Academy
U8s CSL Small Sided Games
Monday 9th May 2011
Avondale v Ballincollig
The Ballincollig Under 8s were away again, this time it was a Monday evening fixture against Avondale Tigers. There was early pressure from Avondale as Ballincollig defended a couple of corners, but Sean Callanan and Gabriel Czubak were rock solid in defence along with keeper Justin Eguaibor. Avondale were the first to shoot at goal but luckily it hit the post. Paraic O’Keeffe Jamie Slavin and Luke O’Sullivan were gradually getting into the game from midfield. Jamie had Ballincollig’s first shot at goal, but the keeper saved it. Soon attempts came from Paraic, Luke and striker Patrick Kelly. Justin then had to make a number of good saves. Luke was beginning to have more of an influence on the game showing some nice skills. Paraic later put Patrick through but his shot was saved by the keeper and then Luke had another shot just go wide. All square at the break.
The second period was far more lopsided, and I don’t just mean the pitch! Ballincollig got off to a flyer with Paraic scoring a cracking goal. Alex Hill and Darragh Moriarty were the new defensive duo and they were outstanding. Scott Kelly was up front and had an early shot on target saved. Then Darragh set up Paraic and his shot on goal was touched by Scott, past the onrushing keeper, but a defender got the last touch, for an own goal. Ballincollig’s next goal however was a great team effort with Darragh, Paraic, Gabriel, Sean and Alex all involved in the build up, with Scott applying a nice finish to a great passing move. Justin was called on to make a rare save as most of the action was at the other end. Alex and Darragh were the main reasons for this as they were snuffing out most of the Avondale attacks. Scott had a great shot saved by the keeper after Paraic had missed an attempted overhead bicycle kick. Ballincollig then followed this up with Paraic putting the ball into the net, but no goal. Unfortunately he put it straight in from the corner, amazing shot, but as no one touched it the goal couldn’t be given. Sorry Paraic no scores from direct set pieces. Sean and Gabriel soon combined well in midfield to get the ball to Scott who forced his way through the defence and applied a quality finish. Avondale had a rare attack with a corner but Alex cleared it away.
The final period saw Scott and Jamie take over in defence, Luke was back on the wing and Patrick was back up front. Avondale took advantage of the new defensive partnership with an early goal, but it was their last, as Justin and the defence shut up shop. Alex, Luke and Darragh were now controlling midfield and Alex was unlucky to see a first time volley just go over the bar. This was shortly followed up by a couple of good efforts by Luke but the keeper was equal to them. Patrick was coming more into the game with support from midfield. Darragh had a shot blocked by the keeper. Soon after some great defending by Jamie, Scott set up Luke who’s cross came off the crossbar, Alex kept it in, pulled it back to Jamie who came storming through midfield to see a cracking shot just dip over the bar. Patrick finally got his reward when he scored after a nice passing move all the way from defence. Avondale then snuck on an extra defender, although he did have four legs, a shaggy coat and barked; nonetheless he was successful in stopping Patrick from taking a quick kick-in.
This was another highly entertaining game, and a big thank you to all the lads and parents for making the trip.
With our new pitches we need to have a defibulator on site naturally hoping we never have to use it. Defibulators are expensive pieces of equipment but you can’t put a value on saving someone’s life. Rather than asking for any spare euros we are asking you for any spare phones.
Through the Fones4Life charity we can get a Defibulator if we collect old mobile phones. Our aim is to get 360 mobile phones so we will get the defibulator and the training needed to operate it. The big collection day will be the Academy Fun Day in June but you can give your old mobiles to any manager or coach in the meantime.
Academy
U8s CSL Small Sided Games
Sunday 1st May 2011
Castleview v Ballincollig
The Ballincollig Under 8s were just past the halfway point in their season as they travelled away to Castleview AFC on a grey and gloomy evening. The lads withstood some early pressure with keeper Jordan Murphy making a great save tipping the ball over the bar, and Bryan Smith and Ryan Crowley also defending well. Ballincollig then had a couple of half chances with wingers Robbie Walsh and Jamie Slavin just shooting wide. Castleview then had a corner cleared by Robbie with a good clearing header. From a Ballincollig attack they won a line ball which Robbie crossed into the box and Scott Kelly had his header just hit the upright and go wide. Shortly after another chance fell to Scott as he took a first time volley on the ball as it dropped over his shoulder, but he blasted it a fraction too high. Straight from the kick-out Robbie received the ball on the right wing and he unleashed a fierce shot into the bottom left hand corner, smashing goal! Soon after that Scott had a shot on goal but it was Paraic who got the final touch to steer it past the keeper. Castleview were quick to respond with two goals either side of a shot by Paraic, which hit the post. All level at the break.
Ballincollig started the second period well with Robbie forcing the Castleview keeper into a good diving save. Paraic and Cormac Dineen were now dominant in defence, with good support from Ryan, Sean O’Donoghue and Gabriel Czubak in midfield. Castleview then exerted some good pressure but Ballincollig defended well. Then from a Ballincollig attack Robbie won a corner, and from this Gabriel forced the keeper into a good save. Again Castleview attacked for a period, but Paraic eventually broke forward and passed the ball out to Gabriel on the wing and he in turn passed it to Sean in the centre and he ran through on goal and neatly slotted the ball into the net. It was a nice passing move to see Ballincollig take the lead once more.
The final period saw Castleview get off to a good start with an early equaliser. This was followed by another chance as the ball zipped across the face of the goal, but Jordan just got a toe to the ball. Bryan was playing great up and down the left wing and Jamie linked up well with him to win a corner. Scott took this and it was a lovely ball into the box where Jamie got the last touch to poke it home. Jordan was soon called on again to make a great save from a Castleview corner. The game now switched from end to end as the two teams slugged it out with Sean and Cormac outstanding in defence. Jamie even had his breath taken away, unfortunately though it was due to a ball into the chest rather than by the quality of the play. Gabriel played Bryan through, out on the left wing, where he pulled the ball back for Jamie who unleashed a thunderous right foot shot, but he just pulled it left and wide. From the kick-out Bryan volleyed a sweet right foot shot into the net to extend the Ballincollig lead. Finally Cormac made a great defensive tackle from Castleview’s last attack.
It was a hard game and Ballincollig had to tough this one out, but all the lads put in the effort required. Well done to all who played.
