Mohan save turning point in Cup thriller
Dylan Gallagher of Slane Wanderers breaks past Boyne Rovers' Ged Kierans during Saturday's U-13 game.
WALSHESTOWN was the place to be on Sunday morning as these two Under-9 teams served up a tremendous game of cup football in bitterly cold conditions.
Playing with a strong breeze the visitors had the best of the early exchanges and Eoin Brennan and Dylan Cassidy in the Walshestown defence had to work very hard to keep Drogheda out.
But eventually from a kickout by Dylan O'brien Thompson, the ball found Graham King-abor in the Walshestown area, he was fouled by a defender and the referee pointed to the spot. KingAbor himself stepped up to convert the kick despite the best efforts of Charlie Mohan in the home team's goal.
Walshestown started to get their passing game going and good work by Owen Murphy down the left presented Bobby Brady with a chance. He turned to shoot, but David Maseque in the visitors' defence made a terrific block.
Stephen Doyle had a shot saved superbly by O'brien Thompson in the Drogheda goal, but then Cassidy broke up a Drogheda attack and found Murphy who played the ball into the feet of Doyle. He turned and laid off the ball to Adam Leech who drove into the box and fired home - 1-1.
Eoin Brennan then crossed from the right and when the defender handled in the box Brady stepped up to take the penalty. He struck the spot kick well, but O'brien Thompson dived brilliantly to his right to turn the spot kick around the post. Brady was not to be denied, though, and in the next attack he ran by three defenders before slotting the ball home for the lead goal.
Drogheda came out fighting in the second half and when KingAbor broke down the left he unleashed a left-foot shot which looked destined for the top corner until Mohan got two strong hands to the ball to turn it over the bar.
That save was to prove crucial as Walshestown doubled their lead from their next attacking move. Conor Mcginnity did well to find Brady in the box and he fired to the net.
Back came the visitors, and a great ball out of defence by Maseque found Brandon Kennedy on the half-way line. He raced into the box, only to be denied by Mohan who dived bravely at the attacker's feet.
Leech then put the result beyond doubt, making it 4-1, before Patrick Mcgeary added a fifth goal. WALSHESTOWN: C Mohan, D Cassidy, E Brennan, A Leech, S Doyle, B Brady, O Murphy, C Osborne, H Murphy, P Mcgeary, C Mcginnity, O Bellew.
