Academy footballers off to a flier

WICKLOW 2-09 CARLOW 1-03

WICKLOW under-16s Garden County Academy footballers secured a well earned victory against Carlow in the first group game of the Carlow Cup competition in Netwatch Cullen Park last Saturday.

Following good performances in warm up matches against Wexford and Kildare, Wicklow put in a patient and mature performance against a well drilled Carlow team to finish out winners on a score- line of 2-09 to 1-03.

In difficult weather conditions, the sides went in level at half-time with a score-line of 1-02 each. Carlow opened the scoring with two close range frees in a scrappy opening period.

Wicklow replied with a close range free of their own converted by Shaun Cranley. Carlow’s defensive set up was causing problems for Wicklow in attack with a number of sloppy turnovers in the final third.

Wicklow fell four points behind when an attempt for a point fell short and skidded off the wet surface into the corner of the net.

Despite Wicklow possessing the majority of the ball, it was Carlow who looked the more dangerous in attack with Wicklow goalkeeper Alex Byrne pulling off two great saves following quick counter attacks.

These saves proved crucial at that stage of the game keeping Wicklow within four points of Carlow.

Soon after Wicklow managed to convert a goal with Ruairi Tompkins tipping a long ball into the net over the onrushing Carlow goalkeeper.

This settled Wicklow and was soon followed with well taken point by Alan Barrett to send the teams in level at half time.

Wicklow coped better with Carlow’s packed defence in the second half and created a lot of scoring opportunities with precise and well timed passes into their forwards.

Although Carlow took a one-point lead following another close range free soon after the restart, Wicklow then responded kicking 1-07 without reply.

This scoring run was started by Captain Eoghan Byrne with a superb long range free from in front of the stand. A number of points followed before Sean Doody sealed the game when he blasted to the net following a Carlow defensive turnover.

Wicklow added a couple of more points before the final whistle. Wicklow’s tackling high up the pitch and work rate were positives for the Wicklow management team.

They will however be hoping for improvement with the ball handling close to goal and a better score conversion rate for their next game versus Wexford in July.

Team: Alex Byrne; Cian McHugh, Craig Maguire, Gavin O’Shea (0-01); Fionn O’Carroll, Eoghan Byrne (0-01), Nicky Kearney; Oisin Cullen (0-01), Sean Doody (1-01); Johnny Keogh, Andy Foley, Alan Barrett (0-01); Shaun Cranley (0-01), Niall Gaffney, Ruairi Tompkins (1-01). Subs: Gavin Fogarty (0-01), Kevin Quinn (0-01), Rory Whelan, Eoin Murphy, Tomas Lynch, Daire Wright, Daire Devine, Tristan O’Toole, Sean Mason. Not used: Kian Geraghty, Ben Fennell, David Lawlor, Jason Steed.

Unavailable on the day – Cian Walsh, Christopher Grimes, Eoin Darcy, Darragh Dillon, David Maloney Manager: Alan Costello Coaches: Eoin Phibbs, Barry Fitzachary, Garrett Doyle. Carlow Cup Group 1 - Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow Group 2 - Kildare, Laois, Offaly