Galway
Cup 2024 Wicklow
2012
Boys
Day
1
Wicklow
4
Longford
4
What
an opening game between these two sides with eight goals shared it was hard to
separate these free scoring sides.
From
the opening minutes of this tie chances had already been created. Wicklow eventually netted their first goal of
the tournament when Caoimhin Murphy opened his account minutes later doubling
his tally in between a goal from the opposition. Murphy and his team mates
stayed on top in this tie when Lucas Kavanagh added a third before a final
effort from Pelagic made sure his side would come away with at least a point as
Longford matched their opponents stride for stride with three more goals of
their own.
Wednesday
Wicklow
2
Maree
Oranmore 1
What
a performance from the Wicklow team in their second game beating one of the
local sides.
This
was a tough battle from the start with the referee giving out a number of early
yellow cards. After this tough opening couple of phases Wicklow took control
and took the lead when Caoimhin Murphy broke down the wing to finish into the
back of the net. Once the deadlock was broken the tie swung completely in
Wicklow’s favor as they controlled possession and eventually doubled the lead
when Rex Verveen found himself in the right place. The opposition narrowed the
gap when Adam Casserly rattled the back of the net.
This
wasn't enough as the side from the southeast eventually held out to win all
three points.
Thursday
Clare
3
Wicklow
2
After
a great second half comeback Clare managed to net a last-minute goal in the
final group game.
As
the Galway weather conditions worsened it was the Clare side who managed to
gain early control of this tie with the aid of a breeze. After creating a
number of early halves chances, they eventually used that breeze to take the
lead with a Dean Kelly effort. As
the half dragged on the weather conditions played a huge part. The Clare side
doubled their lead just before the breakthrough Robert O’ Hara
After
the interval Wicklow battled back into this tie and narrowed the gap with a
strike from Rex Verveen. Once this strike had brought them back into the tie
Wicklow pushed forward and with six minutes to go Lucas Kavanagh flew down the
wing to level the tie. In the last play of the game Clare won a free kick which
eventually found its way to O’ Hara who won the game for his side.
Friday
Salthill
Devon 0
Wicklow
4
Two
goals in either half from Rex Verveen and Caoimhín Murphy saw Wicklow comfortably beat
the home side on Friday afternoon.
From
the outset of this game Wicklow took early control while playing some lovely
football in tough conditions. After a number of early chances Wicklow
eventually took the lead when captain Rex Verveen hit an exquisite volley into
the top corner. The southeast side kept the pressure on and doubled the lead
just before halftime when Vereen pressured the center back and won a ball
before finishing past the onrushing keeper. This gave them a deserved two goal
lead at the break.
Once
the game restarted Wicklow’s Caoimhin Murphy took center stage taking on the
opposition defense before winning a penalty which he duly converted. The side
in blue and yellow took complete control of the middle third of the pitch
against the home side. They eventually added their fourth and final goal when
Murphy played an outrageous through ball to Ben Burke who finished well to
ensure victory for his side.
Saturday
Shield
Final
Maree
Oranmore 3
Wicklow
2
The
home county side came out on top in a five-goal thriller against a valiant
Wicklow effort on Saturday afternoon.
After
a tough couple of days weather wise, the sun finally came out in Salthill this
allowed both teams to play the football we know they can. It was the southeast
side who took control early on, winning a corner which was swung in but well
defended by the Galway side. Within a couple of minutes Wicklow pushed forward,
they were eventually awarded a penalty which was taken by Rex Verveen, but his
strike was kept out expertly. A number of half chances were created before the
half time whistle but neither side could break that deadlock.
Minutes
after the restart Wicklow broke through but Verveen's effort was well saved.
The home county side then took the lead with a header from a corner from Jack
Farrelly. The lead didn't last long as the opposition leveled the tie a minute
later when Murphy drove the wing, his cross was eventually finished by
Sylvester Pelagic. The chances were coming thick and fast for both sides this
finally resulted in two fast goals from Maree through Cillian Keating and Max
Dooley. With the final whistle looming the Leinster side pushed forward and
narrowed the gap again with a great strike from Rian Calihane
This wasn't enough as the Galway side
eventually ran out of winners.
After
the final whistle we get the thoughts of Wicklow manager Padraig Moran
explaining how all the coaches are “very proud of this young Wicklow team and
how they have carried themselves during this whole tournament.”
He
also mentioned the support today during the final how “ the older team ,coaches
and fans came from near and far to try and get the boys over the line in the
final.”
Squad:
1 ZACH HOLLINGSWORTH
2 LUKE O
NEILL
3 SHANE
LYNCH
4 CALLUM
BRADY
5 SCOTT
NICHOLSON
6 RONAN
MERRIGAN
7 CAOIMHIN MURPHY
8 FIONN FITZGERALD
9 BEN
MORAN
10 REX
VERVEEN
11 LUCAS KAVANAGH
12 SYLVESTER
PELAGIC
13 RIAN
CALIHANE
14 LIAM BYRNE
15 HARRY MERNAGH
16 PATRICK
DOYLE
17 CIAN COLLINS
18 AIDEN CRONIN
KENNY
20 MAX KENNEDY
2011
Elite
Tuesday
Wicklow
2
Kilkenny
League 5
After
a tough opening half against the elements in Salthill, Wicklow battled back but
couldn't get the better of their Kilkenny opponents.
