WCSL U12 Match Report & Roundup

COMPEITION: Under 12 Group1 West Cork Schoolboys League
TEAMS: Lyre Rovers vs. Durrus
DATE OF MATCH: 8th Sept 2007
VENUE: Lyre
FINAL SCORE: Lyre Rovers 0 Durrus 5
SCORERS: Patrick McCarthy (2) and Eoin O'Dwyer (3) - (Durrus)

Durrus recorded an impressive 5-0 win over Lyre Rovers in U12 Group1 of the West Cork Schoolboys League in Lyre on Saturday. A brace of goals from Patrick McCarthy and an outstanding hat-trick from Eoin O'Dwyer secured all 3 points for the visitors.

The game kicked off on the pristine Lyre Rovers pitch with both sides passing the ball with great skill in the opening exchanges. Peter Cronin tested Eoin McDermott in the Lyre goal with an early effort. Durrus were having the better of the early play and should have taken the lead in the 5th minute. Rover’s defender, David O’Donovan, somehow cleared a goal-bound shot off the line with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Durrus’s early pressure finally told when the visitors broke the deadlock after 7 minutes. Eoin McDermott did well to parry a rasping shot from Jonathan Lennon. The Lyre defence reacted quickest but an attempted clearance rebounded off Patrick McCarthy who made no mistake from 10 yards. 1-0 to Durrus and they were good value for that lead.

To their credit, Lyre fought back and began to ask questions of the Durrus defence with a series of counter-attacks. Stephen Pyburn was twice called into action to save long range efforts from Lyre’s Robert McCarthy and Mark Shorten. The intense heat was proving a factor and both sides were glad of a short water break.

A mazy dribble from the excellent Jonathan Lennon found Brian O’Regan in space. The Durrus midfielder unleashed a rocket that was superbly saved by Eoin McDermott. Mark Shorten sent a fantastic shot agonisingly wide of the Durrus upright as the home side continued to press for an equaliser. Durrus responded and only a brilliant double save from McDermott denied the visitors a second goal.

There was little to choose between the two sides as an entertaining opening period drew to a close. Durrus were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Lyre penalty area in the final minute of the first half. Eoin O'Dwyer stepped up and curled a delicate strike over the wall and into the top corner of the net to put Durrus 2-0 up at the interval.


Durrus enjoyed the majority of possession after the break as the home side visibly tired in the intense heat. The visitors made it 3-0 in the 12th minute of the second half when a long clearance from Stephen O'Driscoll fell to the feet of Eoin O'Dwyer. The Durrus striker thumped home with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area to put the result beyond any doubt.

The hosts were relying on the counter-attack but could find no way past a resolute Durrus defence, expertly marshalled by Stephen O’Driscoll. Lyre conceded a fourth goal in the 21st minute of the second half. Eoin O'Dwyer gave McDermott no chance with an exquisite volley to complete an impressive hat trick.

Both coaches took the opportunity to introduce a host of substitutions towards the end of the game. Despite being under constant pressure the Lyre Rovers players kept battling away, never shirking a tackle in a one-sided second half. Killian Griffin had Lyre’s best opportunity late in the game but Stephen Pyburn denied the Rovers striker with a brave stop. Durrus added a fifth in the final minute of the match when Patrick McCarthy grabbed his second of the game with a thunderbolt shot from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.


Eoin O’Dwyer capped a man of the match performance with a fine hat trick and was a handful for the Rovers defence all afternoon. There were also excellent individual displays from Patrick McCarthy, Greg Sullivan, Paul Carroll, Stephen O’Driscoll and Peter Cronin. Eoin McDermott had a fine game between the sticks for Lyre and could not be faulted for any of the Durrus goals. Mark Shorten, Robert McCarthy, David O’Donovan and Cathal Nyhan stood out for Lyre Rovers.

Lyre Rovers: Eoin McDermott, Sean Woods, Oliver Hayes, Jason Helen, David O'Donovan, Paul Carroll, Robert McCarthy, Daniel O'Regan, Cathal Nyhan, Mark Shorten, Niall O'Halloran, James Clancy, Darren Santry, Sean Beechinor, Killian Griffin, Ross O'Connor and Damien Gorman.

