St Colmcille’s Under 12’s started the 2023 Rebel Og East Cork Football League with a cracking 3-08 to 2-01 away win over Na Piarsaigh on Monday evening the 3rd of April. The pitch was in good condition considering it was the wettest March on record!
Na Piarsaigh went into an early lead with a fine goal cutting open the St. Colmcille’s defence and used their strength to power through and finish well. St Colmcille’s forwards came close with a few goal chances but to no avail. Joe Coughlan and David Lynch frustrated subsequent Na Piarsaigh attacks and Carthach Kelleher kept the scoreboard ticking over with some fine frees off the ground to keep St. Colmcille’s trailing at half time by a single point.
The second half saw Conor Buckley making an impact. Midfielders Tom Kelleher and Cillian Manley worked tirelessly up and down the pitch. Then two major turning points came to pass. First was a scoring blitz of 1-1 by Craig Kennedy on one end and then a goal line save at the other by Joseph Crowley, both helping to turn the game in favour of the away team. Further goals by Ethan Roche and Harry Horgan ensured a measure of comfort in the dying minutes. Ben Cashman had a fine performance in goal throughout and his distribution against the wind in the second half was top class. James Linehan made his way back onto the field this time in attack and won a great free to allow finish up the match with another a point to secure the victory.