Lakewood U17s beat rivals Ballincollig on penalties to reach Gussie Walsh final
Lakewood Athletic captain Daniel Kirstein, Referee Patrick O'Keeffe and Ballincollig captain before the U17 Gussie Walsh Cup at Ovens last Monday night.
LAKEWOOD ATHLETIC took the bragging rights when they beat their neighbours Ballincollig after a penalty shootout to advance to the U17 Gussie Walsh final at Ovens .
This was a special occasion for both sides as they play in the lower division in the Daly Industrial Supplies U17 League and to get to the semi-final stages it was an achievement in itself, however, it was Lakewood who took the honours on the night and now they will go on to play Premier League side Midleton in the final.
It was Ballincollig who held a 1-0 advantage at halftime courtesy of a Dylan Murray free kick, however, they could have easily behind only for the heroics from their goalkeeper Matthew Thompson.
The home side levelled the game 1-1 two minutes from the restart when Daniel Nolan finished an Adam O’Mahony cross.
The game finished level 1-1 and went straight to penalties as there was no extra time played in this competition.
In the shootout Jakob Ciashon-Gdaniec was Lakewood’s hero as he saved two of Ballincollig's penalties, while Thompson saved one for the Village, however, it was Nolan who stroked home the last spot kick to see Lakewood into the final.
Lakewood who made the bright start to the game and when Daniel Kirstein got his head to Jason Murray’s corner, he made Thompson make a stunning save for the Village tipping his effort over the bar.
Karim Fonseca then had a chance to showcase his skill when he skipped past two defenders, however, Thompson had to push his effort around the post in the 24th minute.
The Gary McCarthy Trophies man of the match Fonseca was causing the Village all sorts of problems when he was running at their defence, as he seemed to glide around the pitch.
When he cut in from the right wing in the 38th minute he forced Thompson into a fine save and when Ethan Donovan followed up the Village keeper made himself big to make a point save.
However, Lakewood were left stunned a minute later, when they fell behind 1-0 to a wonderful Dylan Murray free kick from outside the box. The home side had a great chance to level the game a minute before the break, Adam O’Mahony broke from midfield but Thompson raced off his line to narrow his angle and his effort hit the side netting.
Lakewood equalised 1-1 in the 47th minute, O’Mahony delivered a superb cross and Daniel Nolan controlled the ball inside the box to rifle his effort home.
Lakewood then got a foothold in the game and were putting the Village under the cosh and it took another fingertip save from Thompson in the 67th minute from a ferocious free kick by Fonseca to keep the game level.
Fonseca again showed a little bit of magic five minutes later, when he danced his way around two defenders on route to goal, however, Sean O’Ragu had to make a magnificent and timely tackle inside the box to nick the ball off his toes just as he was about to pull the trigger.
The home side threw everything at the Village in the final ten minutes of the game, however, they the Village back four and Thompson were superb defensively for the game finished 1-1.
Jakob Ciashon-Gdaniec, Cillian Fitzgerald, Luke Guerin, Elliot Fitzgerald, Thomas Strafren, Daniel Kirstein, Karim Fonseca, Jason Murray, Daniel Nolan, Ethan Donovan, Adam O’Mahony.
Stephen Holmes for Donovan (h-t), Ben Doyle for Elliot Fitzgerald (h-t), Colm Doyle for O’Mahony (88).
Matthew Thompson, Daniel O’Neill, Sean O’Ragu, Aaron O’Flynn, Adam Shaw, Eoin Thomas, Sam Dineen, Jake Aherne, Dylan Murray, Ciaran Duggan, Cillian O’Riordan.
David Cronin for Dineen (24), Daniel Kenny for Murray (61), Stephen Murphy for O’Riordan (83).
Patrick O’Keeffe.
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