Under 17 Major Match Reports 2005/06

Slack defending by Belvedere saw them trailing by two goals to nil at the half time break, following a strikes by the visitors on 14 and 30 minutes.

Belvo produced a much better second half performance and pulled a goal back within 10 minutes of the restart when Aaron Harte scored from the penalty spot, after Ian Harte was taken down in the Dunboyne box.

Ten minutes later Belvo should have equalised when Michael Galligan found Adam Grant with a great through pass, but Grants's shot clipped the cross-bar and went over, when a goal looked odds on.

Belvo continued to stretch the visitors' defence and Gary Harte could only curse his luck when his well hit shot crashed off the cross-bar, with the visiting 'keeper well beaten.

Dunboyne continued to defend deeply playing long balls out of defence and they managed to hold on until the final whistle, as Belvo failed to capitalise on some good scoring opportunities in the last ten minutes.

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Major league rivals Dunboyne and Belvedere met for the 3rd time this season on Sunday at Summerhill Road, this time in the quarter final of the Taafe Cup.

As with the two previous matches, this was a close affair with both sides battling for control of the play. But it was Belvo who scored first on 16 minutes when Michael Galligan fired home following some great work by Ian Henry.

Belvo pressed hard in search of a second goal, but they were unable to extend their lead before the half time whistle. After the break, Dunboyne went in search of an equaliser but they were met by a solid Belvo defence, with Gary McDonald, Aaron Egan and CJ Hatton all in impressive form.

But, the host's pressure was rewarded when they equalised on 73 minutes, to force the match into extra time. However, 5 minutes into the first period of extra time Michael Galligan was taken down in the Dunboyne box and the referee correctly awarded a penalty kick.

Up stepped Aaron Harte to fire home from the spot kick and return Belvo's lead. This time they were not going to give up their lead and Belvo ran out worthy 2 - 1 winners at the final whistle to secure their place in the semi-finals.

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A goal by the visitors, 2 minutes from the end of extra time, saw Belvedere exit from the 4th round of the Leinster Youths Cup at Fairview Park on Sunday.

Without 4 regular players on the day, a "make shift" Belvo struggled physically at times to compete against the bigger and stronger Kilnamanagh side who chased and fought for every ball.

Thing got worse for Belvo after only 10 minutes of play when Gary Harte had to retire with a head injury.

The early part of the match was tight enough as both sides battled for control, but it was the visitors took the lead on 27 minutes with a well taken goal.

However, Belvo bounced back and they equalised 10 minutes later with a well taken goal scored by Michael Galligan, and so it remained even at the half time break.

The second half was equally as tough as the first, as both sides managed to cancel out the other. Belvo's troubles worsened when Peter Keegan was dismissed by the referee for dissent late in the second half.

The ten Belvo men battled on however and the 90 minutes finished all square at 1 - 1 each. Ten minutes each way extra time followed, with the no further score in first period.

But just when it looked like a penalty shoot out would be needed to decide the issue, Kilnamanagh scored 2 minutes from time to secure victory and a place in the 5th round of the Leinster Youths Cup.

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In this top of the table clash at Summerhill Road, Belvedere twice had to come from behind to force a share of the points in this 2 - 2 draw.

Dunboyne went a goal up early in the first half, but Adam Grant equalised on 35 minutes for the visitors with a well taken goal. However, the hosts regained their lead just before half time.

Belvedere had to fight hard in the second half to stay in the match as Dunboyne enjoyed the better of the play, and they stretched the Belvo defence on a number of occasions. Gary McDonald at centre back had a great game as he denied the hosts increasing their lead further.

Michael Galligan was also impressive on the day, but it was Ian Henry who scored Belvo's equaliser when he latched onto a long throw before shooting past the home 'keeper.

Managers Gerry Galligan and Mick Byrne were full of praise for their team, and delighted having secured a share of the points with a good battling performance on the day.

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The journey out to County Meath on Sunday proved to be a fruitful one for Belvedere Under 17's Major team as they advanced to the 3rd round of the Leinster Youths Cup at the excellent Summerhill Road venue on Sunday.

Despite conceding a year in age, Belvo took the game to their older hosts from the start and went ahead in the 12th minute when Michael Galligan headed home from Craig Dunne's well taken corner kick.

However, Dunboyne equalised shortly after and then they went 2 - 1 in front, to lead at the half time break.

From the restart, Belvo pressed the host's defence and were rewarded when centre half Rory Fagan equalised mid-way through the second half.

Although there were chances at both ends, there was no further scoring in the 90 minutes, and the match then headed into extra time.

Both teams scored in extra time, with Aaron Hatre equalising in the second period to cancel Dunboyne's 3 - 2 lead in the first, as the match headed for a penalty shoot-out.

