SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League – U14 CUP Review

The only other SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys fixture to survive last weekend was the U14 Cup quarter final tie between Riverside Athletic and Bay Rovers. The match was originally scheduled for the West End, Balineen but due to a waterlogged pitch the tie was instead moved to Kealkil. What a cup tie it turned out to be with Bay emerging with a fantastic penalty shootout victory.

The opening goal in arrived after only ten minutes when Conor O’Neill found the net with superb long range strike. Bay Rovers refused to panic and levelled the score before half time when David Casey reacted quickest to finish a rebound to the net after a defensive mix-up. Rovers were well on top now and made it 2-1 just after the break with the goal of the game. David Casey met an out-swinging corner with a thunderous volley into the top corner of the net to give Bay the lead. Rovers made it 3-1 shortly afterwards when Padraigh Cronin latched onto an Alex Karkalas through ball and beat Gavin O‘Leary to seemingly end the cup tie. Riverside Athletic had other ideas and fought back valiantly with two goals in the final 15 minutes. Trevor Horgan made it 3-2 with a fine shot from outside the penalty area and then right on full time Niall Kelleher pounced to send the game into extra time. Neither side scored in extra time so a penalty shootout was needed to decide the tie. Alex Karkalas was the hero for Bay Rovers, saving the final penalty and then Tom O’Sullivan converted to win the shootout 6-5 and send the Kealkil side into the last four.

Riverside Athletic: Gavin O'Leary, Peter Curran, Sean Ryan, Stephen White, Mark O'Driscoll, Niall Kelleher, John Daly, Gearoid Harrington, Thomas Crowley, Trevor Horgan, Conor O'Neill, Sean Lynch, Niall Lombard and Ciaran Everard.

Bay Rovers: Donal Casey, Cathal Power, Stephen Casey, Alex Karkalas, Martin Hurley, Jerry Harrington, Gavin O'Shea, Eoin O'Sullivan, Tom O'Sullivan, David Casey, Padraigh Cronin, Seamus O'Mahony, Dale Parish and Kevin Casey.

The scheduled U14 Cup quarter final fixture between Drinagh Rangers and Bunratty United in Cannon Crowley Park was postponed. The U14 Cup semi final draw will be made at the next WCSL committee meeting including Bay Rovers, Lyre Rovers, Skibbereen and Drinagh Rangers / Bunratty United.

SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League TEAM of the Week: Bay Rovers U14. Rovers recovered from losing a 3-1 lead to knock Riverside Athletic out of the U14 Cup on penalties.

SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League PLAYER of the Week: Alex Karkalas of Bay Rovers U14. Karkalas has a superb game at centre back for the Kealkil side and then donned the goalkeeper’s jersey for the penalty shoot out. The Rovers player saved the penultimate penalty to help send Bay into the semi finals.


WCSL U14 Cup RESULTS for February 2nd 2008

WCSL U14 Cup - Quarter Finals
Togher Celtic 2 Lyre Rovers 3
Riverside Athletic 3 Bay Rovers 3 - aet Bay Rovers win on penalties
Drinagh Rangers vs. Bunratty United - Postponed

Visit www.westcorkschoolboysleague.com for further details.