Blacks shine in shoot-out
ALL BLACKS win 5-4 on pens.
ALL BLACKS played host to Evergreen from Kilkenny on Sunday in the South-East Regional semi-final. The home side knew they would be in for a tough afternoon as their opponents had recently qualified for the S.F.A.I Under-13 All-Ireland semi-final.
It was a sunny day in Casey Park, but the very strong crossfield breeze made for difficult playing conditions.
The visitors started the slightly better side and had All Blacks under pressure, although they were not creating many chances. The longer the first-half went on, the more the home side grew into the game, which was mostly played out in the middle third as both sides failed to trouble the opposing ‘keeper.
The second-half again was a hard-fought affair, with the home side’s defence being led by Dan Devereux and the exceptional Quinn Kelly, keeping their opponents at bay.
With Cathal Parker growing into the game in the middle of the field, the home side began to create chances, with Tadgh McDonald first, and then Ben Rossiter, going close.
A well-fought game was to finish 0-0 and so it went to extra-time. The home side’s defenders were dealing with everything Evergreen were throwing at them.
Luc Farrell and Evan Cullen, the two full-backs, were also causing trouble on their surges forward. Kyle Rankin and Tadgh Deegan in midfield were a constant thorn in the away side’s defence.
A tight opening period of extra-time still saw the sides remain deadlocked.
With Cullen forced off injured and another tatical change, the two substitutes had a big say in the outcome of the game.
Alan Dwyer caused Evergreen problems upon his introduction, and his pass to Ben Rossiter out on the wing resulted in the game’s opening goal.
Rossiter’s cross found Dwyer whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper, but Dwyer picked out Jake Cleary with the rebound and he fired the home side into the lead with only four minutes of the contest remaining.
But back came Evergreen and with two minutes left they were level.
Both sides still had a chance to win it, but after 80 minutes of hardfought, pulsating soccer, these two teams could not be separated and so we were to go to penalties.
All Blacks went first and scored their first two, thanks to Tadgh McDonald and Luc Farrell.
The crucial moment in this shoot-out came next as Lee Kelly, the Blacks ’keeper, dived superbly to his left to save the resulting penalty and put the home side in the driving seat.
Cathal Parker and Kyle Rankin fired home their penalties to leave the locals on the verge of a place in the final.
And so up stepped Ben Rossiter to fire his penalty to the back of the net and put the home side into the regional final which will take place in Kilkenny on April 22 against another Wexford team and local rivals, Wexford Celtic.
All the squad were outstanding and battled away for the full 80 minutes, a huge credit to each and every one of them.
All Blacks squad: Lee Kelly, Evan Cullen, Dan Devereux, Quinn Kelly, Luc Farrell, Tadgh Hayes, Cathal Parker, Kyle Rankin, Tadgh Deegan, Tadgh McDonald, Ben Rossiter, Alan Dwyer, Jake Cleary, Conor Swan, Ryan Goldsmith, James Wright.