Aisling Annacotty U9 trip to Barnados Tournament - Waterford
Sunday 22nd May saw the U9’s together with the U10’s head to Waterford for the annual tournament in aid of Barnados. After a long trip with a couple of unexpected detours, the team arrived with only 10 minutes to the kick-off of our first match against Rockmount AFC from Cork.
No sooner had we stepped onto the pitch than the referee called the captains to the centre circle. With all matches in the tournament consisting of 3 x 15 minute periods a gale blowing the length of the field, winning the toss would be important. Unfortunately, we lost the toss and Rockmount wisely decided to play with the wind advantage. Not surprisingly given the lack of preparation time, Aisling were soon a goal down. After 10 minutes, Aisling went a second goal down and things were looking ominous but we held out until the end of the first period.
With the aid of the strong wind in the second period, Aisling began to come more into the game and deservedly got on the score sheet following a good finish from Padraig Hartnett. Soon after Evan Costello lashed home the equaliser from a corner. A few minutes before the end of the third period, Tommy Canty scored a third.
Playing into the wind in the third period, Aisling soon got what proved to be the winning goal with Jack Considine glancing a header to the back of the net following an excellent run and cross from Andrew Shanahan. Rockmount pulled one back but Aisling held out for a place in the semi-final.
Best for Aisling were Jason Aylward, Colm McArdle, Caolan Madden and Tommy Canty and Daire Ryan
Our semi-final against Killarney Celtic again saw us lose the toss. Again we struggled early on but turned at 0-0. We were on top throughout the second period but couldn’t find a goal as the score remained 0-0. Great work from David McMahon and Padraig Hartnett in midfield and Joe Hoare and Andrew Shanahan in defence kept Aisling level all the way to the end. The match went straight to a penalty shoot-out with each team getting 3 spot kicks. Aisling went first and scored through Padraig Hartnett, and then Mark Harty produced a great save for Aisling. Jason Aylward scored a second for Aisling meaning Killarney had to score to stay in the match. Again Mark Harty produced a stunning save to hand Aisling a place in the final.
Best for Aisling were Mark Harty, Taylor Gleeson, David McMahon and Evan Costello.
The final saw up face a very strong Clonmel Town side. Despite the aid of the strong wind, Aisling got off to the worst possible start with Clonmel scoring an excellent goal to the top corner. Aisling recover however and scored an equaliser through Padraig Hartnett before the break. With the second period remaining scoreless, Aisling had high hopes entering the final period with the wind advantage. However, it was not to be with Clonmel scoring 2 goals in quick succession. Aisling battled on with some fine play from Andrew Shanahan and Jack Considine who had a shot cleared off the line, but a goal would not come and Clonmel went on to lift the trophy.
Best for Aisling were Padraig Hartnett, Andrew Shanahan, Jack Considine and Joe Hoare.
Many thanks to Mark Maloney for all of his assistance with the organisation of a long but excellent day out.
Congratulations also to the U10 team who did Aisling proud lifting the trophy and playing some excellent football along the way.
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Aisling Annacotty (3 Green) U9 – 26th March 2011
Saturday morning saw us kick off a new campaign on a lovely sunny at the Greenhills away to a good Caherdavin 2 side.
This was the first time any of these players had played on close to a full size pitch and it took a while for all players to adjust. Pretty soon though, Aisling took the initiative with the game being played almost entirely in the Caherdavin half of the field. Our midfield of Caolan Madden, Caolan Dignam and Padraig was on top and creating chance for Eoin Twomey and Jack Considine in the forwards. About 10 minutes into the match, good work down the left saw Padraig Hartnett cross low into the box where Jack Considine controlled and finished coolly to the bottom corner of the net. The heat and big pitch were tiring the players and David Brennan, Darragh Coleman and Micheal O’Hanrahan were brought on to add some much needed fresh legs to the team. Aisling continued to play well but could not get a second goal before half time.
The second half saw Caherdavin come out with all guns blazing and their midfield was on top early on. However, excellent defending from David Shyne and Joe Hoare in defence and Ben O’Brien Christie in goals saw Aisling retain our slender. Some more substitutions were required now and Caolan Dignam, Caolan Madden and Mark Kelly went back on to great effect to turn the game our way. In the last 5 minutes, a good finish to the roof of the net from a goal mouth scramble and a shot to the corner of the net saw Caolan Dignam give Aisling a 3-0 win.
Best for Aisling on the day were Padraig Hartnett, Caolan Dignam, Joe Hoare, David Shyne, Peter Maher and David Brennan
Squad: Peter Maher, Mark Kelly, Darragh Coleman, Joe Hoare, David Shyne, Padraig Hartnett, Caolan Madden, Ben O’Brien Chrisie, Jack Considine, Caolan Dignam, Eoin Twomey, David Brennan, Micheal O’Hanrahan
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