WCSL U12 League 2007-08 Review

Clonakilty AFC deservedly lifted the 2007-08 SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League U12 crown after topping a second play-off ‘group of death’ ahead of Skibbereen and Bunratty United.


SuperValu U12 League
The 2007-08 SuperValu U12 league season saw fourteen teams split into two groups with the top two ranked sides in each group progressing to the SuperValu U12 Play-Offs to decide the destination of the league title. Clonakilty AFC dominated Group1, topping the table with 10 wins from their 12 matches and qualifying for the play-offs in confident fashion. The battle for the second play-off berth was surprisingly won by Leeside who edged out the much-fancied Durrus by two points. Durrus recovered from the disappointment of missing the play-offs to eventually win the U12 Shield tournament by the end of the season. Lyre Rovers, Bay Rovers and Drinagh Rangers each enjoyed decent runs in Group1 but were never consistent enough to mount a serious challenge. Ardfield - playing at U12 level for the first time - found the going extremely tough but battled courageously in every game and proved a credit to their club. U12 Group2 transpired as expected with both Bunratty United and Skibbereen qualifying for the play-offs but not before league debutantes, Dunmanway Town, came mightily close to forcing their way into the top two. The Mullough club topped the table for much of the season but crucially ran out of steam towards the end of the group. Third place is still a remarkable result in Dunmanway’s inaugural season. Riverside Athletic and Togher Celtic failed to mount a sustained challenge and finished mid-table. Clonakilty Youths were outclassed in many of their games while Harbour United folded only two weeks into the season.



SFAI National Cups
The early stages of the West Cork Schoolboys U12 League season saw no less than six clubs enter the Preliminary rounds of the SFAI National Cup competition. Clonakilty AFC fell at the first hurdle at home to Corinthian Boys ‘A’ 5-3 in an eight goal thriller. The five remaining WCSL clubs fared much better with Durrus defeating Park United 4-1 and Bunratty United knocking out Everton 4-0. Drinagh Rangers accounted for Togher 3-1 in an all WCSL tie with goals from Jake King (2) and Gary Lordan earning the home side a deserved victory. Skibbereen recorded the most impressive preliminary round triumph of all the West Cork sides, travelling to Cork and knocking out Crosshaven 4-3. The first round of SFAI matches took place in October with Skibbereen and Bunratty each recording notable wins. Skibb knocked out Rockmount in the Baltimore Road 4-1 after a fantastic team display. Bunratty travelled to Midleton and won a ten goal extravaganza 6-4 in Knockgriffin. Conor O'Driscoll scored 4 and Arron Barry grabbed a brace for the Schull side. Macroom ended Drinagh’s cup run in Cannon Crowley Park 3-1 while Durrus failed to field a team for the trip to Springfield Ramblers who were subsequently awarded a walkover.

Mayfield United ended Bunratty United’s interest in the competition in Town Park, Schull in November. The city side proved too strong for an under-strength United and ran out 5-3 winners. On the same day Skibbereen progressed to the last four of the Cork section following a superb 4-2 victory at home to Riverstown. Stephen McCarthy (2), Sean Deasy and Owen Collins found the net for Skibb in a famous win. The Baltimore Road club’s National Cup journey was finally ended by a star-studded Lakewood U12 outfit in December following a 3-2 defeat. Late goals from Sean Deasy and Stephen McCarthy proved immaterial but Skibb’s SFAI National Cup run turned out to be one of the highlights of a tremendous season for the West Cork club.



SuperValu U12 Play-Offs
The SuperValu U12 Play-Offs kicked off in April with Bunratty United edging Clonakilty AFC 3-2 following an ill-tempered affair in Town Park, Scull. Skibbereen proved too strong for Leeside in the opening round winning 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick from the prolific Stephen McCarthy and a late effort from Mark Collins. The Inchigeela side were effectively knocked out of the Play-Offs following a 9-1 drubbing away to Bunratty in May with the mercurial Conor O’Driscoll weighing in with 4 of Bunratty’s total. Clonakilty AFC recovered from their defeat to Bunratty to overpower a disappointing Skibbereen side 5-2 in Ballyvackey. Jack O'Mahony notched a hat-trick while Jack Cowhig and Eoin Ryan completed the scoring for Clon. The final round of play-off fixtures saw Bunratty ravel to the Baltimore Road knowing a draw would be enough to capture the league title. Skibbereen had other ideas and ran out 8-4 winners after a tremendous game. Owen Collins (3), Stephen McCarthy (2), Sean Deasy (2 Pens) and Sean O'Donovan found the net for Skibb while Conor O'Driscoll (3) and Josh Pickett responded for a shell-shocked United. Clonakilty AFC’s expected win at home to Leeside (5-2) meant there was a three way tie for the U12 League Championship so another play-off group was needed to decide a winner from Clon AFC, Skibb and Bunratty.



SuperValu U12 Play-Off Deciders
Bunratty United and Skibbereen share thee points in the opening match of the SuperValu U12 Play-Off Deciders in Town Park Schull. A Fionn Hurley penalty cancelled out a Stephen McCarthy effort in a tight affair. Three days later Clonakilty AFC gained revenge over Bunratty United for their 5-2 defeat in the play-offs to record a hard fought 2-1 victory before a huge crowd in Ballyvackey. A last minute goal from Jack O’Mahony effectively knocked Bunratty out of the title race and set up a winner take all encounter with Skibbereen on the 19th of May. The destination of the title was finally decided following a pulsating 3-3 draw in the Baltimore Road Ground with Clon AFC grabbing a point away to Skibb to secure the U12 Championship. Goals from Eoin Ryan and a brace from Jack Cowhig brought the league crown back to Clonakilty following an unforgettable season for the Ballyvackey-based club.