JIM CASHIN U/12 INTER LEAGUE FINAL
DDSL (1) 3
LIMERICK DESMOND (0) 1 Liam McCartan
Cashin Cup Campaign Comes to an End in Capital
On Saturday last the Limerick Desmond U/12 side travelled to Dublin to take on the DDSL in the final of the U/12 Jim Cashin Cup at Jackson Park, home of Wayside Celtic. Limerick Desmond entered the game in confident mood following a fantastic win over Galway fourteen days earlier. With temperatures in the mid twenties this was always going to be an energy sapping battle and the DDSL elected to play with the slight wind advantage in the opening half. Desmond lined up with their usually 4-4-2 formation. The opening minutes saw DDSL with plenty of possession football and three minutes in they created their first opportunity following a corner Shane Elworhty rattled a shot against the cross bar. Desmond survived this scare and began to get more and more into the game and in the space of sixty seconds Granagh Utd’s Edward Sheehy and Kyle Cotter both won free kick’s in the DDSL half of the pitch but the resulting free kick’s were well defended by the home side. Elworthy and Andy Browne combined well for DDSL in the final third of the pitch but Mikey Morrissey was on hand to avert the danger, at the opposite end Seamus Flanagan linked up well with Lee Kelly but centre half Jimmy Dunne mopped up the danger. Nine minutes in and again Morrissey was on hand to stop another threatening DDSL attack. Ten minutes into the game and the home side took the lead when an Elworthy corner from the left hand was met by Andy Browne who riffled the ball to the roof of the net at the back post giving Peter Collins no chance. This was a set back for Limerick Desmond especially as the ball seemed to go out for a throw rather than a corner but we kept our shape and two minutes later keeper James Talbott was called into action as Flanagan again linked up with Kelly but the home keeper was off his line to clear the danger.
Limerick Desmond won their first corner on seventeen minutes which was brilliantly delivered by Morrissey to Flanagan but he failed to get a proper connection and DDSL were relieved to see the ball cleared. Kyle Cotter, Sean McSweeney and Lee Kelly exchanged passes but as Kelly bore down on goal Dylan Watts recovered to clear. Limerick Desmond introduced Van Mambouana in place of Alan Ryan with eleven minutes remaining in the opening half. Within the space of sixty seconds DDSL almost doubled their lead first Peter Collins denied Mark Boucher at the back post and from the resulting corner Padraic O’Connor denied DDSL an almost certain goal as he headed the ball off the line and out for a corner. DDSL enjoyed ample possession but they came up against a well organised defence as Mikey Hickey, Mark Connolly, Padraic O’Connor and especially Mikey Morrissey working tirelessly in an effort to keep the away side in the game. DDSL were resorting to long range efforts at this stage with right back Dylan Watts having a go from thirty yards but his effort was well wide of the target. Half time 1-0 to DDSL.
Limerick Desmond came out in determined mood in the second half but were dealt a major blow sixty seconds in when Elworthy found himself in space inside the area following a pass from Boucher and he placed the ball low past Collins and into the bottom corner. Limerick Desmond responded and Van Mambouana found himself in a race for possession with Dunne with the defender getting a vital touch to put the ball behind for a corner. Manager Ger Costelloe introduced Ballingarrys Cathal O’Keeffe and Nathan Clancy at this point for Sean McSweeney and Edward Sheehy. Mark Connolly and Cathal O’Keeffe combined well on the right wing to set up Mambouana but his effort from the edge of the area was just wide of Talbot’s left hand post. The DDSL won a free kick on the edge of the area which was delivered to the back post to Elworthy but his header trickled wide of the post. Some excellent foot work by the every improving O’ Keeffe lead to Desmond being awarded a free kick which was delivered by Cotter into the penalty area, Talbot in goal came to collect but dropped the ball and just as O’Keeffe was about to shoot the keeper got a touch and the home side cleared the danger. Liam McCartan entered the fray at this point and he combined well with Clancy and Mambouana but a defender tracked him all the way to get in a telling tackle and clear the danger. With minutes remaining on the clock the home side hit Desmond on the counter with Peter Collins producing a wonderful save from Boucher but the ball fell kindly for the in rushing Ritchie Purdy to tap into an empty net. Desmond were not going to give up at this point and Clancy attacked down the left wing and he delivered a dangerous ball across the box but it was just too far ahead of the inrushing McCartan, Desmond won possession again and as the game almost entered injury time Flanagan found himself in space just inside the edge of the area but his mishit shot looked to be going wide until McCartan popped up at the back post to volley the ball into the net from close range to give Desmond a goal they richly deserved. Seconds later Desmond were on the attack again and Mambouna attacked down the wing and he played a delightful pass to O’Keeffe who squared to McCartan but unfortunately the linesman flagged for offside. Kildimo Utd’s Kyle Hayes entered the game at this point and he was called into action immediately when he headed clear only for Desmond to concede a free kick on the edge of the area which back Dan Casey stepped up to take but his shot was well wide of Collins right hand post. Seconds later the referee blew the full time whistle and the long journey in search of All Ireland Glory had come to an end.
The players will be disappointed not to bring the Jim Cashin Cup to Limerick but they shouldn’t be disappointed as they created their own bit of history by becoming the first team from the league to reach the All Ireland U/12 final and they definitely acquitted themselves well on the day and should be proud of their achievement in reaching the final.
Overall the season must be classed as a major success and I have no doubt that the manager Ger Costelloe and coaches Kevin Clifford, Tom Ambrose and Brian Lawlor are very proud of the players. The management team would like to thank all the players for the dedication shown throughout the season and this dedication and commitment was a major factor in reaching the All Ireland Final. The management team would also like to thank the parents for bringing the players to training every Sunday morning and thanks to all the parents and supporters who made the long trip to Dublin last Saturday.
Limerick Desmond: Peter Collins (Abbeyfeale Utd), Mikey Hickey (Ballingarry), Mark Connolly (Shountrade), Mikey Morrissey (Ballingarry), Padraic O’Connor (Breska Rvs), Sean McSweeney (Shannonside), Edward Sheehy (Granagh Utd), Kyle Cotter (Granagh Utd), Seamus Flanagan capt (Broadford Utd), Lee Kelly (Askeaton), Alan Ryan (Kilcornan).
Subs: Van Mambouana (Newcastle West), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo Utd), Nathan Clancy (Ballingarry), Richard Hayes (Shannonside), Patrick Byrnes (Kilcornan), David O’Donoghue Abbeyfeale Utd), Cathal O’Keeffe (Ballingarry), Liam McCartan (Newcastle West), Jack O’Donoghue (Granagh Utd), David O’Connor (Shountrade), Conor Horan (Abbeyfeale Utd), Padraig Walsh (Athea Utd), Bradley Daly (Granagh Utd)
DDSL: James Talbot, Dylan Watts, Evan Osam, Jimmy Dunne, Dan Casey, Fuad Sullo, Shane Elworthy, Robert Duggan, Andy Browne, Mark Boucher and Ritchie Purdy.
Subs: Anthony Breslin, Dillon Nolan, Gareth Craven, Josh Clifford, Evan Farrell, Andy Tuite.
BIG THANKS - The league would like to congratulate the players on reaching the final, we would also like to say a big thanks to Ger, Kevin, Tom & Brian for all the effort they put in to preparing and coaching the side which culminated in reaching the All Ireland Final.