Carrigaline United AFC

Junior AUL

JUNIOR A.U.L. TEAM SUFFER AWAY DEFEAT IN RACE FOR THE TITLE.
Wilton 1 Carrigaline United 0
Carrigaline United Junior AUL suffered a massive set back in their quest for the title last night at Lee Road when they were defeated by Wilton in the AUL Division 3. This was a game that would have put Carrigaline in the driving seat for the title going into their last game next Tuesday away to Grattan. Wilton who drew with Carrigaline's title rivals Lakewood on Tuesday were determined to have say in where the title goes this season and this was apparent from the kick off as they were on the attack immediately. Within 5 minutes Carrigaline were lucky not to be two goals behind when Wilton shot just wide and then hit the upright.
On a pitch more suitable for motor cross the game was a very scrappy affair with both teams unable to put any good passages of play together. Carrigaline just couldn't get into this game and looked lethargic throughout the 90 minutes. Derek O'Connor and Danny O'Driscoll both had great chances in the first half, with O'Connor hitting the crossbar and O'Driscolls shot blocked off the line by Wilton defence.
Throughout the second half both teams became involved in a battle in the centre of the pitch and again when Carrigaline had opportunities through Rob Cogan and Damien Quinn, they squandered them. With five minutes remaining, a long ball over the Carrigaline defence landed into the path of the Wilton striker who was yards offside. He ran on and slipped the ball past Declan Owens. The ball bobbled towards the goal line and when Barry Houlihan beat it there it seemed the danger would be cleared. Instead Houlihan tried to take control of the ball and this allowed the Wilton forward to tap into the net and make it 1-0 to Wilton.
This was the killer blow for Carrigaline and they couldn't respond. Tired legs were evident with Carrigaline and the fact that they have played ten games in the past 4 weeks seemed to be taking its toll. The game ended 1-0 to Wilton to set up a very interesting final day in this division. Carrigaline now travel to Grattan on Tuesday night (who are level on points) knowing that a win will guarantee promotion and puts the pressure back on Lakewood for their final game of the season the following Saturday against Wilton. Grattan can still win this league and will be a very tough proposition for Carrigaline. Carrigaline United will need to improve 100% if they are to have any chance of winning at O'Neill Park.
Please come along and support the lads for their final game of the season…. Tuesday May 8th v Grattan at O'Neill Park. Kick off at 6.45pm.
Carrigaline United: D Owens, P Feehily, D Quinn, C Allen, B Houlihan, D O'Driscoll, R Meade, P Holland, D McCarthy, D O'Connor, R Cogan. Subs: J Harrington for D O'Driscoll (65 mins), A Murphy for R Meade (75 min).

Leeview AFC v Carrigaline United
AUL Division 3
Leeview 3 Carrigaline United 3
On Tuesday evening at Garryduff, Leeview and Carrigaline United served up a game that was a great advert for the AUL third division. With both teams still in the hunt for promotion and with chances of winning the league, this game had everything from the kick off.

With Lakewood playing Wilton on the same evening, both teams were out to win this game from the start. Leeview had a chance to go one ahead after only two minutes but some brave defending from Clive Allen prevented a clean strike from the Leeview striker. Carrigaline took a while to get into this game and Leeview with three in central midfield kept possession for long spells but couldn't break through a strong Carrigaline defence. In the fifteenth minute Carrigaline went close to breaking the deadlock when a run down the left flank from Derek McCarthy allowed him to cross to the edge of the area for Paul Holland. Holland pulled the ball onto his right foot and unleashed a powerful that went inches over the crossbar with the Leeview keeper stranded on his goal line. This was a warning for Leeview and in the next attack Carrigaline made no mistake when this time Holland found McCarthy with a pass inside the area. McCarthy took the ball in on the advancing keeper and with conviction drove the ball past him to make it 1-0 to Carrigaline.

From the kick off Leeview once again kept possession and were causing problems for the Carrigaline defence with their quick movement up front. In the 25th minute Carrigaline pushed out from defence and with a ball over the top found themselves caught out by the pace of Leeviews striker who had the simple task of placing the ball past Declan Owens to make it 1-1. Five minutes later and it got worse for Carrigaline when again they were caught flatfooted for the same Leeview player to sprint past them and rifle the ball past Declan Owens. 2-1 to Leeview. Carrigaline were rocked by this goal and could not seem to find the shape they had prior to the equaliser. Leeview again kept possession and seemed to be dominating Carrigaline in all areas of the pitch. For all their possession however, Leeview could not find a third and Carrigaline were relieved to hear the half time whistle.

