2019 was the first time the LDSL had a full league season in the same
calendar year and it was a season to remember for the Corbally U13A
team. The season started back in March with a promising 7 – 1 home win
against Newport. This was followed by victories against Pike B (3 – 2)
and Aishling C (4 – 1).
On a very windy day in April, which
made it very hard to play football, we hosted a very talented Carew Park
team. Little did we know at that time in April how crucial that game
would prove to be in the context of the league. After going 1 down, we
managed to go ahead 2 – 1, only for Carew to get an equaliser to finish
in a draw (2 – 2). A very fair result on the day.
Our winning form
returned with victories over Bridge Celtic (3 – 2), Caherconlish (6 –
2) and Aishling B (Walkover) but then had a major setback against
Aishling B in May. After starting brutally and going 3 down in the 1st
half, we showed great spirit to get it back to 3 – 2 but unfortunately
couldn’t get the equaliser.
We then experienced the crazy holiday
period in June where we didn’t know from 1 week to the next if we were
going to be able to field a team. Miraculously, with the assistance of
our younger club members, we came out of June with 4 great victories
against Pike B (4 – 1), Bridge Celtic (4 – 0), Aishling C (7 -2) and
finally Newport (7 -1) which was notable for a 4 goal tally from young
Jamie Kelly. This put us in a great position going into the summer
break, level on top of the league with Carew Park with 3 games remaining
each.
We came back from the summer holidays, for our 1st game in
September, away to Caherconlish, with a lot of players more familiar
with a sliotar than a soccer ball. As serious league contenders at this
stage and Carew Park in equally fine form, every game was a must win and
you could sense the pressure on the players. The lack of match practise
showed and we knew we were in for a battle when it wasn’t long before
we went behind and went in at the half 1 down after missing a penalty.
The second half was equally as tense but we showed our spirit to get
into the lead at 2 – 1. But the advantage was to be short lived as we
gave away a penalty which was powerfully blasted home by Caherconlish to
leave the sides level. The determination to win came to the fore and
with only a couple of minutes left, Leon Campbell got the vital score to
finish 3 – 2. A definite get out of jail result to keep us in the
running for the title.
A few weeks later, we hosted Bridge and ran
out 4 – 2 winners to leave ourselves and Carew Park level at the top of
the table with 1 game remaining. This left us with our last game of the
season away to Carew Park in a very exciting winner takes all decider.
Saturday Oct 28th, 2019 – Carew Park Vs Corbally United
We
had to wait a month for the league finale and it was on a lovely sunny
morning at the end of October when we gathered at Carew Park’s home
patch. A much nicer day for playing football than when the sides first
met back in April.
The game started tightly, as was to be expected
for this clash between the joint table toppers but Carew got the first
break of the game when a through ball down the left wing caught out the
Corbally defence and the Carew winger slid the ball wide of the
on-rushing keeper to give Carew the early lead. Soon afterwards, Carew
had another chance following a corner which had goal written all over it
but Cian Coughlan showed his desire and chased down the ball to make a
goal line clearance and keep the deficit at the minimum.
A couple
of switches were badly needed if Corbally were to stay in the game and
not see the league title disappear. The solid Padraig Reddan was
introduced into the center of defence and Darragh Horkan switched into
the striker role, with the dynamic Eoin Begley moving into midfield
alongside the towering Patryk Rejkowicz and energetic Owen Burton. From
this point on, Corbally seemed to get a grip on the game and really took
the battle to Carew. Carew’s opportunities from that point were long
range efforts which goalkeeper Eoghan Breen dealt with comfortably apart
from on one occasion where he was forced to make a full stretch diving
double punch save.
Despite a lot of effort, Corbally didn’t get
much change out of the big Carew Park defence in the first half. Best
chances coming from a long range rocket from a Rejkowicz free kick which
went narrowly wide and following a corner which was cleared to the edge
of the box, Burton fired a bullet of a shot goalward bound and the
enthralled supporters couldn’t believe it when the Carew Park keeper
pulled off a superb save to push the ball out for another corner.
Corbally were happy to get in at half time and regroup with only 1 goal
in it and all to play for in the second half.
