Wicklow Galway Cup 2024

 

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