23 May Match Reports – 23/04/22
Lurgan Town Predators 1 – 4 Cookstown Youth
The Cookstown boys were on their travels this weekend, to Lurgan Sports Arena to face Lurgan Town Predators and it was the hosts who drew first blood going 1 nil up after 10 minutes. Despite the heroics from O’Hagan in nets, with a great double save, Lurgan’s #11 tucked ball away at third attempt. It was to be the wake up call the Cookstown lads needed. Mc Aleer began popping up everywhere and driving his team forward while Corrigan was a constant threat on right hand side, slipping Mc Cabe & Martin in on several occasions, only for them to mistime their runs and be rightly flagged for offside. Equaliser came from a direct free kick, Mc Aleer letting fly from wide right, straight into far top corner. Celebrations were muted as they went in hunt for the second goal immediately from the restart. Had to wait until 23rd minute before getting it though and this time Mc Cabe timed his run perfectly and latched onto great through ball, to round keeper and slot home.
Five changes made at half time saw boys coming on to carry on great work their teammates had put in, in the last 15 minutes of first half. Within two minutes it was 3-1 and Mc Cabe had his second of the day. A penetrating run by Halligan, saw him knock ball past full back and sprint past him as if he wasn’t there and whip in low cross for Mc Cabe to dispatch accordingly. Halligan had the ball in the net himself, after great work from Hampsey but was adjudged to be offside unfortunately. Mc Aleer broke from midfield, evading two challenges before being completely upended in the area by a third. Up stepped Mc Cabe to claim his hat-trick, great finish into bottom corner, off the post and in. Game played out with Cookstown searching for their 5th goal and being camped in Lurgan’s half but wasn’t to be and match finished 4-1. Coach Ryan Martin had this to say afterwards “Took the boys ten minutes to wake up and realise they were in a game but their reaction to going a goal down was superb. Out of our squad of 14 outfield players, only 3 lads haven’t got on the scoresheet this season. That’s class! Great to see them all chipping in with goals. Roll on Blackpool Cup next weekend!”
TEAM
Ruairi O’Hagan • Andrew Keane • Tyler Rogers • Matthew Compton • James Corrigan • Adam Mc Aleer • Shea Conway • Hayden Martin • Joshua Mc Cabe • Conall Hampsey • Calum Walshe • Aodhan Loughran • Kori Halligan • Jonah Davidson
Player of the Match – Hat-trick hero Joshua Mc Cabe