Wonderful win and fantastic entertaiment
THE MOST striking aspect of the Youths 5-3 win over second placed Limerick on Friday night was the entertainment level - it was wonderful. And wonderful for Noel O'Connor, the butcher boy from Limerick - rumour has it that anyone who mentioned the game in the shop on Saturday got his meat at half price. And wonderful too for Gary Sheahan to score at the death after suffering endless abuse from the visiting supporters as he showed all night what they were missing.
Wonderful for all our players - man of the match Shane Dempsey scored twice and was majestic - I was partially relieved that late thunder strike went just wide as I would probably have had to buy a new net - Jimmy Keohane got out of his sick bed to score and give a measured performance, Dean Broaders capped his excellence game with a goal, while everyone else hoped to make it happen, none more than Danny Furlong who ran himself to a standstill and eventual injury against a tough Limerick defence. Speaking of Limerick, it is probably the strongest Limerick side we've ever played - they've been put together at considerable cost and are sure to stay in the hunt for promotion.
Greg Ylverton made a solid debut at defensive midfield and was replaced in the same position by another debutant, 18-year-old Shane Nolan from Waterford, who certainly looks the part. The three wise men at the back, Packie Holden, Anto Russell and Anthony Wolfe, aided and abetted by the two kids, Aidan McCann and Chris Kenny, had a busy night trying to make sure that we conceded less than we scored at the other end. Great stuff, great night - has to beat watching any sport on television.
The under-20s got their campaign going with two good games this week - losing 2-1 to Waterford on Tuesday night and drawing 0-0 with Shamrock Rovers on Saturday. Given that we are not using many of the 20s involved with the senior team, they were two good performances.
The Waterford game was a close affair with the visitors scoring the winner in the 85th minute after we had failed to clear. Ian Sinnott had earlier converted a Ricky Dwyer cross with a powerful header to cancel out Waterford's opener. On Saturday we played eight of our under-18s and they put in a very solid performance to deny Rovers who had earlier in the week beaten Bray Wanderers 5-0.
It has to be good for these young players to mix in with players who have a two-year advantage on them. The challenge is sure to help them develop and will stand to them through the winter.
- MICK WALLACE
