Hard-fought point for Under 18s

Cookstown Youth U18 - 1

Ballyclare Comrades U18 - 1

LAST Saturday Cookstown Youth's Elite travelled to the changed venue of Carrickfergus Rugby Club in their first fixture of 2010 against Ballyclare Comrades.

In September Ballyclare inflicted the Cookstown lads with one of their heaviest defeats of the season running out 5-1 winners at M.U.S.A.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With work, illness, rugby and gaelic continually dominating player selection, the management team of Piecha and Warwick knew this again would be an uphill task against a slick passing side.

Somehow Janusz cobbled together fourteen players at late notice and tried to instil a sense of resilience and togetherness against the odds.

This was personified by keeper Hodgett and the two centre halves Millar and Winton supported by the Piecha brothers in the centre and the running of McKinless and McGrath up front.

The main battle was in the centre where Ariel and Patryk Piecha fought like tigers to subdue Ballyclare's numbers eight and ten who were superb on the day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As the midfield battle continued for most of the opening forty-five minutes McKinless and McGrath combined well for top goal scorer Daniel McKinless to slot home calmly on twenty-five minutes from fifteen yards.

In the last five minutes of the half Ballyclare bombarded the Cookstown goal-mouth with Dean Hodgett's handling superb against the ariel superiority of the homesters.

In the second half Karl McKinless and Owen Connolly combined well on several occasions on Cooktown's left side to create several half chances for Daniel McKinless and Patryk Piecha.

Ariel Piecha then had to leave the field with a shoulder injury with Connolly moving into the centre and McKernan joining the frey as an attacking midfielder.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A mis-hit cross from the right nearly gifted Ballyclare the equaliser as the ball somehow slid under Hodgett's left arm at the near post, along the goal line and cleared at the back post.

Ballyclare's increasing pressure paid off on seventy minutes when their striker broke clear to slot home from fifteen yards.

Substitute Dunn then made a fantastic last ditch tackle on the same player to prevent them going ahead. McGrath for Cookstown broke clear only to see a last ditch blocking tackle deny the visitors the lead.

The game see-sawed right up to the final whistle with a draw probably the right result. Man of the match Patryk Piecha.

A superb result for the Cookstown lads who showed great character, skill and desire throughout the ninety minutes despite the absence of five or six players yet again in an away fixture

Related topics: