Under 18 Match Report - Aquinas v Dungoyne

SBYL U-12

Aquinas 2 Dungoyne 1 (9.00ko at Black's Road)

This was a match to warm up the coldest of Saturdays.

Three times before, these teams have met in the last 2 seasons, and despite Aquinas arguably dominating all 3 games, Dungoyne somehow, by dent of sheer grit and power, and some guile, managed to win all three, collecting last years league title in the process.

It felt like this game would go the same way, when Aquinas started brilliantly, putting Dungoyne under sustained pressure from the start, yet failing to convert a number of cleverly created openings. On their only breakaway up field however, Dungoyne did manage to hit the crossbar, and the warning bells were ringing. It was 20 minutes before they won their first corner and it looked like déjà vu when they scored from it.

This time however, Aquinas had fire in their bellies and equalized within minutes. James Carson was having a magnificent game in midfield, and when he won the ball on the left, he had the composure to look up and pick out Ryan McGuigan on the edge of the square, who still had some work to do before turning the defender and slotting home superbly.

HT 1-1

The second half was a tremendous advert for U-12 football with two good sides competing ferociously. Dungoyne, physically bigger and stronger, but playing some good football dominated possession and showed why they were deserved championns, and Aquinas, this time, matched them in grit and determination, competing ferociously all over the pitch and looking very dangerous on the break. Twice the excellent Dungoyne keeper was forced to come out of his area to deal with promising Aquinas attacks, but when he tried this once too often, coming to the sideline, he failed to put the ball out of play, and Aquinas were able to work the ball across to John Blaney who was alert to the keeper frantically scrambling back, and struck a fierce shot which the hapless keeper could not reach. With 4 minutes remaining, Aquinas were able to withstand the frantic Dungoyne response, and held out for a well deserved 2-1 win.

If only Aquinas could work as hard as this in every game, surely we should be challenging for honours. It is important that we build on this result, and more improvement will be required before we meet Dungannon in our next match on 2nd January, in the NIBFA Cup.

Team:

Jack Johnston

Frank McCormack Peter Webb, Brogan Austin, Darragh Doherty

Ryan McGuigan, Daniel Guinness, James Carson, Jake Morrison (Daire McGarvey)

Enda Kelly McCann, John Blaney

(League Referee)