WCSL U16 Match Report

SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League U16 Match Report
COMPEITION: U16 National Cup - Preliminary Round
TEAMS: Skibbereen vs Cobh Ramblers
DATE: Sat 22nd Sept 2007
VENUE: Baltimore Road Skibbereen

FINAL SCORE: Skibbereen 1 Cobh Ramblers 7
SCORERS: Mark Collins (Skibb)
John Corcoran (4), Kristian Dennehy (2) and Shane Geasley (Cobh)

Cobh Ramblers recorded a comfortable 7-1 victory away to Skibbereen in an U16 National Cup Preliminary Round tie in the Baltimore Road Ground on Saturday. 4 goals from the excellent John Corcoran and a brace from the impressive Kristian Dennehy earned Cobh a well deserved victory.

The game kicked off on in brilliant sunshine on the immaculate playing surface in Skibbereen. The home side were missing some regular first team players and looked nervous in the opening exchanges. Cobh Ramblers settled quickly and passed with more authority thanks to Kristian (son of the famous Mia) Dennehy in the centre of the pitch.

Ramblers went ahead in the 1st minute when John Corcoran raced through and gave Donagh McCarthy no chance with a terrific shot. McCarthy was called into action to deny Cobh a second with a point-blank save in the 5th minute. Skibb’s Danny O’Donovan began to cause the visitors defence problems with his pace on the left wing. Cobh continued to dominate and it was no surprise when John Corcoran slid home his second of the afternoon from 10 yards to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Ramblers were springing the Skibb offside trap with alarming ease and added a third in the 19th minute. Corcoran completed his hat trick with a sublime volley from the edge of the box. Darragh Leonard tested Kevin McCarthy with a free kick before Ramblers scored a fourth after 23 minutes. John Corcoran was allowed far too much room on the edge of the penalty area and slipped a pass to the unmarked Shane Geasley. The Cobh striker made no mistake to leave the score 4-0 to Cobh at the interval.

The second half was played at a more pedestrian pace with Ramblers well in control. Further goals from Kristian Dennehy and a fourth from John Corcoran made sure of the result. Despite the lop-sided score line the home side re-grouped and never let their heads drop.

Skibbereen played some excellent football in the second half and grabbed a consolation goal late in the game. Mark Collins got behind the Ramblers defence and finished confidently to the back of the net. It was no more than the hosts deserved for a much improved second half performance. Cobh Ramblers took less than a minute to respond. Kristian Dennehy grabbed his second of the game with a fantastic curling effort into the top corner to complete the scoring.

The home side can have little complaint about the final result. Cobh Ramblers were by far the better side and physically stronger in almost every position. Based on this performance Ramblers are certain to have a major say in the latter stages of this year's U16 National Cup competition. Skibbereen will bounce back from this defeat and are more than capable of making the U16 play-offs at the end of the season.

Best for Cobh included John Corcoran, Kristian Dennehy and Ross O’Donovan-Wyatt also impressed for the visiting side. For Skibbereen there were excellent displays from Thomas Hegarty, Darragh Leonard, Danny O'Donovan and Dan MacEoin.

Skibbereen: Donnagh McCarthy, Conor MacKahay, Trevor Roycroft (Capt), Jack O'Sullivan, Jack O'Driscoll, James Davis, Paidi Crowley, Thomas Hegarty, Danny O'Donovan, Mark Collins, Darragh Leonard, Rudi Henwood, Shane Hourihan, Dan MacEoin and Martin Murphy.

Cobh Ramblers: Kevin McCarthy, Gary Collins, Tadgh Lawton, Ross O'Donovan-Wyatt (Capt), Gavin Fitzgerald, David Collins, Gary Halpin, Kristian Dennehy, John Corcoran, Shane Geasley, Jordan O'Leary, Eoin O'Riordan, James O'Dwyer and Stephen Madine.

Referee: John Desmond (WCSL)

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