Avondale beat Blarney to take step towards U17 title as Midleton and Mallow United win cup crackers

There were some really exciting games in the Cork Youth League competitions on Saturday, as Avondale United beat Blarney United in the U17 League 1 playoff and there were two thrilling U17 Tom O’Callaghan semi-finals.

Avondale United put in a superb first-half performance in the U17 League 1 game against Blarney United at Avondale Park. Darragh McKeon gave the Dales the lead in the 16th minute. Patrick McCarthy could have put them further ahead in the 35th minute but didn't convert his spot kick. 

They went two up four minutes later when Mario Horky hit the back of the net and when McKeon grabbed his second goal of the game in the 43rd minute. Three down, Blarney pulled a goal back in the 49th minute through Darragh Crowley but the damage was done. 

Dale can lift the title on Wednesday evening when they travel to play Fermoy at Carrig Park. If the home side win, they can be crowned champions against Blarney at O’Shea park next Saturday.

There were two cracking Tom O’Callaghan U17 Cup ties on Saturday, with Midleton beating Macroom 4-3 at Murrayfield and Mallow United edging out Kilworth Celtic 4-3 on penalties after the game finished 4-4 at the Sheila Flynn Park.

The Magpies led in the 37th minute with a penalty from captain Michael Bertocchi but Liorens Iraizoz levelled in the 60th minute. Midleton then went 3-1 up with two goals from sub Hugh Ó Loingsigh. 

The hosts tied the game with goals from Daniel Lagos-Nunez in the 78th minute and an Eoin Holland strike three minutes later. It was heading for a penalty shootout as there is no extra time in this competition until Bertocchi came up with the winning goal in the 91st minute.

CLASSIC

There was also a classic cup tie between Kilworth Celtic and Mallow United.

The visitors who raced into a 2-0 lead through Christopher Jones and Godime Ehioson but they suffered a blow when their keeper Euan Gyves was sent off in the 32nd minute. Conor Lynch pulled a goal back for Kilworth before the break.

Conor Sheehan gave Mallow a two-goal advantage again with an effort five minutes after the restart. The home side made it 3-3 with a pair of penalties from Lynch to complete his hat-trick. 

However, a 90th-minute effort from Danyl Pierce saw them leading 4-3. The drama wasn't finished yet, as Jones converted his second penalty of the game deep into injury time for the game to finish 4-4. 

Mallow held their nerve to go through to the final 4-3 in the penalty shootout after an absolute epic.