U16's Advance in National Cup

Lakewood Athletic V Blarney United (National Cup) Last Sunday morning Blarney United U16, Division 1 played away from home against premier side Lakewood Athletic in the Schoolboys Football Association of Ireland (SFAI) U16 National Cup. This game by far has being the most exciting game of the season for the U 16 team as it ended 0 – 0 after full time and extra time. Blarney went on to win 3 – 4 after a penalty shootout. This win means the team progressed out of Cork and into round 32 of the SFAI U16 National Cup. This game started at a high tempo with both teams going for it from the start. In the first half both team appeared to have 50/50 possession of the ball but both team failed to threaten either goal at the end of the first half. With the first half even the second half got even better. In the second half on a number of occasions Blarney attacked the Lakewood defence on both wings with Aaron Kirby Hennessy on the left and Jason Hogan on the right but on most occasions they were closed down by great pressure being applied by the Lakewood defence. On the 25th minute Levi O’ Mahony had beating the Lakewood defence but was blatantly fouled inside the 16 yard box and was awarded penalty. Aaron Kirby Hennessy stood up to take the penalty but put the ball wide by skimming the upright post on the right hand side. Blarney seemed tired in the closing minutes of the second half and Lakewood took advantage of this and attacked the Blarney midfield and defence and was very close to scoring only for a fine shot from just inside the penalty box on the left hand side went narrowly wide to the right of the goal. At the final whistle of full time the game ended 0 – 0 and the game went into extra time with 10 minutes a side. In extra time both teams appeared to get a boost of energy and both teams fought hard to try get a result but both teams were very strong defensively and at the final whistle of extra time the score was 0 – 0. With a 0- 0 draw the game had to be finalised by a penalty shoot-out. The Blarney team decided as a team what players were going to take the first five penalties and they were Conor Hogan, Aaron Kirby Hennessy, Declan Hanlon, James Dineen and Brian Walsh. Lakewood took the first penalty and scored. Conor Hogan took the first penalty for Blarney but was saved by the Lakewood keeper but Conor Hogan then saved Lakewood’s second penalty. Aaron Kirby Hennessy, Declan Hanlon and James Dineen confidently scored from the spot. After 4 penalties a piece the score stood 3 – 3. Lakewood final penalty was acrobatically saved by Conor Hogan. With a lot of pressure on Brian Walsh he calmly walked up and placed ball on the penalty spot and with ease and coolness he stuck the ball into the back of the net with the final score 3 – 4 to Blarney. There were joyfulness celebrations among the whole Blarney team and their loyal supporters. With great sportsmanship being showing on the day by the Lakewood Athletic players they lined up at the end to congratulate the whole Blarney team and wished them the best of luck in the next round. No one person could be singled out as man of the match as this result was truly a team effort from number 1 - 15. The team were asked to give it 110% and they all went out and gave it 120%, well done lads. Blarney United Team Conor Hogan, Conor Power, Declan Hanlon, Alex Kiely, Jack Moore, James Dineen , Brian Walsh, Evan Murphy, Levi O’Mahony, Jason Hogan, Aaron Kirby Hennessy, Mark Lynch, Will Crowley and David O’ Mahony. Next game is in the Cork Schoolboys, Division 1 league at home next Sunday 16thNovember at 10.30am in O’Shea Park, Blarney United V Bandon.

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