Dominos Pizza Reserve Cup
Killarney Celtic B- 3
Fenit Samphires- 8
Ger McCarthy (2), Daniel Clinton (3), Jack Savage, Bill Mullins, Kieran O’Mahony
Our seniors progressed to the second round of the Reserve Cup in very wet conditions last Tuesday night in Killarney. Thankfully the hosts have a superb facility and the match was played on their astro turf pitch. Killarney Celtic drafted in a number of players from their ‘A’ team so we knew we would be in for a difficult game. Once again we started the game brilliantly as Daniel Clinton and Ger McCarthy up front were combining well with our midfield four of Bill Mullins, Kevin Walsh, Jack Savage and Ruairi Kelly. Ger was dropping a bit deeper which allowed Dano enough space to run in behind the Celtic back four. Ger scored our first goal when he finished from close range and Dano doubled our lead shortly after when he calmly took the ball around the goalkeeper before finishing. To be fair Killarney reacted well to going two behind and started to put some decent passages of play together. We looked at our best when we were attacking and created a few more chances but we failed to convert any before Killarney pulled a goal back midway through the half. It finished 2-1 at half time.
Again, we started the second half well and went 3-1 up soon after the restart when Dano scored his second of the game. All throughout the game we played some of our best football this season and much of our good play started from the back where Eoghan O’Brien’s distribution from goals was fantastic. John Maher and Darren Lynch were very good in the middle and always looked to get on the ball and play through midfield, while Kieran O’Mahony and Jack Kelliher were always willing to join the attack. Dano completed his hat trick early in the half when he rounded the keeper to finish again after a superb team passing move. Killarney then put the pressure on us as they pulled back two goals in quick succession to bring the score back to 4-3. This could have led to a nervy finish but we quickly went about putting the game to rest when Ruairi played the ball wide to Kevin who crossed well for Ger to finish on his first touch. Shortly after Jack scored after breaking away from the Killarney defence and beating a defender before finsihing well. The next goal Fenit scored can only be described as outstanding. Bill Mullins received the ball on the left side before cutting in on his right foot and curling the ball into the top corner. The final goal of the game came when the ever attacking Kieran O’Mahony grabbed the goal his play deserved following another sublime passage of play. Having won the ball on the edge of our own box we played some neat one touch football through midfield before putting Dano in behind the defence. Dano pulled the ball across the box where Kieran arrived to finish to the net. Peter McCarthy was introduced late on as he continues his recovery from injury.
Some of the football played by the Samphires was absolutely outstanding and it certainly bodes well for the future of the club as we continue our cup run and our push for promotion. Thanks to Killarney Celtic for an entertaining game and thanks to Derek O’Shea for officiating.