Results

2007/08

Schoolboy Results

U-14's

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Soccer: Late goals enough for Mastergeeha
By: Jordan Murphy

Under-14 National Cup
Kingdom Boys B 2 Mastergeeha 4

TWO last gasp goals were just enough to see Mastergeeha fend off the cahllenge of a battling Kingdom Boys B side in this National Cup Under-14 clash played in diabolical weather conditions at Cahermoneen on Saturday.

Mastergeeha came into this game as raging hot favourites with the array of talent they have at their disposal, who not only play in a league above Kingdom Boys but also had the edge in experience with as many as five of Kerry’s Kennedy Cup side on view.

But the Kingdom Boys B side had not read the script and with so many talented players and a couple who are very handy, they pushed the Killarney side all the way.

In fact, Padraig Nagle, who was returning after a long absence due to a cruciate problem, was the difference between the two sides as he not alone scored twice but he was a constant thorn in the Kingdom Boys defence.

Kingdom Boys had the strong wind to their backs in the opening half, and they attacked early with Niall Sheehy’s low cross was saved by Shane Murphy as Gavin Lynch threatened to get a touch.

Mastergeeha were finding it very difficult to even get out of their own half during the opening ten minute spell, and in the ninth minute the Boys took advantage, when Alan Crean’s long range effort was turned behind for a corner by Murphy.

From the resultant corner, Niall Sheehy whipped the ball into the danger zone and there was top goal poacher Alan Sheehy Cunningham, who somehow managed to squeeze the ball to the Mastergeeha net, through a forest of bodies and so the Boys had snatched a precious lead goal.

This appeared to act as a wake up call for Mastergeaha whose midfield and attack cranked it up a notch and in the 15th minute, they were unlucky not to equalize when James Devane saw his volley from just inside the box, drift inches wide.

Then Padraig Nagle, raced through the Boys defence in the 25th minute and shot just wide as Mastergeeha were now looking dangerous.

Kingdom Boys were still trying to add to their lead, but Mastergeeha should have leveled in 31 st minute when Enda O’Sullivan saw his well struck effort from just outside the box fly over the top.

However the pressure finally paid off, when Mastergeeha equalized in the 34th minute when Padraig Nagle went through and took it around the keeper before side footing it home from a tight angle.

The second half saw Mastergeaha take the initiative with the strong wind to their backs and they took a 2-1 lead when Enda O’Sullivan’s well struck half volley caught keeper Ciarain O’Connor off his line.

Nagle was through again a minute later but O’Connor denied him with a superb save at full stretch.

The Boys had a great chance of the equaliser in the 47th minute when Jonathon Hanafin put Gavin Lynch through in acres of space but the striker took too long to get a shot off and keeper Murphy was out to block.

Nagle then took the ball past three Boys defender but having shot across goal, the ball came back off the post.

As the Boys defence were just about holding out, they counter attacked in the 58th minute and under-13 winger Niall Sheehy broke through before smashing the ball home from a tight angle to level at 2-2.

Nagle then hit the cross bar and in the 62nd minute Denis O’Riordan somehow managed to hit the post from yards as Mastergeaha turned the screw.

A minute later Mastergeaha grabbed the vital lead goal when man of the match Nagle fired home before Padraig Courtney made the game safe late on with goal number four but the Kingdom Boys B side who were punching a year under their weight can feel proud of their battling effort that just came up short against a very good Mastergeeha side.

Kingdom Boys: C O’Connor, D Ryle, G Clifford, P Sweeney, D Ahern, A Crean, A Sheehy Cunningham, M Wrenn, G Lynch, J Hannafin, N Sheehy.

Subs used: W Duggan, P Sheehy Cunningham, P Murphy

Mastergeeha: S Murphy, M Egan, P Doyle, J Spillane, N Duggan, E O’Sullivan, M Reen, J Devane , D O’Riordan, P Nagle, P Courtney. Subs used: K Murphy, P Collins

Soccer: O’Leary strike steals points for Mastergeeha

November 2007

Mastergeeha 1 Killarney Athletic 0

IT was always going to be a game probably decided by a mis-take or an unfavorable bounce because when these two great Killarney rivals meet, there is precious little between Mastergeeha and Killarney Athletic and this vital Under-14 Premier League game played at Kilbrean Park on Saturday morning.