From a team in disarray in the first half, Carrigaline United were a completely different team from the interval. Robert Cogan moved back into midfield to man mark Leeview number 14 leaving Derek O'Connor up front and allowing both wingers to move up and support him. Carrigaline were first to every ball and seemed to have that hunger back that has served them so well during the past few weeks. In the 55th minute Barry Houlihan took the ball from left back and went past five Leeview players through the centre of midfield. Houlihan was stopped in his tracks outside the Leeview area but from the ground managed to find Rob Cogan with a pass. From 20 yards out, Cogan simply looked up and chipped the ball into the top corner of the Leeview net to make it 2-2. Again this drove Carrigaline on and when Danny O'Driscoll was brought down in the Leeview area, up stepped Paul Holland to convert the penalty and make it 3-2 to Carrigaline with 25 minutes remaining.

Carrigaline had several more chances during a period where they totally dominated the game but couldn't kill the game. Rob Meade headed over from under the Leeview post. Rob Cogan looked to have been brought down in the area but referee Eddie Mullins was not in a position to see the foul as he was on the half way line and so waved on. Derek O'Connor also had a shot well saved by the Leeview keeper.

You felt that Carrigaline would pay for these misses and they did when with 15 minutes remaining in the game, Paul Holland lost possession in his own half to allow Leeviews centre midfield run at Damien Quinn. His neat pass past Quinn allowed a Leeview striker nip past Quinn and place his shot low into the bottom corner past Owens and make it 3-3.

This didn't dampen Carrigalines spirits and for the remaining 15 minutes went at Leeview for the winner. Leeview also kept pushing for a goal that would give them a chance. Carrigaline had the better chances with Derek O'Connor hitting the crossbar from 25 yards, before Eddie Mullins brought this fantastic battle to an end with the final whistle.

In hindsight both teams will look at this as a fair result. This result means that Leeviews chances of promotion are gone. Carrigaline on the other hand are still in with a shout of the title. Some good news for Carrigaline after the game was that Lakewood also drew with Wilton on the same evening. Carrigaline play their game in hand this Thursday evening away to Wilton. Should Carrigaline win this game, they will be two points clear of Lakewood going into the final game of the season next Tuesday away to Grattan (who also have a chance of promotion). The next week promises to be an eventful one for this young team.

Please come along and support the AUL team in the coming days.

Thursday May 3rd v Wilton (Lee Road). Kick off at 6.45pm

Tuesday May 8th v Grattan B (O'Neill Park). Kick off at 6.45pm

Carrigaline United: D Owens, P Feehily, C Allen, D Quinn, B Houlihan, D O'Driscoll, R Meade, P Holland, D McCarthy, D O'Connor, R Cogan. No Subs Used.

League Table

	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Grattan Utd.	16	8	4	4	34	26	28
Leeview AFC	15	8	3	4	35	21	27
Ballinhassig	17	8	3	6	27	23	27
Lakewood Ath.	13	7	3	3	25	13	24
Ballincollig	17	7	3	7	30	26	24
Carrigaline Utd.	12	7	2	3	23	16	23
Ardmanning Cel.	15	6	4	5	30	31	22
Bishopstown Cel.	15	5	2	8	26	36	17
Wilton Utd.	12	4	3	5	17	16	15
Togher Cel.	18	1	1	16	9	48	4

Ballinhassig v Carrigaline United
AUL Division 3
Ballinhassig 1 Carrigaline United 3

Carrigaline United Junior AUL's travelled to Gortnalough on Tuesday night to take on Ballinhassig in the league. Both teams were on 27 points before kick off and a win for Carrigaline United was vital if they were to challenge for the title. Following Sundays great performance against Leeview, Carrigaline were a team full of confidence and it showed as they went about their job from the first minute. Derek O'Connor had his long distance strike turned over the crossbar after only 2 minutes. From the corner Barry Houlihan saw his header go inches wide. This set the tone for the remainder of the first half as Carrigaline tore Ballinhassig to shreds with the speed of Danny O'Driscoll and Derek McCarthy on each flank and Derek O'Connor and Eddie Kelly up front.

