AN RIOCHT U12 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT REPORT AND PHOTOS

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On Saturday 31st May 2014 the U12 (2002) Footballers travelled to Down to take part in the Brian O'Hare Cup 9-a-side tournament hosted by An Riocht.  An early start for the 12 boys and their parents as the tournament commenced at 10.30.  Twenty eight teams took part from 8 counties.  In the group stages Kilmacud was pitted against Kilcoo (Down), Saul (Down) Moy (Tyrone) and Donore (Meath).  The boys started very well and easily accounted for Saul, Moy and Donore and in the last group match came up against the unbeaten Kilcoo.  The winners of this match would win the group and get an easier quarter final draw.  After a tense opening, Kilmacud led 2-1 to 0-1 at half time.  Kilcoo came back strong in the second half and scored a goal shortly after half time.  The play ebbed and flowed and points were exchanged and at the full time whistle, Kilmacud had prevailed by 2-3 to 2-2.

In the quarter final Kilmacud played Mullahoran (Cavan) and the boys were determined not to let the good performances in the group stages go to waste and easily won on a score line of 5-4 to 0-0.  On to the semi finals where we played Cellbridge, who had beaten Kilcoo in the quarter final after extra time.  Kilmacud played with a slight breeze in the first half and started very strongly and led 2-2 to 0-1 with half time approaching, but on the stroke of half time conceded a goal to lead 2-2 to 1-1 at half time.  It was going to be a tough second half against the breeze.  We conceded a point straight from the kick off, but the boys put their heads down and got a goal and a point within minutes.  While Celbridge rallied, the boys defended very well and won in the end by 3-3 to 2-2.

In the final we played fellow Dublin club, Fingallians.  In the team talk before the game the determination on the boy's faces was clear - this was going to be their day.  From the start of the game the boys dominated the match and had built up a commanding lead by half time and eventually won 5-6 to 0-1.

It was a wonderful victory by a group of boys who represented Kilmacud on and off the pitch with pride.  The motto for the day was 'play as a team and always give a 100%'.

They certainly did.

Congratulations to

Daniel Daly, Leo Fearon, Conor Crumlish, Cian O'Cathasaigh, Conor Bleakley, Brendan Scanlon, Colm Roche, Evan Jennings, Brian Hayes, Mark Murphy, Mark Kelly and Shane Lynch

Photos from the day can be viewed here.
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