It was still all even after 4 penalties each to both teams, with Belvo's Brian Keogh, Ian Henry, Peter Keegan, and Michael Galligan all expertly dispatching their spot kicks.

'Keeper Shane Keogh then secured Belvo's place in the 3rd round of the cup with a brilliant penalty save, following Aaron Harte scored his spot kick.

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Unbeaten in the league, so far this season, Belvedere produced an impressive display of football as they saw off the challenge of local rivals Saint Kevin's Boys at Fairview Park on Sunday.

Belvo went ahead in the 14th minute when Ian Henry scored from the penalty spot after Adam Grant had been taken down in the box.

Ten minutes later Belvo doubled their lead when Niall Collins fired home from an acute angle, following a great pass from Gary McDonald. Despite further pressure from Belvo the score remained 2 - 0 at the half time break.

After the restart, Belvo continued where they left off in the first half and they went 3 - 0 up on 60 minutes when Michael Galligan finished off a lovely move involving Rory Fagan and Ian Henry.

With ten minutes remaining, Belvo put the result beyond doubt when a neat interchange of play between Aaron Harte and Peter Keegan, put Kevin Madden through on goal and he calmly lobbed the advancing Saint Kevin's 'keeper.

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This was certainly a game of two halves for Belvedere who, having struggled to deal with a big physical Saint Pat's side, trailed by a goal to nil at the half time break.

However, Belvo came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and they pressurised the host's defence from the whistle.

The pressure paid off for Belvo and they equalised in the 60th minute following an error by the Saint Pat's 'keeper who failed to properly clear a back pass, and Aaron Harte nipped in to score.

Belvo continued to take the game to their opponents and they went ahead within 10 minutes, following a great move down the left which split the Saint Pat's defence. A neat interchange of passes between left back Niall Collins and wide left Craig Dunne finished with a great pass to Michael Galligan who fired home at the far post.

Saint Pat's came back into the match in the last ten minutes as they went in search of an equaliser, but they were met with a solid Belvo defence, who held strong until the final whistle to claim the three points.

Belvo managers Gerry Galligan and Mick Byrne were delighted with their team's commitment on the day.

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There were goals aplenty at Ellenfield Park, Whitehall as these two Major Division teams fought out an exciting match in the first round of the FAI Under 17 Cup. Belvedere went ahead in the 12th minute when Michael Galligan scored following a cross from Peter Keegan. However, within 8 minutes, Saint Kevins were back on level terms when their striker finished well in front of goal.

Belvo kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a second goal on 30 minutes when Aaron Harte fired home, following a good passing movement.

The hosts equalised early in the second half, when slack defending by Belvo allowed the striker in to score. Both teams then battled to gain the upper hand, but it was visitors who scored next, when Harte scored his second and Belvo's third goal after 60 minutes with a great header from Galligan's excellent cross.

Belvo looked to have secured the win as they defended strongly, but with only 2 minutes remaining on the watch, a hard driven cross by Saint Kevin's striker into the Belvo penalty area was deflected into the net off a defender, to force the match into extra time.

When the extra 20 minutes play failed to divide the teams, the result was then decided a nail-biting penalty shoot-out. It was all even at 4 - 4 after 5 spot kicks each, with Aaron Harte,Craig Dunne, Peter Keegan, Gary Harte all successful, before Brian Kenny scored Belvo's 6th penalty, while Saint Kevins failed to convert theirs.

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Three second half goals ensured Belvedere took the full points at Fairview Park on Sunday. Trailing one nil at the half time break, Belvo equalised 3 minutes after the restart when Gary Harte latched on to loose ball, after a mix up in the Leixlip defence.

Belvo went ahead within 5 minutes with a well worked goal from Aaron Hartre, following a great passing movement involving Michael Galligan, CJ Hatton and Craig Dunne.

On 70 minutes, when Leixlip failed to clear a from corner kick, the ball broke to Rory Fagan out on the edge of the box, and he made no mistake with his shot to the back of the net, to make it 3 - 1 to Belvo.

The visitors managed to pull a goal back, with 10 minutes remaining, to set up an exciting finish, but Belvo remained solid at the back to secure a good victory.

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Having drawn their opening match away to Ballybrack United last week, Belvedere were hoping for a good home performance against Ballyouster United at Fairview Park on Sunday.

They certainly didn't disappoint, and they had the visitors on the back foot from early on in the match. Playing some lovely passing football, Belvo went ahead thanks to Aaron Harte's two well taken goals early on, while Gary Harte ( no relation) also scored to make it 3 - 0 at the half time break.

With the result never in doubt, Belvo eased up a bit after the restart and this allowed the visitors to pull a goal back mid-way through the second half. But Belvo regained their 3 goal advantage when CJ Hatton fired home in the closing stages of the match.

Managers Gerry Galligan and Mick Byrne were delighted with the team's performance, as Belvo remain unbeaten in their first two league matches.

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