Under 13 Premier Match Reports 2006/07
Under 13 Premier Match Reports 2006/07 |
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Saturday 12th May 2007
DDSL Under 13 Liam Brady Cup Final
Belvedere F.C. 1 - 0 Saint Kevin's Boys
Despite the weather forecasts for rain on Saturday, the sun shone brightly at the AUL Complex as Belvedere faced Saint Kevin's Boys in the Under 13 Liam Brady Cup Final. Things might have been brighter for Belvo however, as Paul Mannion and Graham Burke were both out injured, while Under 12 player Dane Moynihan was called in as the only sub.
Belvo had a great start after only two minutes when Matthew Callaghan was fouled in the Saint Kevin's box and the referee awarded a penalty kick. However, Glen O'Brien's spot kick was saved by the 'keeper who dived well to push the ball wide for a corner kick.
Despite this early setback, Belvo drove forward pressing for a goal and the Saint's 'keeper had to be alert to the danger on three occasions to prevent a goal.. Belvo's pressure paid dividends after 10 minutes of play when the Saint's 'keeper failed to clear his lines and Matthew Callaghan popped up to fire home from close range to open the scoring.
With their nose now in front, Belvo maintained the pressure and Saint Kevins were forced to defend strongly to deny Callaghan and Kevin Dunne who both went close.
At the other end of the pitch, Belvo's defence was rarely challenged, as the two Byrnes, Dan and Neil were both commanding at centre back, while full backs O'Brien and Dean Doonan were impressive also with their overlapping runs forward to support the attack.. When the Saint Kevin's striker did manage shots on target, Dean Smith in the Belvo goal was more than up to the task.
In mid-field Belvo's John O'Sullivan, captain Liam O'Dwyer, James Kavanagh and Sean Challenger all combined well as they moved the ball around intelligently as they looked to carve openings for their front men.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Belvo won a free kick for a foul just outside the penalty area. Up stepped Kavanagh to fire a great shot that crashed off the crossbar and over, with the 'keeper well beaten. And so at the half time whistle the score remained 1 - 0 to Belvo.
After the restart, Belvo again controlled the play as they sought to extend their lead further. However, a combination of good defending by Saint Kevins and poor finishing by the Belvo strikers meant that the score remained the same.
Midway through the second half, Kavanagh was unlucky once again when his bullet of a free kick from 25 yards out hit the woodwork, as the helpless 'keeper could only look on.
With 15 minutes left, Callaghan limped off injured and was replaced by Moynihan, who gave a good account of himself in this his second cup final of the day.
Although Belvo failed to increase their lead, Saint Kevins didn't really look like pulling a goal back as the time ran out. And so at the final whistle it was Belvo who claimed the trophy with a narrow but well deserved victory.
There were great celebrations as captain Liam O'Dwyer was presented with the Liam Brady Cup by DDSL Secretary Fran Ray. Belvo Managers Frank McGrath, Damien O'Dwyer, Wayne Bewley and Larry Hayden were delighted with their team's success in the final, considering the bad run of injuries to their squad of late.
Sunday 25th March 2007
SFAI Under 13 Troy Cup ( 1/4 Finals )
Belvedere F.C. 1 - 0 Dungloe Town
Hero of the day was Graham Burke who scored the only goal of the match 10 minutes into the second half to send Belvedere into the semi-finals of the SFAI Under 13 Troy Cup at Fairview Park on Sunday.
The opening period had proved to be a tight affair as the visitors Dungloe Town ( beaten finalists last season ) defended strongly to deny their hosts. Belvo however, kept to their task and enjoyed the better of the play, creating some decent scoring chances.
Scoreless at the half time break, Belvo came out all guns blazing in the second half and following a period of sustained pressure, won a corner kick on the right. From the resulting cross, James Kavanagh headed the ball down for Burke who made no mistake with his shot to the back of the net, giving the visiting 'keeper no chance..
This goal was no more than Belvo deserved as they had enjoyed most of the possession in the match. Belvo had three further scoring chances as Darren Byrne came close with good headers from crosses expertly delivered into the box twice by Paul Mannion and one from Kevin Dunne.
Left full back Matthew Callaghan was Belvo's man of the match, while the rest of the players contributed greatly to what was really a great team performance. Although not really tested, 'keeper Dean Smith commanded his area well and was alert to any possible danger posed from long range shots.
This was the second time this season for Belvo to overcome the Donegal club, as the Under 12's also won against Dungloe Town, in the SFAI Norton Cup in February
Belvo can now look forward to maintaining their good form as they have home advantage in the semi-finals of the SFAI Under 13 Troy Cup.
Saturday 10th March 2007
SFAI Under 13 Troy Cup ( last 16 )
Belvedere F.C. 2 - 1 Newbridge Town
A Sean Challenger goal, five minutes into the first period of extra time, secured Belvedere their place in the quarter finals of the SFAI Under 13 Troy Cup at Fairview Park on Saturday.
Belvo had enjoyed the better of the play in the first half but, a combination of poor finishing by the hosts and some good defending by the visitors kept it scoreless at the half time break. Newbridge had one good chance themselves to score midway through the first half but their striker rattled the cross bar with his shot.
Ten minutes into the second half Paul Mannion broke the deadlock for Belvo when he scored following a great solo run down the left flank. Belvo's defence remained solid as they denied the visitors, with Neil Byrne in commanding form at centre back.
With two minutes remaining in the match it looked like Belvo would hold on to win but, Newbridge Town equalised with a great shot to send the match into extra time.
Belvo kept up the pressure in extra time and this resulted in the visiting 'keeper failing to deal with a Mannion cross from the left, and Challenger nipped in to score at the far post..
Neither team created any real scoring chances in the remaining period of extra time and so at the final whistle it was Belvo who qualified for the quarter finals where they have will have a home tie against Dungloe Town.
Saturday 17th February 2007
SFAI Under 13 Troy Cup
Evergreen F.C. 0 - 3 Belvedere F.C.
The long journey to Kilkenny on Saturday proved to be a worthwhile one for Belvedere as they secured their place in the last 16 of the SFAI Troy Cup with a 3 - 0 win over Evergreen F.C. The surface of the pitch was heavy and sticky and it proved difficult for both teams to play good passing football.
Although they enjoyed the better of the play in the first half Belvo were made to fight hard by a resolute Evergreen defence and it wasn't until close to half time that they scored the opening goal.
Hard working John Sullivan broke the dead lock when he latched on to great through pass from midfield and he finished in style giving the home 'keeper no chance. Belvo kept up the pressure in the second half but despite creating a number of scoring chances which they failed to increase their lead.
However, with 10 minutes remaining in the match Graham Burke doubled Belvo's advantage when, having spotted the 'keeper off his line, he lobbed a lovely ball over him and into the net.
Sean Challenger had two great chances to extend Belvo's lead further, and he was unlucky not to score. However, he made no mistake the third time when he fired home from close range, to put the result beyond doubt, with only minutes remaining in the match.
Overall this was a good team performance by Belvo, despite the sticky pitch and they kept a clean sheet also thanks to 'keeper Dean Smith and his second half replacement Shane Kennedy.
Belvo now have a home fixture against Newbridge Town in the next round of the Troy Cup.