O’Reilly hits priceless winner for Southend
Mary Ray of the WSFL presents Southend United captain Luke Casey with the U-11A Jim O'Shea Cup at Graun Park.
Southend United won the Jim O’Shea under 11A Cup thanks to a late winner from striker Michael Edward O’Reilly as the striker dashed the hopes of a gallant Waterford Crystal who gave so much to this exciting cup final.
It was Crystal who had the first attack of the game on eight minutes. Zac Wall made ground down the left hand side and played a clever ball inside to Vittoria Tulla Pascolini. The Crystal striker turned inside the Southend defence and fired a right foot shot at goal, however Southend keeper Keegan Coady dived low to his left to save.
On ten minutes Southend full back Gabreil David Korzeniowski lined up a free kick on the edge of the box and he went for the near post but Crystal keeper Jack Allen got across to make a diving save.
Back came Crystal and Pascolini got behind the Southend defence but Jack Roche got back to make a goal saving tackle. On 16 minutes Southend winger Luke Casey weaved his way past three Crystal defenders but Jack Allen in the Crystal goal was equal to the task making another good save at his near post.
Darragh Long then caught the Southend defence ball watching as he hit a left foot volley only to see Keegan Coady dive across his goal to save. Southend finished the first half on top with Mason O’Neill shooting on the spin but Allen was well placed to save.
Fareed Alabi who played wide on the right for Southend started the second half on fire as he raced past the Crystal defence on 28 minutes. The winger set up Michael Edward O’Reilly but the striker shot over the top from a good position. Southend were on the attack again on 30 minutes, Mason O’Neill lined up a strike from just inside the box but Crystal- defender Toby Fitzgerald got across to make a goal saving block. Three minutes later Southend won a penalty kick after a hand ball in the Crystal area.
Up stepped Luke Casey and his spot-kick was on target but Crystal keeper Jack Allen dived low to his left to make a brilliant save. It was all Southend as the game went into the closing stages but Crystal were defending for their lives with Reece Gordan and Adam Byrne solid in defence.
With five minutes left on the clock Southend scored, Michael Edward O’Reilly picked up the ball in midfield and turned before unleashing a left foot pile driver that flew into the top corner.
In the last minute Crystal won a corner-kick, Zac Wall delivered the ball into the box and the ball fell to David Cordeiro but Jack Roche was well placed to hack the ball off the line.
Keegan Coady, Jack Roche, Mickey Connors, Gabriel De Korzeniowski, Emily O’Regan, Michael Edward O’Reilly, Hollie Roche Murphy, Harry Whelan, Mason O’Neill, Lee Earle, Luke Casey, Tamiwa Mambe, Fareed Alabi.
Jack Allen, Adam Byrne, James Caulfield, David Cordeiro, Toby Fitzgerald, Reece Gordon, Vittoria Tullia Pascolini, Dylan Power, Zac Wall, Michele Pascolini, AJ Cullen, Sandie, Darragh Long.
Adam Walsh. Assisted by Victor Norris and Adrian Kirwan.
