Result

Sun Oct 8th

U14 Division 5

Avondale United A 1 Lakewood Athletic A 4

At last this U14 team got what they deserved for the amount of effort that has been put in for the last 3 league games. Down to well below 11 U14 players, but superbly supported by Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Jack O’Sullivan and Michael Murphy from the U13’s, gave the visiting team at least a fighting chance in the match. The Lakewood team didn’t need to be asked twice to start the scoring. Michael on the left wing provided Oscar Rickard with a lovely pass, and after rounding 2 defenders, Oscar’s driving shot beat the keeper. The home team equalised after sloppy defending from a corner allowed the ball to go through the middle for a simple tap in. Half time came and it remained all level although Lakewood were starting to make chances in the oppositions half.

Ronan Murphy provided a lovely ball through the Avondale defence to Kerry William who slotted it past the keeper. Lakewood could smell blood now and went for the kill. Bradley Keane’s header just outside the area fell nicely for Jack Davis whose swerving shot went into the bottom left of the goal. Increasing pressure lead to Lakewoods fourth goal as Tadhg Tuathaig chased a 50/50 ball with the keeper resulting in a deflected ball that Bradley Keane nicely volleyed into the net. Lakewood were defending well but still relied on a great one on one save from Luke Davis to prevent any further Avondale goals.

A great team effort throughout, the combined U14 and U13 players worked really hard again to secure the 3 points. Owen Beamish played an ‘invisible’ but so important role taking their star player out of the game. His man on man duties definitely resulted in the win with the big number 10 just reduced to small touches. Hard to pick a man of the match but Arran Smyth was outstanding today at left back breaking up attacks and charging out of defence. Great team effort lads!