Football: Win was the perfect tonic for Cookstown CYFC U12s

What started off a cold morning soon changed as the sun sneaked through and lifted the mist and temperatures rose.

Cookstown started the first half and to be fair both teams started at a great tempo with chances coming at either end.

It wasn’t long though before Cookstown took their chance as Murphy saw his corner played back to him and rolled it to Donaghy who in turn rifled it past the opposing keeper who had no chance of ever reaching it.

On the up and brimming with confidence Cookstown continued to take their chances as Derby with fantastic skill with his first and a little luck with his second sent Cookstown effectively out of reach. However Windmill Stars failed to see it that way as they kept going managing to claw one back much to the disappointment of the defence of Jeffers, Whitten and O’Neill with Leek sitting in front of them and Jake in nets who had all been on their game up to this point.

Although a slight scare Cookstown continued to dominate and their efforts paid off as Murphy converted another chance before the break leaving Cookstown yet again with an unassailable lead. Windmill Stars kicked off the second half and changes were afoot as Monaghan, Cathal and Armstrong were brought on. From the outset it was evident that the changes were effective as Armstrong saw himself twice on the scoresheet as with neat skills and a hunger for goal he left the opposing keeper standing with no chance of preventing what had just happened.

Derby went on to really put the game to bed as he added another which also was to be the best finish of his hat trick. Windmill managed to pull another back towards the end of the game and although they would’ve rued their missed chances on the day they came up against a Cookstown side with such a high work rate and determination to win that no team would’ve beat them today.

Man of the match could have gone to anyone in a Cookstown shirt with the midfield trio of Murphy, Larmour and Donaghy in particular really putting a shift in and so it went to the latter, Donaghy, the captain, who was the inspiration as he set his team on their way with the first goal and his never give up attitude rubbing off on his team mates as he dominated centre midfield.

For Cookstown it was the perfect tonic as having just come off the back of a defeat the previous week made a very decent team look average.

Cookstown: Jake, Monaghan, O’Neill, Whitten, Jeffers, Cathal, Larmour, Donaghy, Murphy, Leek, Derby, Armstrong

UNDER 14S

Cookstown travelled to Craigavon to take on Craigavon City in the league on Saturday. Craigavon started the better attacking the Cookstown defence from the start and taking the lead through good play down the left hand side. They doubled their lead shortly after from a corner. As the second half started Cookstown began to play and had several half chances but where caught on the counter attack twice to find themselves four nil down. After this Cookstown started to take their chances and pulled one back through B. Tereso followed by a second from A. Traill. Craigavon scored a fifth before A. Traill scored another two to complete his hat trick, before Craigavon scored their sixth.

CYFC: E.Donnelly D.Banas C.Robb S.Connelly P.Monaghan J.McElkennon J.Donnelly.Traill D.Devlin B.Tereso A.Levsins