MEK Galaxy and LB Rovers live to fight and play another day in Under-17 Boys Division One final

CHARLEVILLE CHEESE U-17 BOYS DIVISION ONE FINAL

LB Rovers 1 MEK Galaxy 1

THESE two sides lived to fight another day when they could not be separated in this Under-17 Boys Division One League Final at Mounthawk Park on Wednesday evening.

It was a game with contrasting halves with Killarney side MEK Galaxy the dominant side in the first half while North Kerry side LB Rovers turned in a great second half and missed a couple of great chances to get a winner.

The game began at a high tempo with MEK really hurting LB Rovers down the right wing where Jaydan Fennell and Noah O’Shea were very prominent and were putting a lot of pressure on the LB Rovers defence.

They forced a corner kick in the 8th minute and it was swung in the box and Jamie Hallessey was only a whisker away from the ball at the back post.

Noah O’Shea got behind a defender two minutes later and his fizzing shot was tipped over the bar by the LB goaleeper JJ O’Rourke. It looked as if they had to score in the 20th minute when O’Shea again ran at the LB defence but his shot was brilliantly saved O’Rourke who made a few more important saves also when the pressure was on by MEK.

However MEK went ahead in the 36th minute after efficient build up play Jayden Fennel was put through on goals and while his original shot was parried by the LB keeper he rattled the rebound to the back of the net.

LB were a rejuvenated side in the second half and began to put consistent pressure on the MEK defence. They had a great opportunity to level the game when Fiachra Buckley set up Leigh Meehan but he put his shot over the top from 10 yards with the goals gaping at him.

LB brought on four substitutes in the 55th minute Lee Caffrey, Oran O’Sullivan, Jakub Dunworth, and Adam O’Neill and it dramatically changed the game in their favour.

They equalised in the 58th minute with a goal of sheer class. A foul on the verge of the box gave them a free kick in a very good position5 yards outside the box.

Darragh Moriarty lined up the ball and with his trusty leg peg he curled his shot around the defensive wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

Now the North Kerry side we operating in top gear and were pushing to take the lead.

The MEK goalkeeper Corey Campion was called into action after this and he made good saves to deny Leigh Meehan, Lee Caffrey, Adam O’Neill and Coady Goggin.

The final whistle came too soon for LB and MEK were glad to get a second bite at the cherry.

LB ROVERS: JJ O’Rourke, Dara O’Connor, Darragh Moriarty, Richard O’Casey, Eamon O’Connor, Daithe Kane Tyrell, Tadgh O’Connor, Fiachra Buckley, Shay Murphy, Fionn Houlihan, Leigh Meehan. Subs: Lee Caffrey, Cody Goggin, Oran O’Sullivan, Adam O’Neill, Nathan Austin, Jakub Dunworth.

MEK GALAXY: Corey Campion, Callum Smith, David Butler, Josh Minnie, Thomas Coffey, Jamie Hallissey, Jamie Daly, Ryan Brady, Noah O’Shea, Jordan Fennel, Rowan Bennett. Subs: Tomo Dowd, Fionn Kennedy, Dylan Mala, Ellit Sjogin, James Evousden

REFEREE: Willie Gorman