Carrigaline United were 1-0 ahead after ten minutes when a neat ball from Houlihan at left back found Eddie Kelly outside the Ballinhassig area. Kellys first touch released Derek O'Connor in on goal. O'Connors shot slipped under the Ballinhassig keepers body and found its way into the net. Ten minutes later and Barry Houlihan deservedly scored his first goal of the season when from a cleared corner he spotted the Ballinhassig keeper off his line and chipped the ball over him and into the net to make it 2-0 to Carrigaline.

Several chances followed for Danny O'Driscoll, Eddie Kelly and Derek O'Connor but Carrigaline couldn't find another goal before half time. Paul Holland and Rob Meade in the centre of midfield were again running the show for Carrigaline.

Ballinhassig introduced Michael Brady at half time and this changed the tone of the game as from the kick off, Ballinhassig turned to a more aggressive style of play. Several shocking challenges on Clive Allen, Damien Quinn and then Paul Holland seemed to indicate that Ballinhassig were not going to let Carrigaline United take 3 points easily. In the 65th minute, Brady blatantly dived outside the Carrigaline area for the referee to award Ballinhassig a penalty which Brady himself converted to make it 2-1. In previous games this would have unsettled Carrigaline, but of late this team has grown in confidence and within two minutes they were back in front when a cross from the left hand side from Derek McCarthy was headed back across the face of the Ballihassig goal by Philip Feehily for Derek O'Connor to nip in and head the ball past the Ballinhassig goalkeeper to make it 3-1.

Carrigaline closed the game out to take three more vital points that sees them go third in the table with three games remaining. A solid performance from Carrigaline United with Clive Allen and Paul Holland standing out for the visitors. Carrigaline now have a break for a week after playing 5 games in the past 10 days. Their next game is against Leeview on Tuesday May 1st at Garryduff (kick off 6.45pm).

Carrigaline United: D Owens, P Feehily, C Allen, D Quinn, B Houlihan, D O'Driscoll, P Holland, R Meade, D McCarthy, D O'Connor, E Kelly. Subs: R Cogan for E Kelly (75 min) and J Harrington for D O'Connor (82 min).

Carrigaline United v Leeview
Carrigaline United 3 Leeview 1
Carrigaline United Junior AUL faced a must win game on Sunday last when they hosted Leeview at Ballea Park. Leeview are one of four teams along with Carrigaline challenging for the title. Sitting 3 points ahead of Carrigaline prior to the game, this really was a six pointer.

Following their draw against fellow challengers Lakewood on Thursday, Carrigaline United were determined to get back to winning ways and this showed from the kick off. Carrigaline were unlucky not to be a goal ahead after 4 minutes when Chris O'Neill found himself one on one with the Leeview keeper only to see his low shot turned around the post. Carrigaline kept their attack going and had several chances from Rob Meade, Derek O'Connor and Eddie Kelly before Leeview finally settled into the game. The game then became a very open contest with some very entertaining football being played by both sides. Pulling all the strings for Carrigaline in the middle of the park were Chris O'Neill and Rob Meade and Leeview just couldn't cope with the speed and aggression of these two. Twenty minutes into the contest, from a Leeview kick out, Eddie Kelly won possession inside the Leeview half and found Derek McCarthy on the left. McCarthy swung in a low cross for Derek O'Connor to run onto and smash into the roof of the Leeview net to make it 1-0 to Carrigaline. Carrigaline were on a high after this and kept possession of the ball for long spells for the remainder of the first half. Paul Holland came close with a half volley from a corner and Chris O'Neill had a header blocked on the line.

The second half began like the first, with Carrigaline in full control and it was no surprise when Carrigaline extended their lead in the 60th minute with the move of the game. Carrigaline won a free kick on the left wing and Chris O'Neill drove a shot low at the wall. When the ball rebounded back into the path of O'Neill, he took control of the ball and switched it to the right wing to Danny O'Driscoll. O'Driscoll beat his marker on the wing and rolled a short pass to Rob Meade at the edge of the box. Rob Meade back heeled the ball through the Leeview defence towards the corner flag for Derek O'Connor to run onto and cross low into the Leeview penalty area for Eddie Kelly to smash into the net. 2-0 to Carrigaline.

