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Portmarnock - 2
St Kevin’s Boys – 1
Portmarnock U12-1 side marched into the third round of the U12 SFAI Cup at the weekend with a nail-biting victory over St Kevin’s Boys Saturday Major side.
Despite the blustery conditions at Paddy’s Hills on Sunday, both sides played attractive passing football on a pitch that was in top condition.
With the wind at their backs, Portmarnock took the lead in the first half with Dylan Kennedy calmly slotting home after a lovely passing movement. It was no less than the home side deserved having gone close a few minutes earlier when a tremendous strike from Tiarnan Downes was brilliantly saved by the St Kevin’s keeper.
But back came St Kevin’s and they almost equalised but for the tremendous reactions of Max Corcoran who pounced on the ball as it look like it was going to roll across the line. He later pushed a fierce shot over the bar, which meant Portmarnock maintained their one goal advantage at half time.
On the resumption of the second half and with the wind now in their favour, St Kevin’s went in search of the equaliser and it duly came mid way through the period.
As the away side continued to pile on the pressure, only another heroic save from Max Corcoran and some staunch, brave defending from the Portmarnock side kept St Kevin’s at bay.
With time running down, the home side secured a wonderful winner. Again a lovely passing movement from back to front saw the ball eventually roll out to Conal McAlister, whose dipping shot put pressure on the St Kevin’s keeper in the difficult windy conditions. He could only manage to parry the ball down to the feet of Dylan Kennedy who fired in the winner.
It was a tremendous victory for the U12-1 side and who now take on WFTA away in the third round.
Squad: Max Corcoran, Conal McAlister, Daniel Maddock, Sean Tarpey, Daire O’Rourke, Harry Collier, Josh Boylan, Brodie Forrester, Ben Smith, Tiarnan Downes, Dylan Kennedy, Josh Digan, David Hughes, Josh Molloy, Karl Redmond.
Managers: Derek Downes & Fergal Maddock
