High fives

Park Utd Seniors 5 Casement Celtic 1

In horrendous conditions at Brigown Pk on Friday night last Park seniors got a great start to the 2nd division split league season courtesy of a convincing win over visitors Casement Celtic.

Having beaten the same opposition in the cup the previous week, Park were intent on getting off to a good start in the 2nd phase of their league campaign. On a night on which you wouldn't put milk bottles out, Park had a strong squad of 17 players at their disposal and got going right from the start.

Striker Tommy Dalton got the ball rolling on 8 minutes when he latched onto a great through ball and shrugged off his marker. The Casement keeper made a good save but Dalton made no mistake with the rebound and fired Park 1 nil up.

Constant Park pressure saw us force numerous corners and from a corner on 23 minutes we made it 2 nil. Dario Green was in the right place on the edge of the box and when the ball fell to him his first time strike found the top of the Casement net. We sat back slightly then and allowed Casement time on the ball. They pulled one back on 30 minutes with a headed goal from a corner which was disappointing as the player in question rose unchallenged. With the wind and rain worsening we redeemed ourselves and got our 2 goal cushion back on 40 minutes when quick thinking from Shane Cahill saw him put a throw ball right in front of Colin Stack. Colin hit it on the volley first time with the ball ending up in the top right hand corner with the Casement keeper stranded.

Our defence were outstanding, Dave Dineen and Dario in the middle were majestic as were Cameron Keane and Willie O’Brien on both flanks. In the middle Pierce Murphy covered loads of ground with Leon Murphy the playmaker. In fairness Paddy Hanrahan got some decent crosses in from the right as well. Only for the Casement goal scored, Jake Spillane in goals had relatively very little to do.

The second half saw Park have the wind and torrential rain at their backs but it meant little in terms of being able to play good football. Some changes were made early in the half and the contest was put to bed when Pierce Murphy fired in Park’s 4th on 70 minutes. Ten minutes later it was game, set and match when substitutes James Coughlan and Simon Bane combined for the latter to fire home Park’s 5th.

Overall a good start to the second half of the season but this Friday night will be a different task when Macroom come to Brigown Pk for the next round of the league.

Team - Spillane, Keane, Dineen, Murphy-Green, O’Brien, Hanrahan, P Murphy, L Murphy, Cahill, Stack, Dalton. Subs: O’Connor, O’Flynn, Bane, Martini, Coughlan, Burke.

QUIET WEEKEND

Besides the senior game on Friday night only 1 more fixture took place and that resulted in a loss for our U14 girls team against higher ranked opposition, College Corinthians. All other games were off due to Storm Kathleen.

WALKING FOOTBALL

Park Utd will hold a walking football blitz on Saturday, 20th April at Brigown Pk from 2.30 to 4.30. Teams between the ages of 50 to 60 and 60 to 70 will compete on the day. Park will enter 1 team in each of the categories.

SENIOR LADIES

The very best of luck for the new season to our senior ladies team and management as they kick-off their season on Wednesday night next with an away fixture. A big thank you to Lisa from Broadway for sponsorship of a home and away kit for the girls and to Tod's Bar for sponsoring socks.

WEEKLY LOTTO

Jackpot €2,200. Our weekly lotto draw took place in The Bodhran on Monday night last. The numbers drawn were 4, 5, 8 and 18 which yielded no winner. We thank you for your continued support. See lotto results elsewhere in this paper. Tickets are available from usual outlets or from our door to door seller John Ryan. Remember if you’re not in you can't win.

SYMPATHIES

We express our sincere sympathies to the Masterson family on the death of the late Helen Masterson, RIP. Our prayers and thoughts are with you all at this difficult time. May she rest in peace.

FIXTURES

Friday, 12th April, Senior League division 2 Park Utd v Macroom: Brigown Pk 7.45pm. Sunday, 14th April Youth League division 2 Park Utd v Douglas Hall: Brigown Pk 2pm.