Two minutes later and Eddie Kelly had a shot saved. Leeview then put three into the centre of the park to try and limit the damage being done by the Carrigaline midfield. This worked for Leeview and in the 80th minute of the game they scored to make it 2-1. A fantastic bit of skill from the Leeview number 9 allowed him to drive a 20 yarder low into the left hand corner of Declan Owens goal. This did not unnerve Carrigaline and they pushed forward to kill the game. In the 88th minute Paul Holland found space in the Leeview penalty area and was brought down to earn Carrigaline a penalty. As on Thursday versus Lakewood, up stepped Eddie Kelly to convert the penalty and his 19th goal of the season, but most importantly, put the game out of Leeviews reach. Final result 3-1 to Carrigaline United.

This was a great performance from Carrigaline who seem to be hitting form at the right time. Man of the match was undoubtedly Chris O'Neill with Damien Quinn at the heart of defence putting in a superb display.

Carrigaline United now face three vital games in the next 10 days all away to Ballinhassig, Leeview and Wilton before facing Grattan in the final game of the season in a couple of weeks. This league can still be won by four teams and the next few games will be critical for Carrigaline who are now right in there with a chance.

Carrigaline United: D. Owens, P Feehily, P Holland, D Quinn, B Houlihan, D O'Driscoll, C O'Neill, D McCarthy, E Kelly, D O'Connor. Subs: C Allen for C O'Neill (70 Min) and R Cogan for E Kelly (85 Min).

Bishopstown Celtic 0 Carrigaline United 1

Carrigaline United V St. John Boscos
A.U.L County Cup Second Round
Carrigaline United 2 St John Boscos 1
Carrigaline United AUL Juniors faced St John Boscos in the second round of the County Cup on Sunday at Ballea Park. Carrigaline have had great runs this season in the cups and were keen to continue this trend. Facing a team from the first division, Carrigaline would have been considered underdogs for this game. However the difference in league placings was not that apparent as Carrigaline took control of this game from the kick off. Within ten minutes Carrigaline had enough chances to be three goals ahead. First Eddie Kelly had his long drive turned around the post, then Derek O'Connor had efforts cleared off the line by the St John Boscos keeper. The breakthrough did come after 22 minutes when Rob Meade played a clever ball between the Boscos defence for Eddie Kelly to run onto. Kelly took the ball to the byline and drilled the ball across the face of the goal for Derek McCarthy to slide into the six yard box and smash the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 to Carrigaline. Five minutes after going ahead Carrigaline were given a warning by St John Boscos when a 25 yard shot had to pushed over by Kevin Murphy. From the resulting corner Boscos were allowed a free header which went inches wide. This gave Boscos an extra gear and when Kevin Murphy and Dan O'Driscoll didn't clear a ball away and a corner kick was given to Boscos they took their chance with a near post header to make it 1-1. The remainder of the first half was played in the middle of the park where Rob Meade and Rob Cogan had plenty of work to do in containing St John Boscos central midfielders. Carrigaline took advantage of the interval and came out and attacked Boscos from the restart. Anthony Murphy, Eddie Kelly and Dan O'Driscoll all had chances to put Carrigaline ahead but lacked the final finish required. Jerry Harrington replaced Anthony Murphy and immediately started to give the Boscos defence a headache with his constant running. When Harrington was awarded a free kick just on the 18 yard line in the 70th minute, up stepped Eddie Kelly to curl a fantastic shot over the wall and into the bottom corner of the Boscos net. This was Kellys 16th goal of the season. A great return from 13 games!! From then in there was only one team in the game with Carrigaline United in full control. Carrigaline had several more chances to stretch their lead. Jerry Harrington came closest when he received a pass from Barry Houlihan and struck from 35 yards only to see his shot hit the outside of the upright. Carrigaline saw the game out to win 2-1. A solid performance from Carrigaline to go with a great result puts them into the last 16 of the County Cup. Carrigaline United AUL's now face a very tough ten days with 3 league games coming up against Bishopstown, Grattan and Ballinhassig. Currently 4 points off the top of the table with two games in hand, these upcoming games are vital if Carrigaline are to have a shot of winning the league this season.