Cup final heartache for brave Boys
DROGHEDA BOYS TERENURE RANGERS 0 1
HEARTBREAK befell this courageous Drogheda Boys Under-15 team as they went down by the narrowest of margins in Saturday’s hard-fought Fenlon Cup Final in the AUL Complex.
The Boynesiders were positive from the off as is their style and despite the heavy pitch they moved the ball to find options on both wings.
In the first half Bradley Abedeen drove forward from fullback and creating the overlap to whip the ball into the opposition penalty area, but Terenure were defending in numbers to repulse Drogheda attacks.
Frank Mc Clean and Aaron Lawler on the wings were getting behind the Terenure full-backs, but a combination of good goalkeeping and old-style centre-half play, hoofing the ball away, kept Drogheda at bay.
Alan Beattie in midfield was finding space, and with Sam Victory and Taju Adigun they were on top for most of the first half, with the attacking threat from Terenure being comfortably dealt with by Peter Meegan, Sean Collier and Ewan Sweeney.
Drogheda came in at halftime scratching their heads as to how they were not in front, but on the turnaround Terenure started to up the pressure and on 45 minutes they made the breakthrough.
Having attacked down the right they crossed the ball in and the forward managed to get between the Drogheda centre-halves and shoot past the Drogheda keeper.
This Drogheda team have shown great character throughout this campaign and once more players all around the pitch found something extra from deep down and pushed on.
Escosa Omoregbe was driving forward from midfield, putting huge pressure on the Terenure defence, and at one stage he let off a shot, only for the keeper to gather the ball safely in his arms.
Terenure were defending in numbers and with discipline, but Drogheda continued to pile on the pressure and the advancing Meegan unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box - only for the Terenure keeper to make a fantastic save in the top left-hand corner.
Dawid Churobocinski, following some tenacious work, sent the ball across the penalty area, but it was hacked away to safety.
Drogheda kept going, but the run of the ball just wasn’t going in their favour and when the final whistle blew Terenure had run out winners.
All around the pitch Drogheda players sank to their knees, spent with effort, but to a man they could hold their heads high for keeping their discipline and playing in a positive way. They were a credit to themselves, their families and the club. DROGHEDA BOYS: Jonathon Clear, Bradley Abedeen, Aaron Lawler, Ewan Sweeney, Peter Meegan, Sean Collier, Alan Beattie, Sam Victory, Taju Adigun, Dawid Churobocinski, Frank McClean, Cian King, Eseoca Omoregbe, Cole Everett, Cailum Hodgins, Hugh McClean.