This article is from page 61 of the 2011-04-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 61 JPG
Avenue United 2 Rockmount (Cork) 0 the Fairgreen
THE LIONS Club Cup is a 32 county national competition for under 15 players. Avenue United are the Clare representatives and current holders having captured the trophy for Clare for the first time last season.
The competition is promoted by the Lions Club of Ireland to foster friendship, through football, for young people throughout Ireland North and South.
On Saturday last Avenue met Rockmount of Cork in the Fairgreen in the last eight having beaten Charleville United 3-0 away in the last 16.
Rockmount the former school boy club of Roy Keane, travelled to Ennis with high expectations and boasting a central midfield pairing, both of whom are Irish schoolboy internationals.
The game for the first 15 minutes was an even affair with a fierce battle taking place at mid field with Avenues Ross McCarthy and Cian Crimmins getting the upper hand on their more illustrious rivals. Avenue struck first blood on 15 minutes with a well worked move from mid field finished off clinically by Ross McCarthy. Avenue pressed hard looking for a second but were hit on the break five minutes from half time to make it one all.
The second half saw a fired up Avenue team begin to take control of the mid field battles and the whole team lifted their game. Their pressure was awarded when Sultan Kasali finished on his second attempt following a great save from the Rockmount keeper. Avenue wrapped up the match five minutes from time with a great individual effort from Eimhin Courtney. A great team performance by Avenue was rewarded and they go on now to meet a top of the Galway League table Salthill Devon team for a place in the May 21st final.
This game was a great show piece for schoolboy soccer in Clare and was played in a spirit of fairness and respect as promoted by the Lions club. Following the game both teams retired to the old ground for a meal and get together hosted by the Lions Club in Clare.
Avenue
Bryan Colleran, Evan McNamara, Lee O’Callaghan, James Woods, Barry Guilfoyle, Sultan Kasali, Ross McCarthy, Cian Crimmins, Rory Brennan, Eimhin Courtney and Bryan Guilfoyle.
Subs:
SeanTwoomey for Bryan Guilfoyle, Michael Moloney for Rory Brennan, Patrick Chesser for Barry Guilfoyle and Niall Keane for Evan McNamara
Unused subs:
David Egan, Conor McInerney and Ciaran O’Halloran
Managers:
SeanieWhyte and Robert McCarthy