Cabinteely

[ForzaForth]

Disappointing result for the Youths in Stradbrook tonight after they never really got going on a very poor surface on a well-worn rugby pitch. However, other than the surface, Cabinteely deserve great credit for this, their first foray into LOI football. With Youths missing a number of players through injury, Shane Keegan started with Graham, Conor Whittle, Lee, Ryan, Craig Comerford, Drukie, Peter, Eric, Craig Wall, Jonny and with Conor English up front. It was clear from early on that the Youths would not have an easy fixture as Cabinteely appeared to deal with the conditions better and, very surprisingly, seemed to be able to match the Youths as regards physicality and fitness. With both sides playing with only one up front, chances in the first half were at a premium. On ten minutes, Graham had to push a Cabinteely effort round the post for a corner. Midway through the half, Cabinteely picked up two yellow cards for tackles. With five minutes to go in the first period, Ryan Delaney nearly steered the ball into the net from a Youth's corner, but under lots of pressure, put it the wrong side of the post. Then, with three minutes to go in the half, Cabinteely won a corner which Youths were unable to clear and the ball broke to McKeown who stabbed it home for 1-0 to the home side. Whistle below shortly after to leave Cabinteely ahead with the solitary goal.

[ForzaForth]

Youths played slightly better in the second period, but only looked like scoring following the arrival after ten minutes of Danny Furlong, who had only started as a substitute due to a dodgy hamstring. However, after three minutes, Cabinteely had the ball in the net again but the goal was disallowed by the referee due to a challenge on Graham Doyle in the Youth's goal. Looked only fifty-fifty to me but I suppose refs routinely give free outs at this stage if the goalkeeper is touched. After ten minutes of the second period, Danny came on in place of Craig Wall as Youths went with two up front in order to try and rescue the game. Cabinteely's no 7 was then lucky to stay on the pitch as he clattered into a Youth's player showing his studs while on a yellow. On 15 minutes, a good move by Cabinteely led to a volley just over the bar from about 20 yards out.

[ForzaForth]

With twenty minutes gone, Danny controlled a through ball from the Youth's midfield but his first-time effort was held by the Cabinteely keeper for the Youth's first shot on target of the game. Ten later, Danny got his head onto a corner from the Youths but the Cabinteely keeper grabbed it safely enough. Cabinteely then picked up another yellow card and Wexford brought on Jimmy Dermody and Craig McCabe with ten to go to try and change the game but didn't really look like scoring to leave Cabinteely deserving winners on a 1-0 scoreline after what was basically a game of a poor standard. Best for Wexford were probably Ryan Delaney and Lee Grace while Eddie Gormley deserves credit in putting out a well-organised Cabinteely side in their first outing. 1-0 to Cabinteely at full-time.