Agony for soccer lads as they exit youths cup in shoot-out
CHARLEVILLE bowed out of the F.A.I. Youths Cup when they went down to Clare side Avenue United following a penalty shoot out after extra time in an entertaining cup tie at Moatville on Saturday last.
Playing with the aid of the strong wind Charleville opened well with Shane Dillon putting a great ball across the open goalmouth and Jeremy Bridgeman coming close, following good build up play by Gary Ward and Alan Mccourt, in the opening ten minutes. With Shane Dillon a constant threat to the visitors defence, he sent a great ball through to Gary Ward whose right foot left him down at the crucial moment.
Charleville's opener came after 33 minutes when Shane Dillon collected a long ball out of the Charleville defence and inside the Avenue half. Though surrounded by three defenders he outfoxed them and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net for a superb goal that gave the keeper absolutely no chance.
It was almost 2-0 after 40 minutes when Shane Dillon shot just over after a good ball from Gary Ward and Charleville went in with a deserved 1-0 lead at the break.
The second half began in lively fashion with Paul Moloney and Shane Dillon coming close to adding to their tally in the first three minutes. At the other end a timely interception by Jeremy Bridgeman and a goal line clearance by Dean Copps saved the day in the opening ten minutes.
The visitors however levelled the tie after 12 minutess when a powerful long range effort seemed to deceive the home keeper and went all the way to the net. There were few chances for the remainder of the game with defences dominating however substitute Sean Mccormack had a good effort just wide after 37 minutes. Extra time too failed to separate the teams with the penalty shoot out deciding it.
Charleville were first up with Tony Whitehead making no mistake however their next three efforts failed to be converted and they paid the price with Avenue going through on a 3-1 shoot-out scoreline.
Charleville now look forward to the Munster Youths Cup quarter-final to be played at Moatville against Limerick City side Fairview Rangers and no doubt team mentors Brian Fitzgibbon Dave Sheehan and Dave O'regan will have them in top form for this crucial tie. Team: Matt Roche; Mark O'halloran, Alan Mccourt, Gavin Mullins (captain), Jeremy Bridgeman, Dean Copps, Keith Dundon, Tony Whitehead, Shane Dillon, gary Ward, Paul Moloney. Sub: Seán Mccormack for Ward.
