Munster Senior League
1st Division
Tramore Athletic 3 – Youghal Utd 0
Youghal travelled to Cork on Sunday morning last to play Tramore Athletic in the 1st division of the senior league and came away empty handed after a 3-0 defeat. This was Youghal’s first league game of the campaign. Youghal travelled with a much depleted squad on the day due to injuries and suffered as a result. It could have been so different on the day if Youghal had converted some of the chances that they did have.
Youghal started the brighter and should have been in front after two minutes when a defender got back to clear a Brendan O’Sullivan shot off the line when it looked a certain goal, after Brendan had managed to get around the keeper and shooting from a tight angle. Youghal went close again twice within the first fiftheen minutes but couldn’t find the net. As the game went on Tramore came into it more and punished Youghal on 28 minutes with a shot from the edge of the box, after they failed to clear from a free. Tramore made it two on 37 minutes with a shot again from the same area that saw Youghal keeper David Kearns unsighted through a crowded area.
Youghal who had only one fit sub on the day battled hard throughout the game and into the second half were playing the better football, as Tramore played long ball after long ball. Again some chances came and went as Youghal failed to find the target. Having the one sub showed the lack of strength in depth on the day. It showed as Youghal had to make an enforced change ten minutes into the second half with David ‘O Keefe coming on for the injured Shane Ryan. That meant Youghal couldn’t freshen things up any more for the remainder of the game and tactically options were thin on the ground.
In fairness to the Youghal lads they kept the pressure on Tramore and had two one on ones with the keeper but again failed to hit the target. A long ball over the top with four minutes remaining saw Youghal’s keeper challenge and clear the ball but somehow the referee decided to blow for a free. He then pointed to the spot, with virtually everyone seeing it was outside the box. Very harsh on Youghal on the day, as Tramore made it 3-0. The lads did well on the day, but hopefully in the coming week some of the injuries will clear up as Youghal host College Corinthians on Friday night in Youghal.
The fact that Youghal have moved up a division and with so many new players added to the squad it will be a tough season. If everyone can stick together and put in the work required the lads will have every chance of holding their status this season.
Team:
David Kerans, Dairmuid Shuel, Brendan O’Sullivan, Anthony Kelly, Paul Kelly, Alan Hennessey, Conor O’Sullivan, Paul Hennessey, Shane Ryan, Sean Kenneally, Daniel Savage, David O’Keefe