Result

Sun Dec 2nd

U18 FAI Youth Cup
Last 32
Salthill Devon 1 Lakewood 1 (Alan Crowley) AET
Lakewood win 5-4 on penalties.
(Seth Thornton, Dan Donovan,
Luke Hurley, Conor McGoldrick and  Tommie Murphy with the successful spot-kicks for Lakewood)
GK Dara Dorgan with 2 saves in the shootout.
Lakewood started well and, after forcing a series of corners, opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Alan Crowley, continuing his recent goal run, was quickest to react and slot home the rebound, after Patrick O’Neill had his volley cleared off the line from Nikita’s cross.  Lakewood continued to press. Seth troubled the keeper with a low shot and the pace and trickery of Joe and Mateusz constantly worried the Salthill defence. All the lads were working very hard, especially Dan and Patrick who kept plugging any gaps in midfield and it was only at the end of the half that Salthill, playing with the aid of a gale, put sustained pressure on the Lakewood goal. Corner after corner was thrown into the 6 yard box but Dara in goal was dominant.
Lakewood again started the 2nd half best. Nikita had a shot well saved and both he and Alan looked dangerous on the break. The midfield continued to work hard, where Tommie added fresh legs, while the defence was clearing everything. But just as the clock counted down, Lakewood sat back a little and Salthill, refusing to give up, started to throw ball after ball in around the box, that Lakewood defenders mostly headed clear. However, just after Dara had saved a header at full stretch, Salthill Devon equalised in the 83rd minute. Lakewood lifted it again. In extra-time, Joe and Seth ran with purpose at the Salthill defence and John O’Callaghan and Mateusz were fouled just at the edge of the box,  while John was also brought down in the box but no penalty was awarded. In the 2nd half of extra time Lakewood visibly tired but Brian, Luke and Conor at the back continued to make tackles and blocks to ensure there were no shots on target. And so onto the drama of penalties….
Great credit goes to this Lakewood team for their application and maturity on the day and, most of all the confidence they showed on the ball. Well done lads!
LW: Dara Dorgan, Brian Elliott, Seth Thornton, Conor McGoldrick, Luke Hurley, Patrick O’Neill, Mateusz Juszczak, Dan Donovan, Alan Crowley, Nikita Lamonov, Joe Edmead.
Subs on: John O’Callaghan, Tommie Murphy, David O’Reilly, Ryan Nolan