Liam O'Leary the hat-trick hero as Waterloo prove too good for Mogeely
The Waterloo side that had a 6-0 victory over Mogeely A in the first round of the Munster Junior Cup at Whitechurch Community Grounds. Picture: Barry Peelo.
Liam O’Leary grabbed a hat-trick as Waterloo cruised into the second round of the Munster Junior Cup after a 6-0 victory over Mogeely A at the Whitechurch Community Sports Ground.
However, it required a massive second-half performance to secure this comfortable win, especially after Mogeely missed several gilt-edged chances in the first 45 minutes.
Mogeely A started the brighter of the two sides and after Johnnie Clifford headed off course from a cross, Luke Keane drilled inches wide with a low effort.
Mogeely continued to impose and forced two corners in quick succession as Oran Sweetnam headed over while unattended.
Minutes later, Mogeely’s Cian Brennan had a glorious chance, but somehow failed to force the ball over the line from close range.
Waterloo were finding it difficult to settle into the game and when Sam Kelleher broke down the right flank, he cut inside, but was foiled when Karol Michniewicz threw his body on the line to block his effort outside the box.
Waterloo eventually gathered some momentum and a sweeping move which started with Liam O’Leary playing it short to Sam Kelleher, who helped on for the supporting Ronan O’Brien, he lifted an accurate pass on for Shane O’Shea, who took a steadying touch before forcing Wimpenny to knock out for a corner with his feet.
From the resultant corner, Fionn Hall rose to power Liam O’Leary’s delivery deep into the Mogeely net on 35.
An immediate response from Mogeely saw Dion Drake rifle a fine effort, inches wide of the far post.
Ronan McCarthy then produced a fine run before seeing his pass reach the unmarked Luke Keane, who smacked the bar with his thumping effort.
Mogeely had another chance before the half ended when Cian Brennan knocked it back for Johnnie Clifford, who cleared the bar from outside the box.
Waterloo exploded from the blocks as the second half took off and following patient build-up-play, Liam O’Leary rifled over from the edge of the box.
A lovely measured ball into space by Ronan O’Brien found Sam Kelleher, but Matt Sweetnam did enough to snuff out the danger.
Waterloo were certainly more purposeful now to what they were in the first half and when Jack Homan won a header in midfield, Ronan O’Brien beat the offside trap before rounding the Mogeely keeper and tap home to an empty net on the hour.
Mogeely’s Dion Drake did come close at the other end, but rifled agonisingly wide of the far post.
The Loo continued on the front-foot though and after Liam O’Leary took a steadying touch, he unleashed an unstoppable effort that soared into the top corner for a wonderful finish – 3-0 on 66.
Minutes later, Ewan Wimpenny had to deal with a tricky in-swinger from a corner by Liam O’Leary, punching the ball clear with relief.
Mogeely never despaired and when James McConnell side-stepped his marker, he forced Conor O’Regan into making a solid save.
At the other end, a clever back-heeled pass by Ronan O’Brien set Sam Kelleher up for a possible fourth, but he drilled over.
But, Liam O’Leary finished off a strong run and placed his effort low to the far corner for his second and Waterloo’s fourth on 79.
The Loo were on song now and when Sam Kelleher found Ronan O’Brien available, the midfielder picked his spot to neatly tuck away Waterloo’s fifth on 90.
Two minutes later, Liam O’Leary capped a terrific individual performance when he completed his hat-trick with another fine finish to the corner – 6-0 to Waterloo in the end.
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