together which drove them up the league table. He had a great assistants in James Sugrue and Shane Guthrie.
Chris Hegarty did a great job as goalkeeper coach, while Philomena Bates looked after the physical welfare of the squad. Everyone involved can now take a well deserved and hopefully this squad of players can be kept together to progress to play with the Kerry Under 19 team.
KERRY: Dylan Doona, Robert Vasiu (Kian Clancy 59), Tom Doyle, Ryan Guerin, Patrick O’Connor, Neil O’Shea, Josh Toomey, Colin Walsh, Owen Benson, Nathan Gleeson, Cian Brosnan
SLIGO ROVERS: Tommy Scahill, Sean McAteer, Brian Lynch, Darragh Reilly, Ultan O’Grady 82), Peter Maguire, Oran Groarke (Sean Kerrigan 72), Aidan McHale (Johnny Kenny 72)), Kalin Barlow, Ciaran Jennings, Rossa McAllister, Cillian Heaney
REFEREE: Eddie O’Mahony