Sometimes less is more
Academy
Sunday 15th April 2012
Ballincollig v Blarney United
The under 10s had their first home game of the season last Sunday down at the Regional Park. It was a fairly even contest and a change from the recent high scoring games the lads have played in. Blarney started the brighter of the two sides with an early offside given against them, one of the new rules for the under 10s this year. There was also a great save made by the Ballincollig keeper, and captain for the game, Cillian Kierse. In fact this was just one of many that Cillian would make throughout the game. Adam Summers, Sean O’Donoghue and Gladly Okar made a great contribution in defence, but Blarney were looking the stronger. A rare attack by Ballincollig saw Scott Kelly play through Jamie Slavin, who’s double attempt first got blocked by the defender and then go out off a defender for a corner. However it was Blarney that were first to make the breakthrough when they scored just before the end of the first period.
The second period was highlighted with an almost comic goal mouth incident with Blarney searching for a second, and Ballincollig all hands to the pump trying to deny them. In the end after a string of attempted shots on goal and one even hitting the post the ball went wide. Both sides and sets of supports were left chuckling at the sequence of events and just glad to be able to finally catch their breath again. Ballincollig now upped the tempo with a few mazy dribbles by Alex Hill and attacks by Robbie Walsh and Ryan Crowley. This was only possible though due to the great defensive work of Cillian, Adam, Sean and Gladly with Justin Eguaibor and Jordan Murphy protecting them from midfield.
The final period saw a new defensive unit of Ryan, Jordan and Jamie who were able to keep a clean sheet with the help of Cillian, as they made many goal line clearances and saves. With Ballincollig getting more on top, Josh Ambrose showed his silky skills on the wing while Robbie, Bryan, Scott and Justin all had shots at goal from near and long range. In the end the equaliser was almost inevitable yet Ballincollig left it to just a couple of minutes before the final whistle. Bryan Smith picked the ball up on the right of the penalty area, and drifted left across the front of the Blarney defence before unleashing a thunderbolt from his left boot into the top left corner of the net giving the poor Blarney keeper no chance. In the end it was probably a fair result but if only Ballincollig had been able to start the game with the tempo they had finished it with. Next week the lads are at home again so do come down and support them.
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