WCSL 2007-08 U14 League Review

Lyre Rovers rounded off a terrific year for the Knockskeagh club by defeating Togher Celtic 4-1 in a SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys U14 Play-Off decider in Ballyvackey on the 10th of May to lift the SuperValu U14 League title.

SuperValu U14 League
The WCSL U14 League kicked off back in September with 11 clubs vying for the SuperValu U14 League title. The top four ranked clubs then moved forward to the SuperValu Play-Offs to decide the eventual Champions in a round-robin tournament. Skibbereen topped the league table at the end of March with 9 wins and 1 draw after an extraordinary season. Lyre Rovers finished only 4 points behind the Baltimore Road club with Bunratty United and Togher Celtic rounding off the Play-Off berths. Riverside Athletic and Bay Rovers were disappointed to miss the play-offs by only a single point despite each club enjoying decent league campaigns. Drinagh Rangers finished a disappointing 7th for the Cannon Crowley Park club who had won the U14 double the season before. Rangers still managed to enjoy a decent run in the SFAI National Cup and deservedly lifted the SuperValu U14 Shield in May. Clonakilty AFC, Clonakilty AFC Youths and newcomers Ballydehob found the going tough and finished in the bottom half of the league while Harbour United folded only a few weeks into the season.



SFAI National Cups
One of the highlights of the 2007-08 campaign turned out to be both Skibbereen and Drinagh Rangers U14’s remarkable run in the SFAI National Cup. In September’s Preliminary Round Greenwood knocked out a gallant Ballydehob (3-0), Ardmore defeated Clonakilty AFC and Ringmahon accounted for Togher Celtic. The WCSL enjoyed opening round success with Drinagh overcoming the challenge of Springfield Ramblers (4-1), Skibbereen travelling to Inishvilla and winning a 5 goal thriller (3-2), while Bay Rovers and Bunratty United accounted for Glounthaune United (3-1) and Castleview (4-1) respectively.

Kilreen Celtic brought an end to Bunratty United’s run on October 20th following a 4-2 victory in Schull. Bay Rovers were also eliminated at the first round stage with Rockmount scoring 4 times without reply in Kealkil. It was left to Skibbereen and Drinagh to fly the flag for West Cork with the Baltimore Road side recording an emphatic 7-0 win away to Ardmore and Drinagh picking up a memorable 2-1 victory away to Greenwood. Round 3 of the SFAI National cup saw Skibbereen continue their marvellous run with a 6-0 demolition of Buttevant. Drinagh Rangers were finally knocked out after 3-1 defeat to Corinthian Boys in Cannon Crowley Park. Skibbereen’s extraordinary odyssey in the National Cup finally came to halt on the 15th of December when the visiting Ballincollig proved too strong for an under-strength West Cork outfit (4-1). Overall, the West Cork Schoolboys League sides proved more than a match for most CSL opposition throughout the early rounds of the U14 National Cup. The collective 2007-08 performances are hugely encouraging heading into the upcoming 2008-09 National Cup competitions.



SuperValu U14 Play-Offs
Lyre Rovers entertained Bunratty United in the opening match of the SuperValu U14 Play-Offs on April 12th. The host produced a blistering display to upset the favourites from Schull (5-2). Kevin Cormican and Eoin Hartnett each weighed in with braces while Ethan Draper added a fifth for the home side. Eddie Goggin replied with two goals for a depleted Bunratty. Togher Celtic repeated the same 5-2 score-line at home to Skibbereen a week later in Togher. Mark Quinn notched a hat-trick with Daniel Twomey and David O’Brien completing the scoring in a memorable win for Celtic. A shell-shocked Skibbereen’s goals came from Dan MacEoin and Kevin Davis.

The second round of U14 Play-Off fixtures took place on Saturday the 26th of April with Lyre and Togher repeating their opening day heroics. Lyre Rovers defeated Skibbereen 4-2 in a six goal thriller in Knockskeagh. The match turned out to be one of the games of the season at U14 level with two fully committed sides playing superb football throughout and each contributing to a magnificent spectacle. Kevin Davis beat John Leahy to a long ball into the Lyre penalty area and headed into the net for an early 1-0 Skibbereen lead. James Hayes levelled for the hosts before expertly chipping the Skibbereen goalkeeper from the tightest of angles to put the home side 2-1 up at the interval. Ethan Draper sent an unstoppable 25 free-kick into the top corner of the net for a remarkable goal and a 3-1 lead five minutes after the break. Dan MacEoin brought it back to 3-2 before James Hayes grabbed his hat-trick to end an exciting encounter. On the same day Togher travelled to Schull and came away with all 3 points in a pulsating 2-1 victory over Bunratty United. Gavin McEntaggart put Bunratty 1-0 ahead but Shane Cotter equalised and Maurice Murphy won the game with a late header to setup a home clash with Lyre Rovers to decide the outcome of the U14 League title.

Togher and Lyre played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in Togher on the 5th of May. The result meant the two sides would have to square up once again to decide the U14 title as both teams finished level on points joint-top of the SuperValu U14 Play-Off table. Daniel Twomey put Togher ahead only for Ethan Draper to equalise from the penalty spot just before half time in what turned out to be a tense match.



SuperValu U14 Decider
Rovers finally got their hands on the coveted league trophy following a well deserved 4-1 victory over Togher in a SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys U14 Play-Off decider in Ballyvackey on the 11th of May. Togher grabbed the lead against the run of play with the lively Mark Quinn netting. Rovers demonstrated their undoubted talent and resolve to fight back and score 4 times to secure the U14 league crown. James Hayes (2), Scott Sheehan and Kevin Cormican each netted to bring the SuperValu U14 League title to Knockskeagh for the first time in the club’s history.