Cookstown U16 storm into semi-finals

Cookstown started on the front foot, creating plenty of chances before Callum O’Neill opened the scoring for the locals.

Cookstown continued to press but couldn’t get the second goal and it took a great save from debutant in goal, Jamie Fox, to keep the score 1-0 at half time.

The second half was the same as the first with Cookstown having plenty of the ball, but they were able to take their chances in this half.

Nathan Bartley scored the second, quickly followed by new midfielder Sami Junk.

An own goal was scored before Jaime Muldoon finished the scoring to leave the final score 5-0.

CYFC: Jamie Fox, Rhys Campbell, Joshua Turkington, Sami Junk, Callum O’Neill, Jack Patterson, Nathan Bartley, Ben McNally, Charlie Acheson, Ryan McMenemy, Jaimie Muldoon, Todd Brown.

Man of the Match: Sami Junk

Cookstown U11 5 Portadown A 0

A game against a development squad from Portadown which gave the Cookstown boys a chance to try new positions and formation.

Cookstown dominated the game with goals from six different players on the day and with Eunan O’Neill shining out and getting his hat-trick.

The game was mostly about trying out differnet options with players and with a few big games coming up and giving the management great show of flair and effort.

CYFC: Eoghan Donnelly, Sean Monaghan, Mark Carleton, Paul Monaghan, Eunan O’Neill, Zach Ferson, Dominic O’Neill, Nathan Murray, Stewart Wylie, Terry Devlin, Peter Bell, Caleb Robb.

Man of the Match: Eunan O’Neill

Cookstown U12 3

Oxford Sunnyside 0

It was a case of deja vu with the young sizzlers meeting Sunnyside at Moira for the second Saturday in a row.

With weather and cup runs creating fixture congestion this game doubled in value as a league cup and a league fixture double header.

From the kick off Cookstown looked far more concentrated and focused on the task of overcoming a physically stubborn Oxford side compared to the previous week’s encounter. Strikers Thomas Mackle and Luke Patterson tested the Sunnyside keeper in the opening five minutes of the game after good work from Lee Glasgow and Shane Murphy on the wings.

A quick one-two between Murphy and Mackle on the half way line opened the door for Mackle to sprint past the Sunnyside midfielder and full back, open his body and delightfully chip the advancing keeper from twenty yards out to take the lead on 7 minutes.

On 12 minutes he nearly doubled his tally after good work from Tiernan Mackle and Jamie Marlin in midfield, his powerful shot just slicing wide after another good run. Sunnyside applied several moments of pressure at the Cookstown end with a succession of corners, but the back four of Patterson, McLean, Kenning and Bigger stood firm backed up by keeper Jamie Campbell who made an unbelievable save with his legs.

Just before half time Cookstown doubled their lead when captain Marlin bamboozled two Sunnyside defenders on the bye-line, stepped inside and unleashed an unbelievable strike into the bottom left hand corner of the net from an acute angle. Into the second half Sunnyside came close on two occasions, shooting wide after breaking the offside trap and thundering the post from a rebound after Campbell made another great save.

Robert Mclean went close from a free quick before Marlin was adjudged to have received the ball from an offside position from Glasgow when Cookstown hit the net for the third time. Gault, Craig Bigger, Donnelly and Wilson all entered the frey in the last quarter of the game to refresh tiring legs.

And it was that man Harry Wilson coming off the bench to score again that finally sealed the victory with 11 minutes to go – and what a goal, beating the full back and opening his body to drive past the Sunnyside keeper from an impossible angle in Marlin-style.

A wonderful ‘Team’ victory in the abscence of stalwarts Donaghy and Black as the boys and management look forward to encounters with Linfield at home on the 16 March in the fourth round of the NIBFA Cup and League Cup semi-final with Shankill Boys who knocked them out of the League Shield semi-final before Christmas. Good times!

CYFC: J. Campbell, B. Patterson, R. McLean, W. Kenning, D. Bigger, L. Glasgow, Tiernan Mackle, J. Marlin, S. Murphy, Thomas Mackle, L. Patterson, J. Donnelly, C. Bigger, K. Gault, H. Wilson.

Cookstown U14 1 Maiden City 6

The U14s knew from the start last Saturday that they were up against it, as they took on NIBFA National League (A) team Maiden City, in the League Knock Out Cup.

Cookstown started with Ben Young in goals, a back four of Conor Donnelly, Ryan Rocks, Jamie McCrum and Cameron Thom. The midfield was policed by Caleb Buchannon, Ryan Dodson, Matthew Kelly and Adam Keane and the strke duo were Stevie Arrell and Ronan Hughes. On the bench were Luke McCrea, Kyle Devlin, Cameron McMullan, Ciaran Monaghan, Jack Dingley and James McKee.

It turned into the perverbial game of two halves with the visitors coming out of the blocks the quickest in the first half, and played exhibition football for the full thirty five minutes. Slick passing and clinical finishing from City left the Cookstown lads punch drunk at half-time and trailing by 5-0.

Coaches O’Hare, Kelly and Wilson feared the worst in the second half and were half expecting a cricket score, but to the home teams credit, they never gave up and after a goal mouth scramble Ryan Dobson pulled a goal back.

Cookstown continued to fight and although it was clear that Maiden City were by far the better team, the local lads ran their hearts out and if there was a prize for determination and effort then they would have been on the podium. City scored another to leave the final score 6-1.

