Counties youths knocked out
Combined Counties League 2; Kilkenny League 3 (AET)
Two weeks after their victory over the Mayo League selection, the Combined Counties were knocked of the FAI Youths Inter League by the Kilkenny League in this last 16 tie which went to extra-time.
Straight from the off, the CCFL took the game to the opposition, attacking in their now familiar 4-1-4-1 formation, and after just six minutes a long ball over the top almost led to the opener, only for the CCFL to be denied at the expense of a corner.
The game ebbed and flowed over the next few minutes, with the highlight being a far post header from Mountmellick"s Shane Dowling, which went just over the bar.
After just twelve minutes, a dodgy goal-kick by Kilkenny"s stand-in goalkeeper caused mayhem in the Kilkenny defence. The ball travelled just 30 yards, only to be returned to the feet of Martin Lowry, whose neat pass put Shane Dowling in space at the far post, but unfortunately he side- footed his opportunity just wide.
Soon after a mazy run down the left flank by Kilkenny"s pacy Craig Wall, a shot by his strike partner was foiled by a top-class save from Counties "keeper Colm McCormack.
Finally, the deadlock was broken just 15 minutes into the game. Another direct run from Shane Dowling down Kilkenny"s left flank resulted in an opportunity which Longford Town"s Brian Murtagh gladly accepted, passing the ball to the back of the net from only six yards out.
However, the lead only lasted two minutes, when the Kilkenny side fashioned a somewhat similar equaliser. Wall"s pacy dribble left the home side somewhat exposed and his cross found its way to Freebooter"s Ben Ryan, whose shot found the bottom corner of the Counties net.
Counties, seemingly unfazed by this equaliser, attacked again only for Eddie Melia"s deft header to be tipped over the crossbar by Kilkenny"s keeper.
On 30 minutes, a nasty ankle injury sustained by Counties" Owen Hoare saw him leave the fray, only to be replaced by his Longford Town club-mate Stefan Mullins.
This introduction seemed to breathe new impetus into the Counties attack. However, the half finished just as it had started with the two teams deadlocked.
The second half saw Counties come out of the traps all guns blazing. After eight minutes, another dribble down the wing by Stefan Mullins was followed by a cross to the edge of Kilkenny"s box to be met by a volley from Counties Donal Beirne, only for the ball to fly wide of the post. The game continued to swing from end to end with both teams enjoying the upper hand at varying stages.
Seventeen minutes into the half saw the introduction of Counties second substitute, Portlaoise Town"s Kevin Keenan, replacing Donal Beirne, after a tiring midfield stint from the Willow Park player.
Seven minutes later, Counties again took the lead as a result of some good counter-attacking football. Stefan Mullins played a neat one-two with Shane Dowling before setting up a tap-in at the far post for Tullamore"s Martin Lowry.
Counties pressed again, and created a glorious opportunity for a third goal which somehow eluded them.
Sensing that the game was ebbing away from them, Kilkenny mounted another attack on 77 minutes, resulting in a second goal for Ben Ryan. After McCormack had parried Ryan"s initial shot, he was first to react, ahead of a somewhat lethargic Counties defence, and fired the rebound into the net.
Kilkenny created an opportunity only to be denied by the superb McCormack. Realising that extra-time and penalties might well be on the cards, Counties made their final substitution, seeing goalscorer Martin Lowry making way for Ricky Martin on 82 minutes.
However, neither side could again raise their game to make the difference, before the referee blew the final whistle on 90 minutes.
After a five minute break, the teams again took the field for extra-time, and even though both teams attacked and counter-attacked with abandon, it seemed neither would be able to make the final breakthrough due to some poor finishing and good goalkeeping.
Finally though, after some 119 minutes of football, a somewhat dubious free-kick was won just outside the Counties penalty box. The free kick was parried by McCormack but the resulting ball fell to Kilkenny substitute, 16-year-old Conor Gorey, who somehow bundled the ball over the line to score the winner.
Combined Counties Football League: Colm McCormack; Eddie Melia; Shane O"Connell; Alan Reynolds; Cathal Dunphy; Owen Hoare; Donal Beirne; Shane Dowling; Brian Mulvihill; Martin Lowry; Brian Murtagh. Subs Used: Stefan Mullins, Kevin Keenan and Ricky Martin.
Kilkenny League: Martin Bambrick; Michael Manley; Ger Hayes; John Cullinane; CJ Browne; Gary Corcoran; Martin Broaders; Andy Kavanagh; Ben Ryan; Paul Guinan; Craig Wall.
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