MATCH REPORT: Town Under 15’s lose away to Cabinteely
REPORT BY TONY GHEE
The U15’s played what turned out to be a very competitive game on Saturday in Kiltiernan and although both sides were battling it out for their first win of the season, it would be very fair to say that a lot of positive and entertaining football was played by both sides.
The game began as a close affair with both teams having chances, the better of which had fallen to Cabinteely inside the first 20 minutes. Cabinteely’s early dominance then led to by far the biggest chance of the game as Cabinteely were awarded a penalty after their right winger was judged to be fouled in the box.
The resulting penalty turned out to be the kick starter of Longford’s first purple patch of the game though, as the spot kick was blazed over the bar. Longford then pushed on and had a few very good chances of their own. Nick Palmer had a header that could be deemed the pick of these chances, as he headed inches wide from an excellent cross from Ben Grey.
Longford’s dominance was not to be rewarded though and Cabinteely capitalized, as they scored a very well worked goal just 5 minutes before the break. Again Cabinteely’s right winger played a big part in their positive attacking play, as his darting run in behind Longford’s defenders and quality pullback meant the chance they created was easily converted and the score was 1 nil to Cabinteely at half time.
Longford began the second-half with another strong period of dominance as they really piled the pressure on a defensively strong Cabo back four.
As they pushed for an equalizer, some very good chances were created through a mix of good build up play and early crosses, with Nick Palmer forcing a great save from the Cabo keeper. Then Josh Geogheann turned brilliantly before running through to a 1v1 chance which could’ve easily led to a goal only for an outstanding piece of last ditch defending.
The missed opportunities would again prove to be rued by Longford, as with 15 minutes to go, another swift attacking counter from Cabinteely put them 2 nil up.
The last 15 minutes of the game opened up as Longford chased a goal in an effort to try get back into the game, which led to chances at both ends, as Cabo had chances on the counter attack too.
Overall Longford may rue missed chances after the game, but ultimately the performance was a positive one and they go into next week with renewed confidence before their first home league game of the season, a Midlands Derby versus Athlone Town.
Squad list:
Dan Gilmour
Josh Kilkenny
Jason Glancy
Jack Tiernan (C)
Kyle Doughty
Aaron Brennan
Sam Hayden
Ben Grey
Josh Shiels
Nick Palmer
Josh Geogheann
Substitutes:
Cody Lee (GK)
Jack Casey
Conor Lynam
Dylan Lynch
Adam Reilly
Andrew Lynch
Cian Neary