Match Reports
Saturday 16th October, 2010
LDSL U16 Division 1
Aisling and Corbally serve up a Thriller
Aisling Annacotty 4 Corbally United 3
Corbally United and Aisling Annacotty served up a thriller in this Division 1 U16 tie at Athlunkard, in which the outcome was in doubt to the very end. Aisling got the perfect start when, not for the last time, Conor Hackett’s pace down the right caught the Corbally defence by surprise, resulting in a penalty, which was coolly dispatched by William Brigg.
After twenty minutes of even exchanges, Aisling struck again when Brian Kelliher’s well-flighted free kick was cleverly flicked on by Thomas O’ Brien and headed to the net by Conor McCarthy. Aisling were gaining in confidence, with Jack Hayes looking dangerous on the overlap down the right, and Cian Malone driving them on through the middle. However, a fine individual goal for Corbally just before half-time put a different complexion on things.
Sensing a comeback Corbally applied pressure after the break, and were rewarded when an unfortunate own goal made things all square. The tempo noticeably increased from this point on as both teams fought hard for the initiative. Aidan Fahey in goal for Aisling pulled off a string of fine saves, while Killian Brennan’s crunching tackles plugged the middle and speedy full backs Geordi Stunden and Mark Dillon made sure Corbally only rarely got through on the wings. Aisling came close themselves on a few occasions from free kicks and a jinking run from Cian McCartney.
The deadlock was broken ten minutes from time when Brian Kelliher, sensing the sun at his back, cleverly chipped a free kick over the wall and the Corbally keeper unluckily lost it in the glare. Thinking they were home and hosed, Aisling lost concentration and Corbally punished them with a fine effort from the right wing. The excitement was at fever pitch now with both sidelines urging on their players. Kuol Ajong was a thorn in Corbally’s side on the left, and Ryan Harris threw the Corbally centre backs off their stride with his combative style. Just when it looked like it would be honours even, a cross-field ball bounced in front of Conor Hackett, twenty yards out on the right, and he struck a venomous volley which nestled in the far corner. It was a goal worthy of winning this fine, sporting contest, though Corbally nearly snatched a point, when a late breakaway shot, trickled inches past the Aisling post. As the final whistle blew Aisling could finally celebrate, but both sides can draw great confidence from this display, and are likely to make life difficult for the sides above them in the coming months.
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