FC Carlow draw
Tuesday July 20 2010
THIS YEAR¹S Airtricity u20 League of Ireland competition sees the three south east teams, FC Carlow, Wexford Youths and Waterford Utd, pitted against each other in a very tough group which also contains current UCD, Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers.
For FC Carlow, the competition started last Wednesday, with a tough away game against current champions UCD in Belfield. A new and youthful team lined out for Carlow, with only 6 of last year¹s panel on show, as some of the eligible u20 players have now established themselves on the A Championship team. Despite the youthful look, the Carlow lads didn¹t disappoint as they showed great maturity, desire and confidence to take a much deserved point back to the south east.
UCD made their intentions clear from the off, as they passed and moved a blistering pace, but found a very well organised and disciplined FC Carlow team hard to break down. Despite UCD having the majority of the possession in the opening period, Carlow used their own possession to greater effect and looked very dangerous on the counter attack. Kevin McCarney and Irish u18 International, Caolan O¹Gorman linked up well in midfield and twice in quick succession, put Shane Clarke through on goal, but on both occasions UCD managed to clear the danger.
The deadlock was broken on 34mins, when Carlow gave away a needless free kick outside their box. A well delivered ball to the back post resulted in the ball being scrambled into the Carlow net. A confident UCD now began to exert pressure on the Carlow defence and tested Stephen Duncan with a long range effort which the keeper was equal to. The visitors regained their composure and finished the half on the offensive. FC Carlow should then have been awarded a penalty just before the break when Eric Molloy was taken down in the UCD box, but the Carlow protests were waved away by the ref.
The visitors started the second half on the offensive and found themselves back on level terms inside 5mins., when a superb Damien Byrne corner was headed home by Molloy at the back post. Carlow then enjoyed a very good spell, with UCD on the back foot, they were very unfortunate not to take the lead when a fantastic Eanna O¹Gorman strike was tipped over the post.
It was the home side however who restored their lead on 65mins when a reckless challenge in the box resulted in a penalty being awarded, which UCD duly converted.
To their credit, the Carlow lads remained positive and continued to play some excellent football, which eventually paid dividends, with just 5mins remaining. Good combination play in midfield between James Cogley and John Brennan put Shane Clarke through on goal. This time, Clarke¹s strike was too good for the UCD keeper as he found the roof of the net to clinch a valuable away point.
FC Carlow: Stephen Duncan, Eanna O¹Gorman, Ryan Curran, James Coleman, Damien Byrne, John Brennan, Kevin McCarney, Caolan O¹Gorman, Mikey Byrne, Shane Clarke, Eric Molloy. Subs: James Cogley (70 for McCarney), Murt Bambrick (78 for Byrne), JJ Connolly (85 for Brennan), Robbie Byrne and Jeff Sutton.
