Classy from Conaill
O’Brien bags four as Aughrim secure Challenge Cup
AUGHRIM R/GERS U-13 8 RATHNEW AFC U-12 1
AUGHRIM were crowned the U-12/ U13 Challenge Cup Champions after beating Rathnew at Celtic Park last Saturday with a comfortable 8-1 victory.
Aughrim started to threaten the Rathnew defence straight from kick-off as Conaill O’Brien almost grabbed the opener with just two minutes played in the first half.
The winger made a great run down the right wing after being picked out by midfielder Joe McGuckian.
The winger sprinted with the ball in the box before firing a low shot that smacked off the post and out for a goal-kick.
But it wasn’t long before O’Brien grabbed the goal he was craving.
With 11 minutes on the clock, the winger made a great run again but this time through the centre of the Rathnew defence, keeper Mark Shannon picked out the attacker from long range and with the long ball looping over the Rathnew defence all O’Brien had to do was slot it past Rathnew keeper Matthew Keane, which he did without hesitation.
Aughrim doubled their lead nine minutes later with an excellent goal from Eoghan Murphy.
Murphy made his way into the Rathnew penalty area twisting and turning past the Rathnew defence before curling the ball into the bottom right corner, an excellent effort to double his sides lead.
Despite being two goals down early in the first half, Rathnew’s keeper Matthew Keane was in excellent form pulling off numerous shots through the first half to keep the score deficit at a minimum.
One of his best saves came in the 23rd minute when Aughrim’s Laci Shannon unleashed a powerful strike on the edge of the penalty area which looked to be going into the roof of the net, but Keane pulled off an excellent save to tip the ball over the bar and out of danger.
Aughrim tripled their lead just before half time with another slick finish from winger Conaill O’Brien with the assist coming from midfielder Oisin Keegan. Aughrim went in at half-time with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Rathnew were much more of an attacking threat in the second half with midfielder Jamie Moorehouse trying to create opportunities in front of goal for his side, but, unfortunately for Rathnew, Aughrim keeper Mark Shannon was on top form and smothered up any loose balls in and around the box.
Conaill O’Brien wrapped up his hat-trick on the 37th minute as he rounded the keeper to slot home his third goal of the game. It was a standout performance from the winger to score three goals in a final but he wasn’t finished yet.
Rathnew striker Pat Gozko was trying tirelessly upfront to try and grab a goal back for his side, but the Aughrim defence were on top form and snuffed out any threatening play in and around the penalty area.
Cian Keogh grabbed Aughrim’s fifth goal of the game on the 38th minute with a tidy finish from close range, Joe McGuckian then put his side 6-0 up with a powerful strike from inside the box.
Rathnew grabbed a goal back on the 51st minute from a well taken free-kick from Jamie Moorehouse.
Moorehouse got a lot of power behind his strike and ended up deflecting off a Aughrim player and into the back of the net. A great strike from Moorehouse who deserved a goal for the amount of work he put in throughout the game.
Unfortunately, the late goal from Rathnew was not enough to create a comeback as O’Brien and Eoin Canna scored two more goals to complete the job.
A valiant effort from Rathnew who kept pressing their opponents and fighting until the very last kick of the game, but it was Aughrim who were crowned champions as they had that extra year experience over Rathnew as they were a year older and were just that bit more clinical in front of goal.
Congratulations to an excellent Aughrim side who are this seasons winners of the U12/U13 Challenge Cup.
1. Mark Shannon, 2. Steven O Toole, 3. Adam Healy, 4. Eoghan Murphy, 5. Joe McGuckian, 6 Oisin Keegan, 7. Conaill O’Brien, 9. Eoin Canna, 10. Cian Keogh, 11. Dan Kirwan, 14, Laci Shannon, 15, Mark Murphy, 16, Finn Byrne.
1. Matthew Keane,
2. Tynan Reid, 3. Emmet Ronan, 4. Daragh Lacey, 5. Bill Morrehouse, 6. John Hunter, 7. Jamie Moorehouse, 8. Brandon Brittons, 9. Charlie Mornagh,
10. Izzy Richardson, 11. Leo Reid, 12. Patryle Gozko, 13. Cian Nolan, 14. Adam Keane.
Thomas Dowling