Lakewood advance in the JAKO IRELAND Munster Youth cup with win over Douglas Hall

Lakewood Athletic 2 

Douglas Hall 1

Lakewood Athletic advanced to the next round of the JAKO IRELAND Munster Youth cup when they beat Douglas Hall in a very entertaining game at the Lakewood Sports Complex last Saturday evening.

Lakewood led at half time 1-0 with a beautiful strike in the 28th minute from Cian O’Flynn and increased their lead 2-0 in the 62nd minute of the second half. 

The Hall scored four minutes from time from the boot of Vilson Sefolli, however, although they had Lakewood pined into their own half they couldn’t find that all important goal to bring the game into extra time.

The game started at a furious pace and the visitors had an early chance in the second half when Larry Butler headed a Darragh Morley corner kick inches over the crossbar. 

On the other side of the pitch two minutes later Cian O’Flynn found Cillian Barr with a peach of a pass for Lakewood, but his powerful effort came back off the post. 

The Hall had another great opportunity to break the deadlock in the eighth minute, Mathew Dowling got in behind the Lakewood back four, however, he dragged his effort inches wide. 

The game settled down with both sides playing some breathtaking one touch football and the Hall came close again in the 25th minute, Dowling played a short corner kick to Mac Ghiolla-Bhride on the edge of the Lakewood box, but Cian Davis-Heelan produced a superb save to push his effort around the post. 

That was a big moment in the game, as three minutes later Lakewood took a 1-0 lead. 

Sheehan found O’Flynn with a beautiful pass and he weaved by two Hall defenders to strike an unstoppable effort past Daniel Wiseman in the Hall goal. 

O’Flynn had a glorious chance to increase the Lakewood lead in the 38th minute when he danced his way into the Hall penalty area and although he did get clipped he was too honest and stayed on his feet to force a fine save from Wiseman.

Lakewood started the second half on the front foot and came very close to increasing their lead in the 53rd minute when Sheehan found space in the Hall box, but his powerful header from a O’Flynn free kick flew over the bar. 

O’Flynn was causing the Hall all sorts of problems with his movement and when he received a ball from Ethan Murphy, it took a superb and timely tackle by the Hall’s Mathew Barr to nick it off his toes when he was just about to pull the trigger. 

Lakewood did increase their lead 2-0 in the 62nd minute, Cillian O’Sullivan put in a superb delivery and Sheehan was on hand his effort high into the net. 

The scoreline was harsh on the Hall as they had the majority of possession, however, they weren’t as clinical as Lakewood in front of goal. 

They piled on the pressure and got their reward in the 86th minute when substitute Vilson Sefolli finished with a powerful strike to trail 2-1. 

The final minute were frantic with the Hall pinning Lakewood inside their own half and Dowling came close with a powerful effort in the 90th minute only to see his effort ricochet of a defender and go out for a corner. 

Deep into injury time the ball fell kindly for Mac Ghiolla-Bhride, however, Davis-Heelan raced off his line to make himself big to make brave save.

LAKEWOOD ATHLETIC: Cian Davis-Heelan, Cillan O’Sullivan, Adam Hennessy, Ethan Murphy, Chidubem Ebili, Cathal Ryan, Cillan Barr, Adam Quinlivan, Darragh Sheehan, Cian O’Flynn, Cathal Murphy.

Subs: Ebuechukwu Daniel-Zeph for Barr (65), Charlie Hayes for O’Flynn (78).

DOUGLAS HALL: Daniel Wiseman, Darragh Morley. James Barry, Larry Butler, Denis Kelleher, Matthew Ray, Conall Mac Ghiolla-Bhride, Sean Linehan, Micheal Karuru, Mathew Dowelng, Rory Denn.

Subs: Daniel Olawuni for Karuru (68), Vilson Sefolli for Denn (68), Mark Keeshan for Morley (77), Eoin McCarthy for Ray).

Referee: Dave Finnegan.