Manager Andy Kelly said after the game, “The difference between the two teams was clear, they were faster and more switched on, but that’s the standard you have to be to compete in National League (A), which is something our lads should be looking to achieve. However, we were very impressed with our second half performance which saw us draw the half 1-1.”

Man of The Match: Ryan Rocks and Jamie McCrum.

Northern Ireland Cup

Cookstown U16 3 Limavady 0

Cookstown took the field at MUSA in the quarter-finals of the NI Cup and ran out 3-0 winners.

As cup ties go this was certainly no classic, but sometimes you have to grind it out and that’s what the Cookstown lads did. The match was scrappy from the start with both teams showing signs of nerves and it was Limavady who showed signs of opening the score as goalie C. Reynolds had to clear a dangerous corner on 5 minutes.

Cookstown steadied and forced a couple of corners and D. Teague blasted over from a half clearance form one of them. Limavady came back at Cookstown and a very hesitant defence were lucky to clear the danger on a couple of occasions.

Luck was with Cookstown and on 15 minutes a C. McGovern corner found its way through to M. Megarry who opened the scoring somewhat fortuitously. Cookstown then settled and a good spell of pressure saw D. Teague. A. Murphy and A. Woods all go close to extending the lead.

On 27 minutes Cookstown did record their second goal when M. Megarry scored his second following good approach work by J. Harte, C. McGovern and A. Woods. Cookstown then had to hold out to half time with their defence of A. Bell, P. Stewart, M. Corrigan and S. McMath having their work cut out to stem a lively Limavady attack.

As expected Limavady came back at Cookstown and goalie C. Reynolds made a super save from a long range shot. Limavady then had two further chances to reduce the arrears but fired wide on both occasions.

Cookstown then countered and a good move involving A. Murphy and M. Megarry found C. McGovern in space in the penalty box and he made it 3-0.

Several subs were made with W. McCullagh, D. O’Neill, W. Taveres and G. McElhone all coming on to see the match through.

Match ball was sponsored by Intersport Cookstown and the refreshments afterwards provided by Brown Sugar Café Cookstown, many thanks to both.

This was a very edgy and nervous victory for the Cookstown lads but on the balance of play well deserved MOM M. Megarry. Cookstown now go on to play St Oliver Plunkett in the semi-final. All support would be greatly appreciated on the day. Well done the boys.

CYFC: C. Reynolds, M. Corrigan, S. McMath, A. Bell, P. Stewart, M. Megarry, D. O’Neill, W. Tavares, A. Woods, A. Murphy, J. Harte, C. McGovern, D. Teague, W. McCullagh, G. McElhone.

Markethill 2 Cookstown U18 2

The U18s drew away to Markethill last Saturday with Steffen Shields scoring from a free kick after 5 minutes.

The home team leveled things up on 30 minutes when a long throw in found the centre midfielder who shot past Rainey from 20 yards out.

Both teams had good efforts to score more with Hull, Kirkpatrick and Edson all going close for the local lads as and the team when in at half time 1-1.

Cookstown took the lead again in the 65 minute when a home defender handle the ball in the box and Drew Kelly stepped up to up his team 2-1 up.

The home team had most off the play but could not find the back off the net with Cookstown back four of Stewart, Gordon, Leslie and Shields all playing well Rainey also pulled off a few fine save as well to keep the home attack at bay.

On 75 minutes they final broke through when a ball from the right found its way right across the box too the left winger to score low into the corner to once again level things up. In the final minute the home side put Cookstown under some great pressure but the local lads held out for a draw.

CYFC: Rainey, Stewart, Shields, Gordon, Leslie, Kirkpatrick, McIvor, Ramsay, Hull, Kelly, Edson, Ferson, McMullen. 18s are at home next Saturday 9th when they take on Markethill again at beechway kick off 10am

IRISH STEW NIGHT FUNDRAISER

CYFC’s annual Irish Stew Night will take place in Cookstown Hockey Club this Saturday 9th March 2013 at 8pm. Tickets for this popular event can be obtained from any CYFC coach at a price of £7.50, which includes dessert and a quiz.

CYFC relies heavily on our fundraisers to exist so we would encourage everyone - players, parents, coaches, fans, family and friends - to support us, and come along and enjoy good food and plenty of craic.

FIXTURES

Friday 8th March

CYFC Development Centre (6.30pm-8pm MUSA)

Glenavon v Cookstown U11 (Cup 7pm Lurgan Junior High School)

St Marys v Cookstown Colts (Shield 7pm Lurgan Junior High School)

Saturday 9th March

Cookstown U12 v Greenisland (11.15am)

Crusaders v Cookstown U13 (11am Belfast)

Derry Colts v Cookstown U14 (12pm Thornhill College)

Cookstown U15 v Magherafelt Sky Blues (11am)

Cookstown U18 v Markethill (10.30am)

RESULTS

Cookstown U11 10 Portadown B 0

Cookstown Colts 5 Portadown 0

Cookstown U12 3 Sunnyside 0

Glendowan 4 Coosktown U13 2

Cookstown U14 1 Maiden City 6

Cookstown U15 3 Warrenpoint 1

Cookstown U16 3 Limavady 0

Markethill 2 Cookstown U18 2