Good workout for Kennedy Cup boys
WHITEGATES Wicklow Town was the venue for a friendly organised by the WDSL for the presentation of the U-16s Cup to Wicklow Rovers 16s.
For the Wicklow U-14’s County team it was another step on the road to Limerick.
On the face of it, this might not have been the best preparation for the Kennedy Cup but full credit to the lads they took to the task with the determination and the focus of a team many years their senior.
Because of the age difference it was suggested to mix the teams. But the lads where having none of it. They wanted to play as a team and the age difference was only an opportunity to show how far they have come.
The game started with four very nervous coaches on the side-line, and it wasn’t long before they were to see the way the game would go.
As the county team began to press every ball and as soon as they gained possession they moved the ball swiftly from side to side playing wide expansive football.
The County team came close with a couple of near misses from Josh Odlum, Eoin Doyle, Conor Clinton and Ross Quinn.
As the game progressed Wicklow Rovers were beginning to realise the County Team were not there to make up the numbers.
This was a fantastic opportunity to see how the lads would react to a bigger far more physical side. To say the coaching staff was pleasantly surprised would be understating it somewhat!
The second half saw a lot of changes with the coaches making sure everybody got a run. Which again pleased the coaches; there were still a couple of players coming back from injury.
They were still eager and wanting to compete for a place especially in a game like this. Ben Free, Eoin Doyle and Cody Reid all went close to scoring testing the Wicklow Rovers keeper.
To sum up the evening it very quickly went from a presentation and exhibition game to a fiercely competitive game which gave the coaches plenty to think of.
The game ended in a nil all draw but it left the coaches beaming with pride and bombarded with clear unambiguous messages from every member of the squad how hard they are willing to work for a place in the starting team.