Thrilling deciders in Munster Youth Cup as several Cork teams advance to the next round

Leeside, Midleton Premier side, Kanturk and holders College Corinthians join Lakewood in the next round of the Jake Ireland Munster Youth cup after some thrilling encounters over the weekend.

On Friday night Leeside beat Midleton second team by seven goals to nil at Leeside Park and they had seven players, Jamie Coughlan, James Grayem, Craig Nolan, Alex Bolland, JJ Foley, Blake Wise and Warren O’Mahony, hitting the net to see them safely through.

Also on Friday night Colm Fitzgerald’s Midleton had an excellent 7-0 victory against Carrigaline United A at Knockgriffin Park. The Magpies led at halftime by three goals to nil with goals from Noah Nsengivumva in the fourth minute, and two from Rian Thornhill in the sixth and 20th minutes. 

Alex McSweeney increased their lead 4-0 in the 50th minute. Thornhill grabbed another brace in the 51st and 54th minute and Ebu Gabriel added a seventh to see the Magpies into the hat for the next round.

Kanturk put in another superb performance in his competition after knocking out the leaders of the U18 Premier League Carrigaline United on penalties. 

This time they faced a dogged Blarney United side at Gurteenard Park on Saturday morning and advanced to the next round 5-1. 

This was a lot closer affair than the scoreline suggested, as the North Cork side led 1-0 at half-time with a Ben Winkle goal in the 21st minute. 

Joshua Kelleher increased their lead 2-0 in the 65th minute but Jayden Gahan gave Blarney a lifeline from the penalty spot five minutes later. Eoin Looney restored Kanturk’s two-goal advantage in the 81st minute.

Ciaran Carver and Patrick O’Donoghue struck two late goals for U18 League 1 side, who are unbeaten this season.

The cup tie of the weekend was the clash between holders College Corinthians and Mayfield United at Castletreasure on Saturday night. 

Jake Leahy gave Mayfield an early 2-0 lead with goals in the 13th and 24th minutes. Corinthians reduced the deficit when Jack Sheehan hit the back of the net in the 34th minute. 

Andrew O’Reilly levelled the game for the home side in the 75th minute, but Hugh Kennedy must have thought he won the game for Mayfield when he netted in the 86th minute. However, Corinthians weren’t going to relinquish the trophy they won with a fight and levelled the game 3-3 in injury time to bring the tie into extra time. 

Both sides had chances but Sheehan was the Corinthians hero with the all-important goal in the 108th minute, to eventually win 4-3.