Beattie’s last-gasp winner puts Boys in final
DROGHEDA BOYS PORTMARNOCK 3 2
ALAN Beattie’s late strike in extra time proved decisive as Drogheda Boys twice fought back from a goal down to secure their place in next week’s DDSL Under-15 Fenlon Cup Final.
This was a performance that from 1 through to 11 was full of character, resilence and no little skill, and right from the start Drogheda moved the ball well on the pristine surface that is Marleys Lane these days.
Portmarnock were defending in numbers and making it difficult for Drogheda to break through, but the combined talents of Beattie, Taju Adigun and Sam Victory in midfield began to make inroads. Beattie was finding the overlapping run of Aaron Lawler on the left wing who was combining well with Frank McClean up front.
Mid-way through the first half a fine combination between Beatiie and Adigun saw Cian King run onto a ball just outside the penalty area, but the onrushing managed courageously went down and collected at his feet.
When they did show more enterprise going forward, Portmarnock were well marshalled by the Drogheda defence where Peter Meegan and Sean Collier were working well together to snuff out any threat.
The second half saw Portmarnock come out of their shell a little more, but the Drogheda players were working hard in their individual battles with their opposite numbers and Dawid Chuobocinski and McClean never let the Portmarnock full-backs have space to work the ball up the field.
And when defence switched to attack Chuobocinski and McClean added their sublime skills to provide quick one-twos to Bradley Adedeen and Lawler to attack down the wings.
However as often happens in football, the dominant team found itself pegged back on the hour mark when Portmarnock attacked and a 20-yard shot took a wicked deflection off a Drogheda player and nestled in the opposite corner of the net, with the keeper left flat-footed.
Heads were down for a short while, but Drogheda regrouped and with five minutes remaining in normal time Peter Meegan pushed on from centre-half, crossed the half-way line and released the ball to Adigun who with a fleetness of foot unleashed a shot from just outside the penalty area to score in the bottom corner.
That score forced extra time, which was unknown territory for Drogheda Boys, but they went on to dominate the first period, without being able to add to their tally.
Shortly after the turnaround Portmarnock were to break down the right toward the Aura end of the ground and played a throughball which the forward squeezed by the keeper - 2-1 to the visitors and seven minutes left to play.
However, once again Drogheda Boys showed determination and grit and Lawler surged down the left wing, working a one-two with Chuobocinski, and swung the ball across towards McClean who ghosted in at the far post to rise above the Portmarnock centre-half and head home to make it 2-2.
Suddenly the prospect of a penalty shootout loomed large, but Beattie had other ideas and three minutes from time he won the ball inside the box and unleashed a shot which squirmed through the keeper’s legs for the winner, securing a place in the final at the AUL Complex on September 23rd.
DROGHEDA BOYS: Jonathon Clear, Bradley Abedeen, Aaron Lawler, Peter Meegan, Sean Collier, Alan Beattie, Sam Victory, Taju Adigun, Dawid Chuobocinski, Frank McClean, Cian King.
Goal bonanza
UNDER-11
TERMONFECKIN DROGHEDA MARSH 3 7
THERE were goals galore in Termonfeckin as Drogheda Marsh Crescent finished strongly to secure victory in this Under-11 League clash.
At half-time it was all to play for, but Drogheda Marsh came out all guns blazing in the second period, and in the latter stages they boosted their goal tally.
Best for the winners were Oisin O’Brien and Christopher Murtagh.
Honours even
UNDER-12
DROGHEDA MARSH BOYNE YELLOW 1 1
A SPLENDID long-range strike from Maciej Bartusiak secured a draw for Drogheda Marsh Crescent in their first Under-12 game of the season at Moneymore.
Boyne Yellow proved strongest in the first half and deservedly took a 1-0 lead into the break, but DMC’s fighting spirit was evident and the Bartusiak strike was no less than they deserved.