Galway youths come a cropper against Cork in league decider

Galway League 0

Cork League 1

Soccer Wrap by Mike Rafferty

BEFORE this FAI Youth Inter League Final, the Cork visitors had gained a bit of a reputation for the quality of their performances to date and while they were nothing exceptional on this occasion, it was just about enough to see off the home side in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday.

Just one goal settled matters and it happened when Galway were exposed to a rapid counter attack for the only time in the game, but Ada Thibaut’s finish was stunning as he fired the match winner past Max Hawksley.

Defences dominated at both ends and while Hawksley had to come to the home side’s rescue on a number of occasions, in general the Cork front two of Thibaut and Kennedy were well marshalled by a vigilant home back four of Conor French, Jay Martyn, Conor Keady and Gavin Smith.

It was at the other end that Galway had the most problems, as the front line of Keane Griffin, Jack Mullen and Conor Fahy seldom got a sight of goal. Sure, they contributed well from open play, but the home side were just too slow in getting support up front to back them up. Galway started off in impressive fashion, but just a Mullen effort threatened a reward as he pulled a shot across the face of goal.

Cork then hit a purple patch that should have resulted in a breakthrough. However, the excellence of Hawksley kept his goal intact as he denied Thibaut twice as well as tipping over a header from Daniel Apantaku. At the other end, the impressive Keane Griffin and Jay Martyn tried their luck on goal for no reward and a scoreless opening half just about summed up matters perfectly.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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