The weather conditions did not help either side as the rains came down but fair play to both sides for providing lots of flowing football though defences were on top.

Another unusual aspect of this game and just to show how versatile these young players are was the fact that 12 of these lads played with their school St Brendan’s College, Killarney in the Moran Cup semi-final on Thursday afternoon and they advanced with ease to the Munster final.

So how strange must Shane Murphy, Noel Duggan, Enda O’Sullivan, James Devane, Gary O’Leary and Padraig Courtney have felt to be lining up for Mastergeeha against Killian Fitzgerald, Brian O’Shea (nephew of Kerry senior boss, Pat), Tadgh Moore, Colm Tobin, Jeff O’Donoghue and David O’Donoghue, who were playing for Athletic.

In fact, the player who got the vital goal in their schools game was Gary O’Leary and he snatched the winner in this vital Premier League clash.

The opening half was very keenly contested in poor weather conditions with Athletic being the better side as Mastergeeha was slow to settle.

Brian O’Shea had a good chance after ten minutes but his effort was well saved by a diving Shane Murphy who turned it around the post for a corner.

Then five minutes later a sweeping move involving O’Shea and Colm Tobin saw Jeff O’Donoghue through on goal but his shot was weak and Murphy was able to smother his shot.

Mastergeeha counter attacked well with strong running from Gary O’Leary and when he carved open the Athletic defence, Patten did well to beat the effort away.

Noel Duggan was rock solid at the back for Mastergeeha and his head was like a magnet as Athletic pressed for a lead goal with O’Shea going closest as he thundered a ball against the post just before half time as the sides retired 0-0 at the interval.

The Mastergeeha keeper Shane Murphy was probably responsible for this score line as he made a series of fine saves, but Mastergeeha were always likely to fight back in the second period, despite the deteriorating weather conditions.

In the second half Mastergeeha came into the game much stronger but it took a magnificent double save from Shane Murphy to prevent Athletic from taking the lead as O’Shea and Tobin raided midway through the half.

It was a day for the strong men and Enda O’Sullivan, James Devane, Duggan and O’Leary was driving Mastergeeha forward but a solid Athletic rear-guard appeared as if they might keep them at bay while on the counter attack the excellent Brian O’Shea and Colm Tobin looked dangerous.

Then in the closing minutes, with a point apiece looking on the cards a free kick from Mastergeeha's Gary O Leary somehow evaded Athletic ‘keeper Ryan Patten, to end up in the net, to give the points to Mastergeeha.

In truth it was a cruel blow to Athletic and a draw would probably have been a fairer result but fair play to O’Leary for having a go.

Man-of-the-match honours went to last seasons Kennedy Cup ‘keeper, Shane Murphy, who gave an excellent perform- ance in dreadful conditions and for Mastergeeha Noel Duggan, Gary O’Leary and Mark Egan also played well.

For Athletic, Ryan Patten, making his debut in goal did very well overall, along with Killian Fitzgerald, Padraig Wren, Colm Tobin and Jeff O’Donoghue, son of another legend, Pat Dunne O’Donoghue. Mastergeeha: Shane Murphy, Jamie Spillane, Padraig Doyle, Mark Reen, Noel Duggan, Enda O’Sullivan, James Devane, Gary O’Leary, Denis O’Riordan, Padraig Courtney, Mark Reen. Subs used: Kieran Murphy, Darragh McCarthy and Davit O’Callaghan.

Killarney Athletic: Ryan Patten, Conor Doyle, Matthew O’Donovan, Killian Fitzgerald, Padraig Wren, Brian O’Shea, Tadgh Moore, Colm Tobin, Jack Curtis, Jeff O’Donoghue, Anthony Cronin.

Subs used: David O’Donoghue, Niall O’Riordan and Patrick Coppinger.

