Match Reports – 08/02/25

CYFC u13’s 2-2 St Mary’s

This weeks game is one we’ve been looking forward to for a while now. A home game against St marys. Having beaten them earlier in the season at their place we knew we had nothing to fear. Our boys are on a decent run of form at the minute and went into the game full of confidence. In the early stages of the game it was all St mary’s, we couldn’t get out of our half and nerves were showing, however some nice play up the left between Reece, Zack and Caiden seen Cookstown create their first attack. Cillian arrived in the box and received a nice pass from Caiden and looped one over the keeper, 1 nil Cookstown. Just a few minutes later Caiden was brought down in the box, easy decision for the ref, Penalty Cookstown! Cillian struck it well into the corner but somehow the keeper got to it and knocked it out for a corner. An in-swinging corner from Zack was met acrobatically by Jamie, caught it lovely on the volley to make it 2 nil Cookstown. The Lads knew st marys would not just roll over and as expected they found another gear and came at us straight away. A very dodgy decision by the ref, so many bodies in the box, the ball smashed the crossbar and came out, St Mary’s players cheered and the ref strangely gave a goal, 2-1. They weren’t finished yet and just before half time got the equaliser when we didnt clear our lines, all square at the break.

Second half wasn’t just as exciting as the first, both teams cancelling each other out and both keepers doing their jobs well. St Mary’s were reduced to 10 men when their striker kicked Keegan on purpose but they defended well and we just couldn’t find the winner. Today’s man of the match is wee Caiden ‘the ninja’ Ohagan, set up 1 goal, won us a penalty, tackled and passed well, brilliant performance!

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

CYFC u18’s NL 1-4 Loughgall NIFL

Last Friday evening CYFC 18’s faced neighbours Loughgall in the opening round of the Mid-Ulster Cup at MUSA.

Manager Nigel Donnelly knew this was going to be a tough task against a good NIFL side a league above, with some players at least a year older. This task was made even more difficult with the absence of captain McKenzie who tore a hamstring the weekend before while playing for the Reserves. Elechi from the u17’s stepped into the breach alongside McMurdie, Loughran and Jamie Ferson with brother Nathan in between the posts.

Cookstown started the better of the two sides in the opening 10 minutes with Burns and McGurk creating a couple of half chances. Yet another injury upset proceedings when McGurk with a foot injury was replaced by Edwards-Schwieso on 15 minutes. The midfield of Donnelly, Cichero, Colvin, Burns and Quinn were working extremely hard against the rotation and movement of Loughgall with Quinn going close with a chance. But it was Loughgall who raced into the lead on 20 minutes with Ferson no chance in goal. To their credit good work between Burns, Loughran and Edwards-Schwieso created the equaliser with Quinn hammering home at the back post 1-1 HT.

Cookstown started the second half positively after getting back into the game. But that lift quickly changed to dismay when the Loughgall centre half powered home a header unmarked in the six yard box on the hour mark. Loughgall hit their third minutes later when Cookstown failed to clear their area with 3 attempts. Talbot replaced Burns only for Edwards-Schwieso to come off minutes later leaving Cookstown with only 10 men for the remaining 12 minutes after all substitutes had been used. Loughgall exploited the extra man scoring a fourth right at the death to go into the next round.

Squad: N.Ferson, C. Loughran, l. McMurdie, T. Elechi, J, Ferson, J. Quinn, J.Donnelly, C. Cichero, J. Colvin, R. Burns, E. McGurk, W. Edwards-Schwieso, C. Talbot.