20 Jan Match Reports – 19/01/25
Cookstown Youth 2012s v Dromore amateurs
After what felt like a lifetime for the coaches and the lads it was back to business. Having not played a game since the 4th of December and having only 3 training sessions we knew it could be a tough game. Our last game was against the same opposition, and unfortunately we were on the wrong end of 2-1 result, but todays game was 1st round of the cup where last year we went all the way to the final.
With a few boys missing we had to move things about. Both teams started with a bit of nerves as expected but it was the Cookstown lads who were stringing the better passes. Dromore did have a few chances themselves but the Cookstown midfield and defence were solid.
Few good saves by Daniel kept it all level at the break.
Few subs at half time with some fresh legs on seen the cookstown boys step it up a gear and started to create a few more chances. Dromore had a shot headed off the line by Zack, and Liam produced what was the tackle of the day to stop the Dromore striker from scoring.
Big skipper Keegan was having a blinder too, solid in every tackle and passing out well from the back. The game looked like it was heading for extra time with only 5 minutes to go, that was until Reece won the ball played a nice pass to Noah who hit a lovely pass up the line to jamie who out-muscled the big defender and looped it over the keeper, 1 nil Cookstown.
Dromore weren’t done and came at us again, they pushed forward but we intercepted the ball, played it through the defence onto Kyle who raced away and slotted it home to double the lead and put us into the next round!!
Fantastic performance by the whole squad, dug deep and fought for each other. Our man of the match is split between Noah Young who done a great job coming on and setting up our first goal and Kyle Kilgore who got stuck in and got our second. Well done lads!
Squad: D. Pavel C. Sherman L. Montgomery K. Kelly R. Hughes J. Donnelly C. Donnelly Z. Nellins C. Conway J. Loughran D. Kelly N. Young
K. Kilgore
Cookstown Youth u18’s 2-1 Hillsborough Knights NL
Last Friday evening CYFC u18’s faced Hillsborough in their first fixture of 2025 in the first round of the NL Cup at Meadowbank.
After qualifying for the Premier section manager Nigel Donnelly was quite optimistic of a positive result despite the lads not kicking a ball for 3 weeks due to the Christmas break and winter weather.
But it was Hillsborough who started the brighter of the two sides plundering the opening goal after a quick break down the Youth’s left with the home keeper left no chance with the sharp finish. A shell shocked Cookstown team continued to struggle against the Lisburn side who could have doubled their lead only for a last ditch block by captain McKenzie.
As the game moved on Cookstown began to get to grips with their opponents with strikers McGurk and Burns testing the travelling keeper. Donnelly, Quinn and Cichero had good efforts saved just before the halftime whistle.
Into the second half Cookstown pushed to find an equaliser with Colvin testing the Lisburn keeper. In response Hillsborough continued to test the back three of Loughran, McKenzie and Burton with their passing and movement. McGurk had another effort blocked after good work from Ferson down the right before substitute and re-signing Edwards-Schweiso entered the fray. His impact was immediate with a missile-like throw in which nearly led to a goal. Within 5 minutes he broke clear and slotted home what he thought was the equaliser only to be thwarted by an offside call by the ref.
Cookstown’s pressure finally told when Donnelly powered home the equaliser through a melee of players from 15 yards. Burns then struck the crossbar from 12 yards before Edward’s-Schweiso powered through the Hillsborough defence to hit the winner.
A much tougher game for the young whites than maybe expected on paper with the lads needing to up their levels in the coming weeks in the Premier Section of the National League.
After qualifying for the Premier section manager Nigel Donnelly was quite optimistic of a positive result despite the lads not kicking a ball for 3 weeks due to the Christmas break and winter weather.
But it was Hillsborough who started the brighter of the two sides plundering the opening goal after a quick break down the Youth’s left with the home keeper left no chance with the sharp finish. A shell shocked Cookstown team continued to struggle against the Lisburn side who could have doubled their lead only for a last ditch block by captain McKenzie.
As the game moved on Cookstown began to get to grips with their opponents with strikers McGurk and Burns testing the travelling keeper. Donnelly, Quinn and Cichero had good efforts saved just before the halftime whistle.
Into the second half Cookstown pushed to find an equaliser with Colvin testing the Lisburn keeper. In response Hillsborough continued to test the back three of Loughran, McKenzie and Burton with their passing and movement. McGurk had another effort blocked after good work from Ferson down the right before substitute and re-signing Edwards-Schweiso entered the fray. His impact was immediate with a missile-like throw in which nearly led to a goal. Within 5 minutes he broke clear and slotted home what he thought was the equaliser only to be thwarted by an offside call by the ref.
Cookstown’s pressure finally told when Donnelly powered home the equaliser through a melee of players from 15 yards. Burns then struck the crossbar from 12 yards before Edward’s-Schweiso powered through the Hillsborough defence to hit the winner.
A much tougher game for the young whites than maybe expected on paper with the lads needing to up their levels in the coming weeks in the Premier Section of the National League.