Match Reports for week ending the 13th of March 2016.
Joma/Sports Gear Direct Schoolboys U16 Division 3.
Kilreen 0 Passage 0.
Passage U16s had their first ever scoreless draw in Schoolboys football against Kilreen Celtic in their first league match in over 3 months.Both teams were disappointed not to win with the best chances coming at the end of the match.
It was a scrappy first half with too many long balls from Passage which were dealt with easily by the Kilreen centre back.Best chances in first half for Passage were shots from outside the penalty area from Cathal Maloney but he couldn’t add to his two great goals in midweek from similar positions against Corinthians. Michael Sheehan made several good tackles to help keep it scoreless at the break.
Passage played better football in the second half but the final ball was too often not accurate enough to create a scoring chance.
Michael Sheehan continued to prevent Kilreen breaking clear with some great defending, and Conor Lester had one of the few Passage shots inside the box but couldn’t beat the keeper.
The best chances for both sides came in the last few minutes when first Cillian Quinlan broke free in the area after another good run from him but the keeper was out quickly to get the block. The ref then ignored a penalty claim from Kilreen after a good strong tackle from Jack O’Mahony and right at the end Luke Tette made the save of the match when 1v1 but got his hand to the shot when the striker was favourite to score.
Man of the Match was Michael Sheehan for his performance in defence helping to keep a clean sheet.
Skechers Schoolboys Under 14 Division 4.
Midleton 2 Passage 3.
Passage under the new management Team of Lar Corcoran and John Kelly , started much the brighter of the two teams, going close with three shots in a short space of time.
Firstly, Ryan Driscoll going very close after a great through ball from Conor Coughlan, then hitting the crossbar via a great solo effort from Destiny Nidjebu and shortly after with an agonising wide from Dean Hickey.
Destiny, did however, opened the scoring with a cool finish under pressure after a scramble in the box from the crossbar being rattled yet again! Unfortunately the lead was short lived as Midleton managed to score from pretty much their first attack! Passage were then reduced to 10 men 20 mins into the game after the Midleton striker was pulled down while through on goal. For the rest of the half Passage were not outplayed but defended brilliantly on occasion with every player working extremely hard for the team!
In the second half you would have no idea Passage played with 10 men as they bossed it from start to finish. Great play down the left from Marc Keating and Josh O’ Shiel led to another destiny header off the crossbar!
Eventually pressure told and a brilliant finish from a tight angle by Ryan Driscoll close in and a Conor Coughlan hoser of a free kick gave passage a 3-1 lead! Midleton pulled one back late on but Passage held on for a well deserved victory!
A man of the match was impossible to pick because as a team they were incredible together!
Blackwater Motors Schoolboys U12 Division 3.
Riverstown 1 Passage United 1.
Passage fought back to earn a hard earned draw away to Riverstown in a game of 2 very contrasting halves . Riverstown dominated early on and after sustained pressure went a goal up and it could have been worse but for the goalkeeping of Daniel Moynihan and the dogged determination of Sam Onah and Josh Nolan who were both strong and alert at the back.
A second half turn around was inspired by the young guns Favour Nidgebus and Eoghan Farrell who played with great skill and desire. Good work by Eoghan created a chance for Cillian Hanlon who gave the keeper little chance with a powerful shot. As the game wore on Passage got stronger with Fionn Roussel, Cian Brosnan , Alex Linehan and Noah O Sullivan all making their presence felt.
There were a few close calls at both ends but in the end a draw was probably fair and pride restored for the lads with a much improved second half performance.
Passage United, Daniel Moynihan, Sam Onah, Josh Nolan, Cian Brosnan, Cillian Hanlon, Alex Linehan ( Captain), Daniel Akinsanya, Noah O Sullivan, Fionn Roussel, Tomasso Parisi, Eoghan Farrell, Favour Nidgebus.