Durrus: Stephen Pyburn, Greg Sullivan, Stephen O'Driscoll, Patrick McCarthy, David Rowell, Jonathan Lennon, Brian O'Regan, Damien Collins, Darragh Whooley, Peter Cronin, Eoin O'Dwyer, Sean Flynn, Gavin Johnston, Michael O'Driscoll, Mark Johnston and Jack O'Driscoll.

Referee: Martin Coakley (WCSL)


West Cork Schoolboys League – Weekend Roundup
Only four fixtures were completed in the West Cork Schoolboys League over the weekend as a host of cancellations played havoc with the original fixture list.

U12 Group1
The Lyre Rovers and Durrus game was the only U12 Group1 fixture completed on Saturday. The other re-scheduled opening Group1 games will take place this evening and tomorrow. Drinagh Rangers host Bay Rovers in Cannon Crowley Park in Drinagh tonight with a 6:45pm kick off. Clonakilty AFC play host to Ardfield in Ballyvackey - Clonakilty tomorrow night with a 6:30pm start.

U12 Group2
Harbour United U12 were no match for Bunratty United U12 in Schull on Saturday morning. Goals from Conor O’Driscoll, Cathal Newman, Fionn Hurley, Andrew McNeilagh, Arron Barry and Clodagh O’Callaghan earned Bunratty all 3 points in a one-sided affair. Harbour replied with two efforts of their own but it was too little too late. Bunratty United have a fine squad of players and will certainly be one of the teams to watch at U12 level this season.

Match of the day took place in Togher where Riverside Athletic and Togher Celtic played out a pulsating 3-3 draw. Athletic began the match short a host of first team players and were 2-0 down at the interval thanks to efforts from Niall Crowley and Kenneth Lynch. Riverside fought back valiantly and tied the game at 2-2 with goals from Rory O’Connor and Jack O’Callaghan. Togher re-took the lead with only 10 minutes remaining when Rioan Hayden found the net. Chris McCarthy was on hand to tap-in for the visitors in the final minute and earn Athletic a dramatic 3-3 draw. For Riverside, Gavin O’Leary, Kevin O’Neill and Rory O’Connor each put in fine displays. Aidan O’Donovan, Jake Inglis and Neill Crowley were the pick of Togher’s best performers. Both sides will be looking to build on their encouraging opening day performances in an effort to reach the end of season play-offs.

Togher Celtic: Jamie Reardon, Thomas Daly, Ronan O'Callaghan, Aidan O'Donovan, Stephen Connolly, Kenneth Lynch, Jake Inglis, James Coughlan, Shane Crowley, Eoin Murray, Neill Crowley, Rioan Hayden, Stephen O'Leary, Denis Kelleher and Patrick O'Riordan.

Riverside Athletic: Gavin O'Leary, Kevin O'Neill, Rory O'Connor, Sean Jackson, Billy O'Brien, Brendan White, Jack Callaghan, Chris McCarthy, Kevin Murphy and Jason Jordan.


Dunmanway Town and Clonakilty AFC Youths first appearance at U12 level this season has been put back until next Saturday the 15th of Sept in Mullough, Dunmanway.

U16
There was only one match completed in the West Cork Schoolboys U16 League on Saturday. Harbour United travelled to Canon Crowley Park to take on Drinagh Rangers. The home side recorded an emphatic victory with Samuel Ross (3), Jamie Walsh, Michael Dineen and Brian Hurley amongst the goals. Best for Drinagh included Brian Hurley, Derek Crowley, Shane Connolly and Samuel Ross. Based on this performance Rangers are sure to be one of the sides competing for the U16 title at the end of the season.

The scheduled matches between Bay Rovers and Leeside, Togher Celtic and Clonakilty AFC, Lyre Rovers and Skibbereen and Bunratty United v Riverside Athletic were all postponed earlier in the week.

WCSL Results - Sat 8th Sept 2007
U12 Group1
Lyre Rovers 0 Durrus 5

U12 Group2
Bunratty United 9 Harbour United 2
Togher Celtic 3 Riverside Athletic 3

U16 League
Drinagh Rangers 8 Harbour United 0

WCSL FIXTURES (Midweek)
Tue 11th Sept
U12 Group1
Drinagh Rangers vs Bay Rovers in Cannon Crowley Park Drinagh at 6:45pm

Wed 12th Sept
Clonakilty AFC vs Ardfield in Ballyvackey Clonakilty at 6:30pm

Visit www.westcorkschoolboysleague.com for further details.