U20 knockout stages

**DmanDmythDledge** · 23/12/2008, 7:30 PM

Quarter Finals
Winner Pool 4 vs Salthill Devon
Bray Wanderers vs Runner-up Pool 4
Winner Pool 2 vs UCD
Mervue Utd vs Runner-up Pool 2

Games to be played week ending 11th January 2009.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 03/01/2009, 7:26 PM

Quarter Finals
Bohemians vs Salthill Devon
Bray Wanderers vs Dundalk
Cork City vs UCD
Mervue Utd vs FC Carlow

**DmanDmythDledge** · 04/01/2009, 10:42 PM

So who does everyone think will go the distance? For me it's between Bohs, Bray and UCD with Carlow joining them in the semis. Wouldn't rule out Cork in our game though as they had a tougher group and home advantage.

**HarpoJoyce** · 05/01/2009, 3:30 PM

I don't know about the quality in the other groups, I think Cork City have proved themselves very good at U21 level in the past so our game against them will be very tight.

I'm happy to see Salthill, Mervue and FC Carlow still in the competition and sorry Wexford Yths had to lose out to Carlow.

**DRDoc** · 05/01/2009, 8:16 PM

Cork UCD set for next Sunday at 2pm

Any word on dates and times for the other 3 games?

**jackd** · 05/01/2009, 9:19 PM

Mervue Utd - FC Carlow

Sunday at 2pm

**holidaysong** · 06/01/2009, 11:09 PM

From the Bray Wanderers website:

Bray Wanderers -v- Dundalk on Monday 12 January at the Carlisle. Kick Off 8pm

Cork City -v- UCD on Sunday 11 January at Bishopstown. Kick Off 2pm

Mervue Utd -v- FC Carlow on Sunday 11 January at Mervue. Kick Off 2pm

Bohemians -v- Salthill Devon on Sunday 11 January at DCU. Kick Off 2pm

**gufcfan** · 08/01/2009, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

So who does everyone think will go the distance? For me it's between Bohs, Bray and UCD with Carlow joining them in the semis.

While I'm sure Carlow are no pushovers, I'd back Mervue to beat them.

**the sub** · 08/01/2009, 10:02 AM

I think Cobh are playing Carlow in their last game on Sunday

**dublin_owl** · 08/01/2009, 10:47 AM

As far as I know, Carlow have already been awarded a 3 - 0 victory for that fixture sub. Meaning Youths missed out on qualification on goal difference.

**the sub** · 08/01/2009, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by dublin_owl

As far as I know, Carlow have already been awarded a 3 - 0 victory for that fixture sub. Meaning Youths missed out on qualification on goal difference.

Well this is what I heard yesterday game being played on Sunday unless there has been a change since then

**Topman** · 08/01/2009, 11:48 AM

The Carlow lads will be up in Galway on Sunday and not Cobh

Mervue v FC Carlow

Sunday Kick Off @2.00pm

**DmanDmythDledge** · 11/01/2009, 5:03 PM

Quarter Finals

Bohemians 1-0 Salthill Devon
Bray Wanderers vs Dundalk
Cork City 5-3 (AET) UCD
Mervue Utd 3-2 FC Carlow

**Topman** · 12/01/2009, 6:28 PM

http://carlowsoccer.forummotion.com/...erage-t116.htm

Below is the match report from the Mervue United v FC Carlow game, the link above is from a topic on the Carlow League website/forum re: lack of coverage in the local media for the U20s (surprise surprise the worst Gaelic team in Ireland gets more coverage!!!)

here is a report on the FAI Eircom u20 League of Ireland Quarter Final ... Mervue Utd 3-2 FC Carlow
the report was sent into The Nationalist, The Carlow People and Carlow First ... will be interesting to see which, if any of the papers print the report

Mervue United 3-2 FC Carlow

Having qualified from pool 2 of the FAI u20 Eircom League of Ireland the previous week, FC Carlow travelled west on Sunday to face Mervue United in Galway. Going into the game without striker Daragh Walshe, who failed to recover in time from an injury he sustained against Wexford Youths, the south east lads knew they were facing a very tough task. This task was made even more difficult inside 10 minutes when unfortunately Ryan Curran (who has been a rock at the heart of the defence all season) was stretchered off with a broken leg. Understandably this impacted on the Carlow players, who lacked their usual focus and seemed to be just off the pace of the game. Credit to Mervue who took full advantage, they looked sharp and playing at a very high tempo had Carlow under pressure for long periods of the first half, without actually creating any clear cut chances.

Mervue did eventually make the breakthrough though when they scored from close range in the 30th minute, following a well rehearsed corner kick routine. Carlow then had a good spell themselves with Emmet Phelan testing the Mervue keeper following good work in midfield by Cathal Coughlan. Their best chance of the half came in the closing minutes when Andrew Hickey broke free of the Mervue defence, his well struck shot brought an excellent save from the keeper who got down well to turn the ball around the post.

Carlow got their passing game going at the start of the second half and enjoyed a very good opening period. Shane Clarke and James Dermody combined very well down the left side on a number of occasions and caused Mervue alot of concern while striker Andrew Hickey again came close to equalising for the visitors. The FC Carlow lads were growing in confidence, their quick passing and movement had the home team under pressure, but then against the run of play, a Mervue counter-attack saw them double their advantage midway through the half. Undeterred, the south east lads continued to exert pressure on their Galway counterparts, a change in formation and some excellent and determined play saw a quick response from Carlow. Good interplay in midfield between Tomas Brennan and Cathal Coughlan set up Craig Hore who’s delightful chip from the edge of the box, gave the Mervue keeper no chance.

Now into the final quarter of the game and with just a goal separating the teams, the previously confident Mervue side were feeling the pressure as Carlow continued to ask questions of their defence. Just as when looked as if Carlow could put themselves back on level terms, an unforced error in defence gifted the Galway another goal. As you would expect from FC Carlow, the rallied and went in search of another which they found with 5 minutes remaining. Adam Byrne went on a run through the heart of the midfield, he found Shane Clarke in space on the edge of the Mervue box, Clarke composed himself and placed the ball under the advancing keeper to setup a nervous few minutes for the Galway lads. Try as they did, Carlow were unable to get themselves back on level terms with Mervue advancing to the semi final where they will play Bohemians FC.

Overall it was a very successful first year for FC Carlow and we now look forward to competing in the Eircom League ‘A’ Championship which starts in April.

Finally the management and players would like to wish Ryan Curran a full and speedy recovery and we hope he will be back to his best very soon.

**HarpoJoyce** · 12/01/2009, 9:34 PM

Bray Wanderers 0:1 Dundalk Aertel

Now that is a suprise to me, going by the quater-final results the Bohs-Dundalk group was the strongest.

**Captain2007** · 12/01/2009, 10:20 PM

Dundalk's Goalkeeper Ryan Coulter who resides in Bray was their MOTM in tonites game, Bray pretty much dominated the game but did not take their chances and went down to a well taken Dundalk goal late on,Dundalk No 1 made a string of saves, best of luck to them V Cork in the Semi Final.

**Bernie** · 13/01/2009, 7:20 AM

Anyone know if Oriel is the venue for the first Semi Final on Saturday or do the Dundalk U20's play elsewhere?

**Grasshopper 99** · 13/01/2009, 2:38 PM

Well done Ryan, had a feeling he would do well after leaving Bray last year, and he is a made Bray Fan, easily man of the match, might have been different if not for the unbelivable rain in the first half which made the pitch dig and stopped Brays passing game and as far as i know it will be in Oriel as the pitch has yet to be taken up.