The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Killorglin U17s fall at penultimate hurdle
FAI U-17 CUP SEMI-FINAL
Killorglin 1 Parkvilla FC (Navan) 3
KILLORGLIN’S great crusade in this national competition came to an end in the Launeside town on Sunday when they went down to Meath side Parkvilla FC in the semi-final of the FAI Under-17 Cup.
While they came out the wrong side of the result they made their more illustrious opponents fight hard for their win.
They matched the Navan side in most department of play and but for a few things that went against them the most debatable being a penalty decision at a crucial stage of the game the outcome could have been different.
Urged on by the partisan home support hey defended very well in the first half and as the interval approached the players and management must have been very pleased with the performance.
However everything changed just a minute from half time when a shot by the visitors hit the crossbar and as the ball broke loose it was deemed to have hit a Killorglin players hand and the referee pointed to the spot.
The home fans were very unhappy with the referee’s decision and made their views known to the officials in charge of the game.
Killorglin goalie Jack McGillicuddy was very unlucky not to save the spot kick from Tommy Buchanan getting a hand to the ball but he was unable to keep it out.
Another goal from Buchanan three minutes into the second half knocked the stuffing out of Killorglin and when the visitors added a third scored by Kevin Ratty the writing was on the wall.
To their credit they battled back admirably and a goal from Keith Evans gave them a glimmer of hope.
However despite their gallant effort to try and get another goal back it failed to materialise and the visitors ran out deserving winners at the end.
Killorglin enjoyed a tremendous run in the national competition and the squad and manager Robbie Evans should hold their heads high for being such great ambassadors of underage football in Kerry,
If manager Robbie Evans can keep this bunch of young players together the future of Killorglin AFC will be very bright.
KILLORGLIN: Jack McGillicuddy, Daniel Evans, Cathal Crowley, Matt Reenstiena, Callum Moriarty, Mark Clifford, Mikey O’Donnell, Callum Russell, Dylan Moriarty, Cillian Burke, Oran Smith. Subs: Simon Coffey, Keith Evans, James Lonergan, Ryan O’Sullivan, Zien Flaherty, Jonathan O’Riordan, Aaron O’Shea, Jake Reenstiena, James Tre
PARKVILLA FC: Bryan Kelly, Tommy Buchanan, Finn Murray, Kian Ratty, Adam Niven, Scott O’Sullivan, James Egan, Bradlee Connor Baldwin, Ethan Rathbone, Shane Maguire, Jamie Ayres. Subs: Christian Nicolenco, Louis Collins, Tristan O’Neill, Martynas Jocas, Eoghan Heavey.