Georgina Donnelly Premier Cup Quarter Final
Caragh Cetlic FC 1 Coill Dubh AFC 2
Coill Dubh AFC made the short trip to Donore to take on local rivals Caragh Celtic. With Coill Dubh flying high in the Premier Division with an unblemished record thus far, and Caragh Celtic with an intermittent record at best. The league took a back seat this weekend with Cup competition and more importantly knockout football on the cards . With both teams looking to book a spot in the semi finals.
There was certainly no feeling out period in this game, both teams helter-skelter from the first whistle. Conor Brady the Coill Dubh marksman showed his intent early on as, he flashed a wicked left foot drive from twenty yards that skimmed the outside of the post after three minutes. With ten minutes on the clock Coill Dubh found the breakthrough a superb cross field pass by Billy McNamee split the the Caragh Rearguard and Craig Lenehan was on had "Van Persie" style with a great diving header to open the scoring
Caragh to their credit didn't let the early set-back derail the game plan and were equally as dangerous when going forward with Danny Brady and Daithi Ivers both testing Anderson in the away goal. This game was end to end literally, with both defence performing brilliantly. Caragh just edging the chances in the opening thirty minutes with Eoghan Merriman and Billy Martin both going close on two separate occasions. Coill Dubh explosive on the counter attack had Joe Bowers in the engine room clip delightful ball into the path of Lenehan who looked certain to doubled the Dubh’s advantage and his scoring tally ,but couldn't direct his side foot volley goal bound in the twenty-fifth minute
The effort of the first half fell to Daithi Ivers of Caragh on the half hour mark. A great pass out by centre-back by Sean leeson, Daithi took it on chest and swivelled hitting it on the half volley from thirty yards out .The effort crashed off the post and away to safety. Cassidy in the Caragh goal pulled off an amazing double save moment s later to deny Brady and Lenehan and keep the visitors lead at just the slender goal. Caragh looked to have got a breakthrough with a exceptional cross from Ivers was headed home by Byrne only to be ruled offside by the slightest of margins. A cracking game of football in the first half with both teams showing defensive prowess throughout.
Caragh were quick out of the traps in the second period lead by the nippy wide man Merriman who was really starting to have an impact with his menacing runs down the right flank. Coill Dubh introduced prolific goal scorer Barry Noone and influential midfielder Emmet Donoghue, but it was Caragh that had the breakthrough, when Merriman picked the ball up on the right flank and played a clever ball into Billy Martin and continued his run, Martin returned the favour with a pinpoint pass to feet before Merriman despatched into the top corner to level up the score at one a piece with an hour on the clock
The game got a little stretched with chances opening up at both end with Danny Brady going close for Caragh and Barry Noone for Coill Dubh. Both team reluctant to sit back now with extra time looming on the horizon and it was Caragh that got caught with a blistering counter attack. When Emmet Donoghue played a super ball over the top to realise Lenehan who powered through on goal with Cassidy get a hand to the powerful effort but couldn't keep it out to give Coill Dubh back the lead with fifteen remaining.
Billy Martin Audacious effort from forty-five yards looked to have Anderson beaten in the visitors goal ,but he rose and plucked the ball to safety with another top class save. And his counterpart Cassidy produced a string great saves at opposite end moments later to keep Caragh in the hunt in the final moments.
The game certainly didn't lose it intensity with both sides have some late chances but neither could capitalise further. A credit to both teams a excellent a game of football played in the correct way. Best for a Valiant Caragh Cassidy, Leeson,Brady ,Merriman Best for the winners Coill Dubh, Anderson, D,Hannon, Lenehan, and C.Brady was different class.
#KDFL # GeorginaDonnellyPremierCupQuarterFinal