Under 12A Reports
Midleton Vs Richmond Venue: Knockgriffen
The scheduled 11.00am kickoff between Midleton U12A versus Richmond U12 looked in doubt at one point as the referee inspected the pitch. The previous night’s hard frost made playing conditions less than ideal. After much deliberation and many more paces up and down the pitch, the green light was finally given.
Midleton’s Captain and full back Tadgh Gilroy entered the centre circle and after the formalities of the handshakes and coin toss, Tadgh elected to play from left to right. When both captains had returned to their respective positions and the referee had checked all was in order, the match got under way.
Richmond kicked off; the first five mins were timid and tentative for both sides. A combination of the mutual respect and perhaps the post Christmas blues the reason for this. Midleton did however show some promising signs of attacking football, both on the right wing with David Murphy and left wing with Dylan Casey, Richmond’s defence stood fast.
Halfway through the second half Richmond upped the ante and pressed hard into the home side’s half, winning a series of corners in succession, testament to the pressure they applied. Midleton’s defence although a little shaky at times, rode the storm.
The deadlock was broken when Kyle McCarthy, having received the ball close to the halfway line made a piercing run down the right wing and crossed a well judged ball into the box. The awaiting Audrey Tshimanga, having taken on his new role as an attacking midfielder, like a duck to water, struck a sweet lobbing shot to find the roof of the net, 3 mins before the break.
After the break Midleton pressurised their opponents once more. Four mins into the second half , Kyle McCarthy having worked well in midfield played a through ball for Killian Browne to chase. With only the keeper to beat, Killian, cool headedly struck a low accurate ball under the diving keeper to make it 2 nil.
Full credit to Richmond they fought hard for the next 16 mins, with some great passing and movement. 20 mins into the second half, Richmond broke down the right, their big number 9 storming through and from outside the 18 yard box struck an awesome shot, finding the top of the net, Daragh Fleming’s efforts to save were in vain.
Four mins later Midleton’s own No. 9, Kyle, having intercepted a Richmond kick out found the awaiting Audrey Tshimanga, at the far post for a relatively easy tap in. Two mins later Kyle McCarthy, this time storming down the left wing, had a crack at goal from outside the box. His curling, well struck shot found the far top right hand corner to give the home side a commanding 4-1 lead with 4 mins of normal time remaining.
Although the game may at this stage have been out of reach for the away side, this did not deter them from trying to finish the game on a positive note. Pressing forward again, this time down the left, they applied pressure on the Midleton defence. Throwing everyone forward they fought and scraped deep in the home side’s half. It finally paid off with another goal, 2 mins from time.
Final score Midleton U12A 4, Richmond U12 2.
Back Row L-R - Daragh Fleming, Eoghan Collins, Kyle McCarthy, Thomas Desmond, Killian Browne, Ryan Denny, Audrey Tshimanga, Robert O’Callaghan, Aldas Venskus, Christopher Scanlan.
Front Row L-R - Tadgh Gilroy, Max O’Neill, Rian Hogan, David Murphy, Patrick Horgan, Dylan Casey, Barry O’Callaghan.
