U12 Boys Sheild Kerry

 U12 Boys Shield

Kerry 2

Wicklow 1

Evergreen Park Kilkenny

Eoin Horkan

In what was the penultimate game of the weekend it was Kerry who came  away with the victory even after a late rally from the Wicklow men.

The Kerry boys  didn't seem to be affected by their lengthy journey to Kilkenny because they immediately began to dominate the match. A Nathan Anthony shot missed the Wicklow goal after only five minutes. The same player got the ball in the net inside of ten minutes, but it was disallowed for offside. The striking partnership from the South was wreaking havoc. Following a pass from Kian Cronin, it was Mason Sheehy Elston's turn to try his luck this time. Midway through the half, his effort sailed into the net to give his team the lead. Sheehy, who had the opportunity to score at his disposal, broke free once more a few minutes later.

Following the Sheehy shot, Wicklow began to take control of the midfield through Cian and Rian Ward. This dominance gave their team half chances, but they were able to convert on all of them. Sheehy again came through on the final attack of the half against the flow of play, but his lobbed attempt as the keeper approached bounced just wide of the goal. A minimum space should exist between the sides at the split.

Wicklow moved forward right away, and after some outstanding work from Tyler McElvaney, he put the ball to Rian Ward, whose shot was superbly blocked by Ben O'Sullivan. This threat appeared to reawaken the opposition, as the previously mentioned Sheehy—a continuous menace—had the next two opportunities of the half, both of which were expertly blocked by O' Neill, who was winning this struggle. Sheehy managed to scramble an effort into the net as the ball bounced about the Wicklow box, making it his third time lucky.

Kerry was now completely in charge of this game, throwing the ball around with ease and appearing to only need to wait for the final siren. With five minutes remaining, Alessio Coppola surged down the wing before launching a cross into Evan Gregan, who scored for Wicklow. The boys from the Southeast made a last-ditch effort to equalize the game by pushing forward with time running out, but Kerry held strong to win.

Wicklow; 1 Dylan O’ Neill, 2 Sean Byrne, 3 Freddie Kavanagh, 4 Donagh McKerr, 5 Cian Ward, 7 Kevin Yan, 8 Rian Ward, 9 Tyler Kenny, 10 Alessio Coppola.

Subs Used; 11 Robbie Doyle, 14 Evan Gregan, 6 Nadal Kingne, Oskar Dominik, 12 Ciaran Kenny, 15 AJ Long.

Kerry: 1 Ben O’ Sullivan, 2 Sam Moriarty, 3 Iarla O’ Donavan, 4 Michael Carmody, 6 Kian Cronin, 7 Rian Foley, 9 Mason Sheehy Elston, 10 Nathan Anthony, 11 Eric Corcoran.

Subs Used; 5 Daniel O’ Leary, 8 Eoghan O’ Driscoll, 13 Denys Moiseiev, 20 Eanna Leahy.

Referee: Chris Sheridan.