Smashing show by Albion in Plate final
ALBION ROVERS GREEN TERMONFECKIN 2 0
LORCAN Lynch and James Devine scored the goals as Albion Green edged out battling Termonfeckin to secure the Under-13 Plate silverware at Parkview last Saturday.
Both teams knew each other well, having had a win each in their two league meetings this season, so there was never going to be much between them and so it proved in what was a fiercely competitive decider.
Albion suffered a blow before the game when Jake Neilon got injured in the warm-up, but they started the game on the front foot and had a good chance to score within the first 10 minutes, but the Termonfeckin keeper made an excellent save.
At the other end a quick Termonfeckin break drew the best out of Albion keeper Eric Winters, who had a superb game.
Albion’s back four of Cian Hodgins, Andrew Reilly, Gideon Kabi and Layne Coulter were rock-solid and gave hard-working duo Darragh Russell and Keefer Carolan space to play.
A quick ball down the line released left winger Niall McCarthy and he put in an excellent cross towards striker Lynch who flicked it into the path of Devine for an emphatic finish and the lead goal.
Albion scored a second soon after, with the impressive Lynch getting on the scoresheet after lovely footwork and a neat finish from inside the area.
Termonfeckin were giving their all to try to get back in the game, but the industrious Shane Curtis on the right was causing them problems, whilst fellow first-half sub Shayan Khan was working hard to keep control of the midfield.
The second half say Termonfeckin come out with increased hunger and they pushed Albion back in search of a goal which would get them back into the game.
Albion, with substitutes Adam Russell and Sam Wynne on, were content to hit on the break and both subs made several good forward runs and but for some excellent saves from the Termonfeckin keeper they could have extended their lead.
However, Winters at the other end had to be alert to keep out some determined efforts and Termonfeckin were perhaps unlucky not to connect with a couple of half-chances in the box.
Thomas Hughes, who had picked up an injury in the first half, returned to the field and played some delightful balls through for the midfield runners.
Albion’s vice-captain Shane Campbell, returning from a long injury, also came on for the last 15 minutes as Albion saw the game out despite Termonfeckin piling on the pressure in the six minutes of injury time added in search of a consolation goal that their play deserved.
Albion almost scored a third at the death with what would have been a contender for goal of the season when centre back Gideon Kabi ran the length of the pitch, only to the denied by an excellent save from the Termonfeckin keeper.
Afterwards, amid scenes of jubilation from the Albion players, their captain Darragh Russell and Khan lifted the cup together. ALBION ROVERS GREEN: Eric Winters, Cian Hodgins, Andrew Reilly, Gideon Kabi, Layne Coulter, Niall McCarthy, James Devine, Darragh Russell, Keefer Carolan, Thomas Hughes, Lorcan Lynch, Shayan Khan, Jake Neilon, Shane Curtis, Adam Russell, Sam Wynne, Shane Campbell.