15 Sep Match Reports – 11/09/21
Markethill Swifts 0 – 1 Cookstown Youth u12’s
The U12’s travelled to Holm Park, in Armagh, full of enthusiasm and determination after a good performance in their opener the week before. Game started off brightly for the visiting team with central midfield pairing of Rogers and Conway seeing a lot of the ball. On several occasions they released Martin down the left and Loughran on the right, who in turn, fed Timoney who had a few chances to open his account for the season. A couple of decent saves from the Markethill goalkeeper prevented him from doing so. Markethill were limited to the odd counter attack but once again, the Cookstown defence of Compton, Davidson and Mc Aleer stood firm and dealt with anything that came their way. The Cookstown goalkeeper, Ruairi O’Hagan, was also on hand to tidy things up, mopping up any long balls over the top of his defence and applying himself as the ‘Sweeper Keeper’ on occasion.
The second half started as the first finished with Cookstown on top, a notable change from the break though was their urgency to shoot. Mc Aleer broke forward from right back and linked up well with Loughran before firing a first time shot at the Markethill keeper, who saved well. From the resulting corner, Martin and Conway worked a quick one-two that freed up Conway who’s rasper of a shot was tipped over the bar by keeper. Pressure was mounting on the Markethill goal and with ten minutes left Timoney made the breakthrough. Pushed out to the right-hand side after the introduction of Halligan, Timoney collected a long ball from his own keeper, used his strength to hold off the defender before rifling his shot into the far bottom corner. A great finish, which was a just reward for Timoney’s constant threat and workrate up top. Cookstown had a scare late on with Mc Aleer clearing one off the line after Markethill piled forward looking the equaliser but the lads dug in to see out a much deserved victory.
TEAM:- Ruairi O’Hagan(GK) – Adam Mc Aleer – Jonah Davidson – Matthew Compton – Aodhan Loughran – Tyler Rogers (C) – Shea Conway – Hayden Martin – Orann Timoney – Kori Halligan
Man of the Match – Orann Timoney
Cookstown Youth u14’s 6-1 Ballymoney
Last Saturday the 2008’s made the trip to the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre to face Ballymoney in their third fixture in the NIBFA league. The Whites started really brightly with McCrory thundering a shot just over the crossbar from a great McElhatton cross in the very first minute. Fellow striker Beattie followed up with a strike inches wide on 6 mins before Patterson in goal was forced into a sharp save from 15 yards. Beattie went close with a free kick from distance before McCrory finished with aplomb from another McElhatton cross on 17 mins. Irwin and Kelso forced a double save from headers before Mulgrew powered home at the back post from a McElhatton pass 10 minutes from halftime. Good interchanges between McKenzie and Donnelly led to Beattie’s first and Cookstown’s third just on halftime.
A well worked corner routine 3 mins into the second bamboozled the young sizzlers as Ballymoney got a foothold back into the game. Patterson in goal pulled off two great saves before a stinging shot from McCrory rebounded off the keeper for McElhatton to strike home from 6 yards to make it 4-1. A fantastic run and pass from Lennox from full back fed in Beattie who doubled his tally on 55 mins. Redford tested the keeper 2 mins later before grabbing a fine goal right at the death to secure all 3 points and two wins and a draw in the opening 3 games of the season.
TEAM:- B. Patterson, B. Lennox, H. McKenzie, E. Irwin, J. Price, A. McElhatton, I. Kelso, J. Donnelly, B. Mulgrew, C. McCrory, D. Beattie, E. Redford, J. Wilson, J. Patterson.