The 2nd half started
more promising with Leon Campbell looking very dangerous on the left
wing. Jamie Kelly and Thiseas Zabetakis shared the right wing duties,
linking up well with the midfielders and did a great job of nullifying
any Carew Park play down their left wing. Shortly into the second half,
Corbally were rewarded for their endeavour, when a through ball from
Rejkowicz found Begley who had made a deep run from midfield in behind
the Carew center backs. Although he was forced out to the left, he
skilfully struck the ball with the inside of his left foot past the
Carew keeper. This really lifted the Corbally team and the large
following of supporters. Corbally continued their relentless effort,
double teaming every time a Carew player gained possession, stifling any
Carew play. Our defensive line of Niall O’Hanlon, Jack Hannon, Padraig
Reddan and the Corbally captain Shane McLoughlin were a match for any
Carew Park attacks.
Some fast pin point clearances from second
half keeper Darragh Newman triggered many Corbally counter attacks and
it was from one of these in the middle of the second half that a flick
on from Horkan found Campbell who used his strength and speed to make a
surging run and fight his way past the right back, leaving himself with a
1 on 1 with the keeper. The Corbally following couldn’t believe it when
despite being tackled from behind as he was about to shoot, Campbell
managed to squeeze the ball under the keeper and into the net.
Unfortunately, the challenge, which resulted in a deserved yellow card
for the Carew center back, saw Campbell having to be helped off injured.
This really rallied the Corbally team and you could see that the
defending league winners from the short 2018 season were in no mood to
relinquish their title. The midfielders were all over the place with
Begley assisting the defence, Rejkowicz being his usual huge presence
and Burton chasing everything until his legs finally gave way and was
replaced by Coughlan who continued the energetic effort.
Horkan in
a solitary striker role was working his socks off and showed the type
of form he had before his long injury layoff earlier in the season. Any
ball played up to him, even when not favourite to win it, he managed to
gain control of and hold up for the on-coming midfielders. Horkan
eventually got his reward after another penetrating run from Campbell
down the left was cleared to Rejkowicz in the center of the field. An
intelligent quick ball from Rejkowicz found Horkan who was surprisingly
left wide open at the edge of the box. There was a roar of “Offside”
from the Carew contingent, but the referee was well placed, as he was
level in line with the right back who had kept Horkan onside and waved
play on. Horkan dutifully smashed the ball into the left corner of the
goal to put Corbally 3 – 1 ahead with 10 mins to go.
Following
this, Carew changed their setup and piled the pressure on the Corbally
defence and a few minutes later, were awarded a free kick in a very
dangerous position just outside the Corbally box. The well struck free
sailed towards the Corbally net but Newman was equal to the task and
caught it masterfully. Carew were encouraged by this and kept the
pressure on Corbally, resulting in them scoring from a goal mouth
scramble following a corner kick. 3 – 2 !!!
Rory Meade who was
being rested since half time, was brought back into the side to help
bolster the defence for the last few minutes. The rapturous joy that
exploded from the Corbally players when the referee blew the final
whistle, could be heard back in Atlunkard.
Much
credit must be given to a great Carew Park team on a wonderful season
and league decider who were unfortunate to meet a Corbally side who
showed huge determination to narrowly come out on top. I would like to
thank Carew Park for their incredible hospitality on the day, it is much
appreciated.
Well done to all the Corbally players involved in
this epic 2019 championship winning season. A massive team effort
throughout with everybody contributing with a hero’s performance at some
stage during the season in many different games whether it was goal
scoring, tackling, assists or defensive duties.
Back
Row : Coach – Paul Horkan, Rory Meade, Niall O’Hanlon, Owen Burton,
Patryk Rejkowicz, Cian Coughlan, Darragh Horkan, Padraig Reddan, Leon
Campbell, Coach – Ioannis Zabetakis.
Front Row : Eoghan Breen, Jamie
Kelly, Jack Hannon, Shane McLoughlin (Captain), Darragh Newman, Eoin
Begley, Thiseas Zabetakis.
Missing on the day Gearoid O’Brien.
