Junior Soccer Team Show Emerging Talent
July 10th, 2009. In: CPSI, Soccer
The junior Soccer Team travelled up with the “B” squad to play a friendly match in Belfast against Northern Ireland on the 14th of June. The junior side is made up players 14year and under, and is a new addition to the football set up.
There was a bit of a wait when we arrived at the Olympian leisure centre in the shadow of Windsor Park.
The sides where easily matched during the early exchanges and Mal Donaghys’ side gave some cause for concern, but rarely encroached into our penalty area. Their forwards were well policed by Tom Hogan and Niall Mc Connon.
Across midfield the Republic trio of Paul Walsh, Josh Treacy and Paidraig Leacy kept a tight rein on proceedings creating a few chances for our lone striker Jimmy Naughton. It was in fact Jimmy’s fine off the ball running that lead to Paul Walsh slotting home from close range to make it 1 nil to the republic.
The Republics’ second goal came from a fine inter change of play involving all several players culminating in a goal for Paidraig.
Into the second half the republic began to make a series of changes to give all travelling players the chance to play. Paul Walsh made way for Dylan Greer to come on and show his silky skills up front. After a fine display by An Sherwin in goal he was replaced by Brian Murphy. Niall Mc Connon made way to give Alan Moore his first outing for the Republic and he was partnered in defence by John Canning after Tom Hogan went off. Aaron Reilly came on to strike fear in the opposition.
Even with all the changes the Republic kept pressing for that final killer goal with Jimmy Naughton latching onto a fine cross to hit the cross bar. The third goal was to come courtesy of a fine individual effort by Josh Treacy who calmly side stepped two players before shooting from long range into the roof of the net.
The game finished out with the republic retaining most of the possession to finish 0-3 to the republic.
The players were all in high spirits on the way home to Dublin as that result makes it two out of two for the Junior side after they defeated the North, (4-3), in a previous friendly in the Oscar Traynor centre earlier in the year.
The future looks bright.
Richard Treacy
Junior Side Manager.