Match Reports – 01/02/25

With last week’s fixture being wiped out by Storm Eowyn, it was business as usual.
Today’s game seen us on the road (again) travelling to Kernan Park to face an inform Loughgall side in the knockout Cup.
In the first 3 minutes the Lads had created 3 chances but just failed to score any, it was clear to see from then that the Loughgall keeper was going to be busy.
On the fourth minute Kyle got the ball in the box shrugged off the defender and curled one beautifully, to open the scoring.
Cillian doubled the lead on the 10th minute, a lovely solo run up the left and slotted it in from a tight angle, 2-nil.
Zack made it 3 quickly after, striking one from just outside the box, keeper got a hand on it but couldn’t keep it out.
The fourth goal came from a lovely burst of pace from Noah on the right, left the defender for dust and placed it into the corner of the net, 4-nil. The midfield and defence were rock solid again and Loughgall couldn’t find a way through at all.

Loughgall came out with the intention of keeping the score down, we struggled to break them down for the first 10 minutes of the second half until Kyle slotted the ball into Noah for his second of the day 5-nil. Young Caiden made a wonderful solo run from left back, right up the wing past 2 defenders, cut in and his effort just went wide, which would have been goal of the day! Kyle got his second with a run up the right and went 1 on 1 with the keeper and knocked it past him, Zack got his second of the match with a free kick just outside the box to make it 7-nil. But another great team performance, clean sheet again for Daniel and safely into the quarter finals.
We decided against a man of the match as there was 5 boys we couldn’t separate, but all the lads done what was asked, very proud of them all again!
Next up is a home game at Musa against our friends from Portadown, St Mary’s in the league.
All support welcomed!!

Squad: D. Pavel C. Sherman K. Kelly L. Montgomery R. Hughes C. Conway Z. Nellins C. Donnelly N. Young K. Kilgore J. Loughran D. Kelly C. Ohagan J. Donnelly R. Donnell C. Devlin

CYFC u18’s NL 1-2 Ballymoney

Last Friday night Cookstown Youth 18’s entertained Ballymoney in the quarter finals of the NL Cup at a rare home fixture at MUSA 3G.
Both defences dominated in the opening 15 minutes with chances on goal at a premium. McMurdie, Loughran and McKenzie were resolute in central defence. Midfielder Donnelly went close with a glancing header from a Cookstown set piece on 20 minutes with strikers McGurk and Burns being restricted to a couple of half chances.
Colvin, Cichero and Donnelly were working extremely hard in central midfield against a dynamic Ballymoney side with Ferson and Quinn probing on the wings. Just before halftime Ballymoney broke clear in the box to hit the opening goal.
Into the second half Cookstown raised their game and began to dominate possession and chances. Striker McGurk had two chances on goal in quick succession striking the crossbar with a headed effort on 45 minutes. Burns then went close with an effort as Cookstown pushed for the equaliser. Manager Nigel Donnelly introduced Edwards-Schwieso up front to try to utilise his physicality and pace. The change was almost instant with the substitute finding Quinn on the left to thunder home the equaliser.
The whites pushed and pushed to find a winner only to be caught out by a long ball right at the end with the Ballymoney striker ruthlessly finishing his chance after outpacing the Cookstown defence to seal the win.