Originally Posted by
Cruyff
Abbeyfeale were very unlucky, Navan had 2 shots on target and scored both. Abbeyfeale had 4 or 5 great chances and a penalty that should have been given to them in the first half. The only real scare that Navan gave Abbeyfeale was a diagonal cross that bounced over Billy Quirke and hit the post, 5 minutes later a low shot from the left was parried by Quirke into the path of an incoming striker, the Abbeyfeale defender had to stick his boot out to try and stop the tap in and unfortunately turned it into his own net, no real fault on his part. Abbeyfeale were well below what they're capable of, Navan are a very experienced, clever side who knew what Abbeyfeale were going to do well and did well to take it away mostly. They pressed high up stopping the balls down the channel that Abbeyfeale usually kill teams with to get in behind, despite this Abbeyfeale were still the better side on chances created. Mid way through the second half Abbeyfeale lost the ball on half way, (probably was a foul on Barry Sheedy I thought but not given) Navan striker received the ball 30 yards out 1 on 2 with Cormac Roche and Billy Quirke, turned this way and that in the edge of the box and chipped the ball over Quirke into the left hand corner of the net, Game Over. Chris Smith and Joe Kelliher were fantastic for Abbeyfeale, really couldn't say enough about how good Smith was, must have won 20 headers.
Fair play to Abbeyfeale reaching this stage and unfortunately they didn't get the luck on the day, still that won't be much consolation to them.
There will be other chances especially in the Munster Junior and regardless of how their season plays out they've been terrific ambassadors for our league.
