Douglas Hall 0 College Corinthians 2

COLLEGE CORINTHIANS moved top of the Daly Industrial Supply U18 League 1 table when they defeated Douglas Hall in wet and windy conditions at Moneygourney.

Corinthians are now on 27 points after 14 games, however, Blarney United are just three points behind with two games in hand, and St Mary’s and Greenwood are also in the mix on 21 points with the latter having only played 10 game, so its all to play for in this Division.

Both teams struggled to play any decent football in terrible conditions with a swirling wind making it difficult to control the ball. After a scoreless first half Gavin Kelleher broke the deadlock nine minutes from the restart to give Cors a 1-0 lead.

The home team huffed and puffed in the second half, however their their final pass let them down. The visitors increased their lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game when man of the match Kelleher grabbed his second goal of the game for his team to take the spoils.

The home team manager Charlie Kidney didn’t hide his frustration after. “I’m very disappointed to be honest as I thought we were second best in all aspects of the game, Charlie said.

“To be fair the weather conditions were very poor, but that’s no excuse as Corinthians controlled the ball better today.

“We will have to put this defeat behind us, and work hard in training for our coming games ahead,” added Kidney.

Corinthians manager Adrain O’Leary was a relieved man.

“It was a very difficult game, and I’m just happy to come away with the three points in very wild conditions. I always thought who got the first goal would go on a win the game, as the game could have gone either way.

“Although we didn’t play particularly well today, this win sets up nicely for the remainder of the league campaign with everything in our hands.”

Both sides took time to adjust to the very strong wind, and it took 10 minutes for the first shot on target when Cors Andrew Shelly forced Halls Keeper Robbie Deane to make a smart save at his near post.

Two minutes later Deane had to be alert again when he had to push a free-kick from Cors’ Ben Quilligan’s around the near post. Douglas had their first chance on goal on the half-hour mark when Anton Brennan danced his way into the Cors box, however, he dragged his effort wide of the far post.

The home team had the best chance of the half to break the deadlock in the 44th minute when Louis Kenddellian found himself in a great position at the near post, but he headed Kevin Morgan’s cross over the bar.

Cors started the second half on the front foot, and Deane was on hand again to deny Qulligan from close range. The visitors took the lead in the 56th minute when Gavin Kelleher ran on to a defensive clearance from Ben Coleman to round the helpless Deane, and stroke the ball into the empty net.

Douglas started to come more into the game, and when Ryan Lynch won a good ball outside the box he forced a fingertip save from Andrew O’Brien in the Cors goal in the 65 minute.

The visitors doubled their advantage when that man again Kelleher ran on to a loose ball to drill home in the 80th minute. The home side did have a chance to get something out of the game, however, Morgan was denied by O’Brien in the final minute.

DOUGLAS HALL: Robbie Deane, Patrick Carey, Scott Geaney, Luke Williams, Paul Meaney, Anton Brennan, Eoin O’Sullivan, Jack Flanagan, Kevin Morgan, Adam Whitely, Louis Kendellian.

Subs: Ran Lynch for Geaney (58), Micheal Connolly for Williams (72), Tadgh Buckley for Meaney (84).

COLLEGE CORINTHIANS: Andrew O’Brien, Kevin Walsh, Aaron Murphy-O’Dwyer, Ben Coleman, Ben Leahy, Mathew O’Driscoll, Andrew Shelly, Kevin Moran, Gavin Kelleher, Dylan Buckley, Ben Quilligan.

Subs: Ryan Murphy for Murphy-O’Dwyer (63), Keith Bradley for Walsh (78).

Referee: Damien Klier.