Soccer: Five-star Mastergeeha shine brightest

Under-14 Premier League
Mastergeeha 5 Inter Kenmare 2

MASTERGEEHA’S under-14s had plenty to smile about after they defeated Inter Kenmare in a seven-goal thriller at Kilbrean Park on Friay evening.

Mastergeeha, who were backboned by six members of the Kerry squad for this year’s Kennedy Cup, were very slow to find their feet and it was the Kenmare side who were showing the greater determination in the early exchanges.

However, midway through the half, a misjudged bounce allowed Mark Reen space to score his first goal for Mastergeeha, with a well-placed ball to the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Their lead did not last long as Kenmare were awarded a free kick on the touchline and when the ball was floated in it was Niall O’Sullivan who powered home a header to equalise for Kenmare.

This seemed to rock Mastergeeha and they found themselves 2-1 behind not long after that, when the same Niall O’Sullivan scored with a tremendous strike from the edge of the box following good approach work by Rory O’Sullivan and Liam Fox.

Mastergeeha came close to drawing level twice before half time with Padraig Nagle involved on both occasions.

Firstly, his fine shot from the edge of the box was ruled out for offside and, secondly, he smashed a header off the crossbar from two yards following a great cross by Jamie Spillane.

And so, it was the Kenmare team who took a 2-1 lead into the half-time break.

This was a fine first half from Inter Kenmare who had shown that they could play against stronger opponents as Mastergeeha won the cup last season but it was unlikely that would be able to stay the distance against such quality opponents.

Early in the second half it was Jamie Spillane’s turn to hit the post for Mastergeeha with a fantastic shot from the edge of the penalty area.

It looked like Kenmare’s night when Padraig Nagle once more hit the Kenmare crossbar from two yards, only this time it was with a well shot rather than a header.

However, in the second half, Mastergeeha were starting to find their rhythm. James Devane was man marking the Kenmare danger man, Niall O’Sullivan, and Enda O’Sullivan had gone to the centre of mid-field to assist Gary O’Leary.

Suddenly, it was all Mastergeeha and Jamie Spillane was putting some very threatening crosses into the Kenmare penalty area.

Both Rory O’Sullivan and Tadgh Morley had impressed for Inter in the centre of the field so Enda Sullivan played a major role in breaking their domination.

It was now only a matter of time before Mastergeeha scored and it was team captain, Noel Duggan, who put the game on level terms with 12 minutes remaining with a tremendous effort from well outside the box.

Kenmare who had played a tremendous game up to that point, found the pressure they were under was now all too much and they had no answer as Mastergeeha scored three more goals in the last 10 minutes.

Firstly, Gary O’Leary gave Mastergeeha back the lead when he got on the end of cross by substitute Denis O’Riordan.

Then, it was Noel Duggan who made it safe for his team when he converted a penalty after Kieran Murphy was taken down in the box.

And just to prove that he could score Padraig Nagle wrapped up the scoring and the three points for Mastergeeha as he turned quickly in the six yard box and his low shot gave the Kenmare net minder no chance of getting a hand to it.

Mastergeeha were delighted to get their league aspirations back on track, having lost their opening game to Kingdom Boys but there is no way that the final score is a fair reflection on the efforts of a gallant Kenmare team who played some great football and were 2-1 ahead with most of the game played.

Mastergeeha: Shane Murphy, Mark Egan, Padraig Doyle, Noel Duggan, Jamie Spillane, James Devane, Gary O’Leary, Enda O’Sullivan, Padraig Courtney, Padraig Nagle, Mark Reen. Subs used: Kieran Murphy for Mark Reen, Denis O’Riordan for Padraig Courtney, Damien O’Leary for Padraig Doyle. Inter Kenmare: Oliver Linnel, Matt Holland, John Spillane, Kieran Fitzgerald, John Moriarty, Keith Clifford, Rory O’Sullivan, Tadgh Morley, Brian Crowley, Liam Fox, Niall O’Sullivan. Subs used: C O’Shea for M Holland, B Clifford for B Crowley, G Crowley for K Clifford.