In
the first half Kilkenny used the aid of the breeze to their advantage with
goalkeeper Michael Beagen scoring from a direct kick before adding four more
goals. To their credit Wicklow came back into the game with goals from Rian
Ward and Will Carey. With the aid of the significant wind they kept the
pressure on but between a combination of woodwork and Beagen they couldn't get
any closer to the scoreline.
Wednesday
Wicklow
2
Limerick
County Whites 0
In
their second group game of the competition the southeast side comfortably took
all three points against their Limerick counterparts.
Wicklow
had all the running from early on as they were getting used to competitive
football along with the strange weather conditions that Salthill could throw at
them. After a sustained period of early pressure, they eventually broke the
deadlock when Cian Ward rattled the back of the net. Once they gained this
control Evan Greegan managed to deservedly double his sides lead.
This
was a well-earned victory for the Wicklow side as they got their first three
points of the tournament.
Thursday
Ballinamallard
3
Wicklow
1
After
an inspired Dylan O’ Neill performance in goal for Wicklow they were eventually
defeated by two goals in their third group game in Galway Thursday morning.
After
a bright early start from Wicklow the opposition then took control but only for
Dylan O’ Neill in the goal would have been out of sight inside fifteen minutes.
It would have to be a world class strike to get past the Wicklow shot stopper
and it was when Mike Fuston free kick flew into the top corner. With five minutes to go in the opening half
the lead was doubled with a Charlie Donaghy strike.
Once
the tie restarted Wicklow wrestled back momentum and the lead was eventually
narrowed through Cian Ward after numerous efforts on the opposition goal. With
plenty of time left on the clock it looked like a leveler was inevitable, but
the northern side broke away against the run of play through Shea Donnelly
whose strike put the tie to bed.
Friday
Wicklow
0
North
Tipperary 1
An
outrageous second half goal from the Munster side was the only difference
between these two sides on Friday.
Wicklow
controlled this semifinal from the opening whistle as they created a number of
early chances but couldn't get through the opposition defensive setup. Chances
became few and far between as the half went on as set pieces seemed to be the
only way Wicklow could have got through but between a header saved from a
corner and good defending from a free kick it was all square at half time.
Once
the second half began the Munster opposition started to gain a foothold in the
middle and within a couple of minutes they had taken the lead with an
outrageous strike with the aid of the elements. With the final whistle looming,
the side in blue and yellow pushed forward looking for the equalizer and nearly
managed it when a goal bound free kick was well saved.
Saturday
11th Place seeding game
Wicklow
0 Pen 6
Clare
Yellow 5
A
Dylan O’ Neill save saw Wicklow win on penalties ending the competition in 11th
place Saturday morning.
On
Saturday morning Wicklow played their last game of the week against the tough
Clare opposition. From the outset the Garden County side created a number of
half chances but couldn't manage to break through the resolute rearguard. Clare
broke away on a counterattack but Dylan O’ Neill stood strong to keep the score
level at the break.
The
second half was a much tighter affair as neither side as both defenses were on
top of their opposition. The only chance of note fell to Wicklow, but the long-range
effort flew wide of the post.
This
meant the tie would be decided on the dreaded penalty shootout.
Wicklow
pens
1st
Cian Ward (scored)
2nd
Drew Mernagh (scored)
3rd
Sean Byrne (scored)
4th
Ciaran Kenny (missed)
5th
Aj Long (scored)
6th
Drew Doyle (saved)
7th
Rian Ward (scored)
8th
Oskar Dominik (scored)
After
a long week at the competition, we get the feelings of manager Andrew McDonough
stating that he was “very proud of the lads from last year’s competition a
number of new faces had joined the team which meant they would be nerves as it
was their first bog competition with the side. “
With
his final words McDonough believed the “team played with great heart and played
some great football at times in tough Galway conditions.”
This
bodes well for his side as they look forward to competing at the Kennedy Cup in
Limerick next June.
Squad:
1 DYLAN O NEIL
2 SEAN BYRNE
3 JUDE LAWLOR
4 FREDDIE KAVANAGH
5 CIARAN KENNY
6 OSKAR DOMINIK
7 CIAN WARD
8 AJ LONG
9 RIAN
WARD
10 DREW MERNAGH
11 EVAN
GREEGAN
12 ROBBIIE
DOYLE
13 MIKE O
NEILL
14 TYLER
MCELVANEY
15 KEVIN
YAN
16 WILL
CAREY
17 DREW
DOYLE
20 HARRY WAITE
