First game of the Under 15’s Division 1 saw Blarney host Bandon A.F.C, two teams who had 3 great games last year. Over the summer break both teams strengthened their teams by adding players from Ballincollig and other clubs. The game started at a high tempo with Bandon having the better of the possession. Peter Callanan and Rhys Coakley controlled the tempo of the game. Colin O‘Driscoll looked lively up front along with Aaron Daly who posed a treat all day. On the 20th minute mark Bandon pulled a string of passes together from the back which started with the Man of the Match Paul Lang, Peter Callanan, Mattew Elsonbokhty who play the ball back into the centre to Rhys Coakley who treaded a through ball onto Aaron Daly’s well-timed run. He took one touch and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Blarney tightened up in the back line with James Dineen calling the shots. Levi O’Mahony started to come more into the game but with the combination of Paul Lang and right full Jeremy Collins they had him scouted. After 25 minutes Bandon were forced into their first substitution due to illness Rhys went off for Greg Fittion who slotted straight into the centre midfield. Bandon looked like they had their homework done on Blarney. Bandon looked very comfortable in possession knocking the ball from left to right up and down the pitch. On the 39th minute of the first half Conor Power treaded a through ball into Levi who tipped it past the oncoming Bandon keeper Ciaran McCarthy who unfortunately took the Blarney forward down. The ref had no option but to show red. From the resulting free kick Blarney was level from a massive deflection off the Bandon wall. The first half finished 1-1.
Second half began with Bandon under a lot of pressure but Paul Lang who was solid for Bandon from the first whistle stood up to the challenge and lead from the back. Bandon reshaped and didn’t allow Blarney to break them down. Aaron Daly was now working tirelessly up front on his own along with Peter who burst a gut to support him when he could. Blarney now had the better possession but didn’t create many chances. It was Bandon who looked like the team who was going to score next. Shane Lowney was now influencing the game who found himself 1 v 1 on 3 occasions which resulted in Bandon threatening the Blarney box. Blarney was yet to have a shot on target I the second until a pop shot from 30 yards hit the cross bar and over. Nelson McCarthy Bandon’s stand in keeper had very little to do. Blarney made a double substitution which saw the introduction of Aaron Kirby and Nathan Broderick who pushed Blarney on for the win. Bandon dealt with this pressure not allowing Blarney to get a clear chance on goal. Greg Fittion was on top for dealing with the high ball and organise the back line well while setting up attacks for Bandon down the right hand side with Shane Lowney. With the last 10 minutes Bandon had 3 pairs of fresh legs on the pitch with John Muckian replacing Jeremy Collins, Jeon Madilan coming on for Shane Lowney and Edward Hetherington for Colin O Driscoll. With two minutes to go in was Blarney who picked up all 3 points with a strike from 30 yards gave Nelson no chance in the Bandon goal. Bandon who battled hard for 80 minutes deserved a result and this was pointed out at the end of the game from Blarney manager.
Bandon’s next game is away to Passage on the 21st.
Goal – Aaron Daly
Man of the Match – Paul Lang
Match Report Submitted by Brendan Cullen
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