CLERIHAN SCHOOLBOYS FC

U12 SFAI CUP CLERIHAN 6 COURTOWN HIBS (WEXFORD) 0

The U12s safely negotiated their second round SFAI cup tie on Saturday with a comprehensive victory over Wexford outfit , Courtown Hibs. Sean Cotter had scored the all-important opening goal in Carlow in the previous round and once again settled Clerihan nerves when he finished brilliantly after being put through by Seamus McMahon after just five minutes. Rian Quigley got on the end of a Callum Meagher delivery to grab the second before Callum himself sent a free-kick all the way to the net. A fine solo effort from Rian Quigley gave Clerihan a 4-0 half time lead. The second half saw Clerihan continue to dominate with Rian Quigley adding two more to his tally , one in particular a brilliant strike from wide on the left of the penalty area. The home defence had a quiet day but Ben Keating-Hogan was very prominent at right-back while Seamus McMahon and Cathal Ryan both gave excellent displays in midfield.. However, Rian Quigley was the man-of-the-match with four great goals and its on to Dungarvan next for this promising young squad. Finally,we would like to record our appreciation of the work done by the ladies in catering for the visiting team and supporters at the hall after the game.

U14 NSL BIRDHILL 3 CLERIHAN 5

The u14s maintained their unbeaten run with an excellent away win on a difficult pitch in Birdhill. Luke Hahessy gave Clerihan the ideal start when put through by Shane Hickey and made it two after 15 minutes when Tom Sheehan set him up. Sean Maher then volleyed a cross from Luke to the net to give Clerihan a comfortable advantage,just before half-time Shane hickey was fouled in the box but Luke Hahessy failed with the spot kick. With the start of the second half Luke Hahessy wasted no time in completing his hatrick after a well worked corner . Luke then bagged Clerihan’s fifth when he converted a brilliant cross from substitute Keenan Cunningham. Birdhill reduced the arrears when Eoin Power’s great effort was’nt enough to keep out a Birdhill penalty kick. Indeed, Keenan was desperately unlucky not to score himself shortly after when his shot came back off the crossbar. Birdhill did get through for two late goals but Clerihan had made all their substitutions at this stage and lost their shape a little bit , as a consequence. It was another fine display from this squad with Conor Horan outstanding in defence and man-of-the-match Luke Hahessy in super form in attack.

U16 LEAGUE CLERIHAN 1 PEAKE VILLA 5

The U16s slumped to their third home defeat of the season , most of the damage occurring in the first half. Peake Villa found it all so easy to breach the home defence and raced into a 4-0 lead after barely 25 minutes. Clerihan were then awarded a penalty for handball which Rhys McMorrow confidently converted to leave it 1-4 at the interval. Things could only improve in the second half and they certainly did. Many of the Clerihan lads upped the level of their performance significantly and the team , as a whole , played some fine football. Dale Greene had a tremendous half while Rory Maher and Rhys McMorrow dominated the midfield exchanges. However, the attack failed to make any impact and it was the visitors who got through for the only score of the half, a good strike that just evaded the excellent Liam Powell in the Clerihan goal. If the lads could only have played for the full 80 minutes as they did for the final 40, thing might have been different but hopefully the lessons learned will be taken on board.