Cork soccer teams honour memory of Liam Miller by landing two All-Irelands

Cork soccer teams honour memory of Liam Miller by landing two All-Irelands
The Cork players lift the cup alongside team-mates during the U13 SFAI Subway Liam Miller Cup National Championship final. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

THE Cork Schoolboys League teams secured back to back All-Ireland titles on Sunday afternoon in Mullingar as their U13s defeated DDSL in the Subway Championship National Final before the U15s also beat Donegal in the showpiece occasion.

The U13s were first up and they secured the cup against their Ulster rivals with a 2-1 win as Matthew Moore expertly converted a penalty before Denzell Obenge scored the decisive goal later in proceedings. To make it extra special, the U13 trophy is named in honour of the late Liam Miller and was presented by Bridie, the mother of the former Celtic, Man United and Cork City player, after.

The U15s match soon followed and their triumph was far more comprehensive as they landed the silverware with a 3-0 success thanks to goals from Kieran McCarthy, Dara O’Shea and Louis Hanover.

The Cork U13s kicked off an exciting afternoon but they took their time to settle into the match and their opponents took full advantage by taking the lead early in the first period.

The reds’ keeper just failed to stop the ball from finding the roof of his net but his side would respond perfectly to that set back as they quickly snatched an equaliser.

The Leesiders weren’t behind for long as Matthew Moore cooly sent the keeper the wrong way with his penalty as he expertly slotted his spot kick into the bottom right corner.

And they completed the turnaround shortly before the half time break as Corinthians Boys’ Jayden Addair Bell broke clear of his marker down the left hand side and after his cross made it’s way to Denzell Obenge, the Mallow United man tucked it home from a few yards for what proved to be the winner.

Dezell Obenge of Cork SL, second from right, celebrates with team-mates. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Dezell Obenge of Cork SL, second from right, celebrates with team-mates. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Later that day, the U15s looked to follow the youngster’s example by bringing another national championship home to Cork.

They made the ideal start by edging in front through Kieran McCarthy as he fired the ball into the net at the back post in the first half.

The reds continued to pile forward in their numbers in the second period and Dara O’Shea’s close range finish before Louis Hanover’s goal put the seal on a great day for Cork.

Cork players celebrate with the cup following the U15 SFAI Subway National Championship final. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Cork players celebrate with the cup following the U15 SFAI Subway National Championship final. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

CORK U13 SQUAD: Danny Miskella, Sean Richmond, Caolán Walsh, Matthew Moore, Barry O’Connell, Denjoe O’Riordan, Jamie Kelly, Cathal O’Sullivan, Luke Downey, Denzell Obenge, Eoin Howell, Conor O’Halloran, Jack O’Brien, Dylan O’Sullivan, Finn Dalton, Jayden Addair Bell, Danny Mellerick, James Traynor, Odhran O’Sullivan, Ben Cashman, Mikey Pedley, Devon Gibson, Liam Quinn, Josh Barry and Kian Lane.

CORK U15 SQUAD: Ross Hennessy, Jake Freyne, Franco Umeh, Dara O’Shea, Micheal Jordan, Ciaran O’Leary, Ryan Delaney, Kieran McCarthy, Sean Casey, Matthew Broderick, Robbie O’Brien, Liam Murray, Harvey Skieters, Max Lee, Cian Buckley, Charlie O’Brien, Rojus Vitkevicius, Oscar Ahern, Louis Hanover, Charlie Cummins, Darragh Bowdren, Zack Philpott and James Burke.

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