ROCKING RANGERS!
Coolboy rejoice after epic battle with brave St Pat’s
WHAT a game these two young sides put on last Thursday evening in Celtic Park in Arklow in the Under-12 Shield Group 5 final.
Sportsmanship, good manners, bravery, talent, and humour were all present in abundance between both teams and sets of management and supporters on a lovely evening for a game of soccer.
The game had no end of high drama, some lovely play, some wonderful goalkeeping, some heroics and some heartbreak, but nobody left Celtic Park feeling that anything other a great game had taken place and that, while victory ultimately went to the players from Coolboy, in the end both teams came out on top in a game that will stand to them for years to come.
Coolboy were coming into this game on the back of a fine Under-12 Division 2 Cup win in Greystones some weeks back but they didn’t play with any of the same freedom against a very well prepared and eager St Pat’s outfit.
Chances were few and far between in the early stages as keepers Billy Molloy, for Coolboy, and Sean Fleming, for St Pat’s, seemed in full control at the back.
Add to that the agricultural style clearances from Coolboy’s Ruairí O’Brien, who almost decapitated several spectators on both sides of the field during this game, and the marvellous defence of Ed Byrne at the other end and it’s fair to say that the defending in this game was of a very high standard.
But goals were going to come. You could feel it in the warm evening air. Coolboy were asking questions but St Pat’s were growing in confidence and they were starting to pick out the very talented Ryan Kavanagh with some nice long balls from midfield and one of these five minutes from the end resulted in Kavanagh being taken down in the box and a penalty was the only decision to be made.
Kavanagh dusted himself off and slotted home superbly despite Billy Molloy getting a limb to the ball as it made its way to the back of the Coolboy net to the pure joy of the Avoca faithful.
But back came Coolboy as if stung by the concession and they went in search of an equaliser and substitute Wicktor Picha found himself in the St Pat’s square and he game Fleming no chance whatsoever when he blasted home to level the match almost at the death.
Extra-time saw no more goals scored and so we went for penalties. A superb save from Sean Fleming from Coolboy’s Rory Tallon got St Pat’s off to a flier; Fleming getting low in time to save the well struck spot kick.
Up next was Ryan Kavanagh who faced an in-form Billy Molloy in the Coolboy goal. Kavanagh went for height but Molloy stuck out his arm and batted the ball away superbly, showing great reflexes as he did so.
Luke Wallace was the next penalty taker for Coolboy and his low drive was excellently dealt with by Sean Fleming in the St Pat’s goal. Alas, the young St Pat’s netminder fell really awkwardly on his wrist after pulling off the wonderful save and had to be helped from the field.
As treatment was being administered to Sean and a replacement goalkeeper readied, St Pat’s sent James Murray up to take the next penalty. Murray placed the ball, stepped back, and fired home sweetly with Billy Molloy going the wrong way.
Larry Kinsella was the next penalty taker for Coolboy and he faced the formidable sight of Sean Poku. Kinsella opted for altitude with his kick and Poku got the hand to the ball and forced it over the crossbar.
Cian O’Neill fired wide for St Pat’s while Macdara O’Neill rammed his penalty home to the top of the St Pat’s net to level matters at 1-1 on the penalty count.
Up stepped Kasey Clark, who had enjoyed a very good game and who has an incredibly impressive throw for a player at Under-12 level. Clark stepped back and rifled in a lovely shot but it was just wide of the upright.
Wicktor Picha was sent forward from the Coolboy ranks and he struck low and hard to the bottom corner to give Coolboy the advantage.
St Pat’s needed a cool head and who else would they call on only Ed Byrne, certainly the man of the match in this writer’s opinion. Byrne trotted up and placed the ball. He stepped back. Molloy readied himself on the line. Up came Byrne. He struck low and hard for the bottom corner. Down went Molloy. The Coolboy man saved superbly. Victory was Coolboy’s.
This was a really great game to watch and hearts must have went out to Ed Byrne who had put in such a great shift for his team and to then see his penalty saved in the last kick of the game.
Thoughts too must go to Sean Fleming who had to attend hospital in Tallaght and who suffered two broken bones in his arm. His loss, not to take from Sean Poku’s performance, was certainly felt by his team. The young captain is not even the usual goalkeeper for the team but when asked by his manager would he stand in for his colleague who couldn’t make it, he said, “I’m the captain, I’ll play anywhere”. That says an awful lot about the young man!
A word too for Coolboy’s captain, Ruairí O’Brien. Tough and uncompromising from the start, he accepted the shield on behalf of his colleagues and spoke a lovely few words in front of the supporters and players. A credit to his club.
Other players to shine on the night were Kayleigh McDonald, Dylan Doyle for Pat’s while the Avoca side brought in two excellent substitutes in the form of Brandon Heffernan and Abbee Nolan.
Coolboy’s Dominik Jakobeczik, Odhran Doyle, Callum Patterson, Niall Maxwell, Owen Hedderman and Corey Wallace also performed well. Well done one and all! Coolboy Rangers: 1. Billy Molloy, 2. Dominik Jakobeczik, 3. Ruairí O’Brien, 4. Odhran Doyle, 5. Rory Tallon, 6. Larry Kinsella, 7. Luke Wallace, 10. Callum Patterson, 13. Niall Maxwell. Subs: 11. Owen Hedderman for L Wallace; 9. Wicktor Picha for R Tallon; 8. Macdara O’Neil for L Kinsella; Corey Wallace for C Patterson. Other subs: Daryn Jordan, Callumba Cullen, Gavin Murphy.
St Pat’s: Sean Fleming, 3. Sean Poku, 5. Kasey Clark, 6. Ed Byrne, 7. Cian O’Neill, 8. Ryan Kavanagh, 10. Kayleigh Mc Donald, 12. James Murray, 13. Dylan Doyle. Subs: 4. Brandon Heffernan, 2. Abbee Nolan.