Dungarvan show their qualities to land playoff triumph
Dungarvan United team that beat Piltown in the Ball Corporation Youth B League trophy at Ozier Park on Friday last. Photos: Paul Elliott.
Dungarvan were crowned champions in Ozier Park on Friday night last as they beat Piltown to win this cracking Ball Corporation Youth B League playoff game. The game produced some wonderful goals and very skilful football from both sides, however it was Dungarvan who finished the stronger and their overall play saw then run out deserved winners.
The opening minutes of the game saw both teams struggle to gain control, but it was Dungarvan who created the first chance of the match on six minutes. Captain Noah Landers split the Piltown defence with a clever pass and striker Paddy McCarthy raced clear, but his right foot shot flew just wide of the far post.
The midfield battle between Joe Long of Piltown and Scott Collins of Dungarvan was intriguing. On 21 minutes, Long won a tackle in mid field and he sent Jack Carroll away down the right with his first time cross finding Calum Smith in front of goal and he lifted the ball into the net past the advancing Luke Hennessy.
Minutes later Scott Collins got behind the Piltown defence, but his low cross into the box evaded both defenders and attackers and drifted wide. Dungarvan equalised on 32 minutes when Collins again provided a dangerous cross, but this time Ronan Uniacke was well placed in the box to side foot the ball past the stranded Piltown keeper John Cooney.
Both teams created some good chances but it was Dungarvan who struck again on 44 minutes, good work on the edge of the box by McCarthy and Landers saw the ball fall to Luke Power at the far post and he made no mistake with a clinical finish.
It was Dungarvan who came on strong as the second period got underway and on 46 minutes Scott Collins broke from the middle but although his chip beat the Piltown keeper the ball just dropped wide of the far post.
Dungarvan opened up a two goal lead seven minutes later when Paddy McCarthy took on the Piltown defence and reached the endline before pulling the ball back for Jack Mannix who slammed the ball into the net from eight yards.
Piltown went close to pulling back on 68 minutes. Joe Long picked out Danny Walsh on the left and he cut inside but his right foot shot bounced off the crossbar and over. On 75 minutes Dungarvan striker Ronan Uniacke should really have scored as he skipped away from the Piltown defence but his right foot effort cleared the far post.
Man of the match Scott Collins completed the scoring with Dungarvan’s fourth goal on 86 minutes. Uniacke left the Piltown in his wake before he passed to Scott Collins who fired the ball past Cooney in the Piltown goal.
After the game, Ger Murphy secretary of the Waterford Junior League presented Dungarvan captain Noah Landers with the Youth ‘B’ League trophy.
Luke Hennessey, David Nyhan, Adam Mulligan Charlie McGovern 71), Dominik Trzeciak, Pat Purcell, Jack Mannix, Scott Collins, Noah Landers, Paddy McCarthy, Ronan Uniacke (Lewis Simms 88) , Luke Power (Calum Bulfin ‘86).
John Cooney, Conor Quinn (Leon Grace ‘56), Conor Long ( Josh Simpson’ 56), George Culleton, Joe Long, Jack Carroll, Bobby Norris, Jack Tobin, Calum Smith, Danny Walsh (Alan Cantwell 69).
Adam Walsh assisted by Gavin Keyes and Adrian Scanlon.
