On Saturday afternoon Keadue Rovers U15s, who completed a clean sweep of honours in Donegal this season, welcomed Dublin Kingpins St Kevin’s Boys to Central Park.
Keadue Rovers 0 St Kevin’s Boys 3
The visitors who are chasing their third SFAI cup in a row, having won the u13 version and u14 version in the previous two seasons, are the team that everyone wanted to avoid due to the mammoth task involved.
A hard-working group of club volunteers helped ensure that not only was the Central Park pitch playable after the morning deluge, but that it was actually in good condition come kick off.
Keadue started tentatively as their illustrious opponents knocked the ball about with ease.
Keadue however had their tactics spot on and were able to break down Kevin’s attacks and hit on the counter attack numerous times.
Kevin’s left back Owen Mougan looked to attack at will and Keadue exploited this space as early as the fourth minute when Oran Fallon found himself 1v1 with David O Kaagbue, the big centre half had no answer to Fallon who beat him easy only to see his attempt at placing the ball in the corner of the net just go agonisingly wide when it seemed easier to score. St Kevin’s looked dangerous in wide areas and in Samko Ageba had a real pacey threat.
Keadue moved Ryan Brennan to right back very early to try and nullify this threat. St Kevin’s continued to dominate possession but Keadue had their tactics spot on and continued to hit on the counter attack and had a great chance on 9 minutes when Oran Fallon’s free kick from just outside the box went the wrong side of the upright.
On 13 minutes’ disaster struck for the home side. A long hopeful ball from O Kaagbue, caused a mix up in the home defence and Ageba nipped in to score after a clearance deflected off him and landed on the line.
It was harsh on Keadue but they continued to match the competition favourites and Fallon snatched a glorious chance just wide in the 17th minute after a wonderful move involving Oisin McKelvey ,Mark Brennan and Cian McGee.
St Kevin’s at this stage had totally abandoned trying to build out from the back due to the immense pressing from the Keadue players.
The tried to hit long balls over the top but Keadue were brilliantly marshalled at the back by Cillian Bonner, Jack Ward and Jamie McCready. St Kevin’s had a number of efforts from outside the box as the half wore on. They had the majority of the play but Keadue still looked increasingly dangerous.
On 30 minutes Keadue again cut St Kevin’s open with a tremendous counter attack and as Oisin McKelvey went through on goal, O Kaagbue put in a last man challenge that had the 200 strong crowd shouting for a free and red card, but referee Liam McLoughlin correctly ruled that he played the ball.
On 35 minutes some great wing play by Liam Boyle say him cut inside a number of tackles and whizzed a shot on goal that Biagel done well to hold. 1-0 at half time was harsh on Keadue and this was evident in the three subs that St Kevin’s made at half time to completely change their formation.
The second half continued in the same vein, St Kevin’s playing pretty patterns in front of a Keadue defence that was looking to win the ball and play quickly to counter.
Oisin McKelvey was becoming increasingly influential and St Kevin’s had no answer to him when he got possession.
On 45 minutes St Kevin’s forced a corner and from the resulting cross a ball which was only half cleared fell the way of classy left back Mougan who brilliantly found the top corner. This was hard on Keadue who had given so much against the best side in the country. Keadue still continued to press and with Mark Brennan and McKelvey driving forward from midfield at every opportunity there was still a thought they could get back in the game.
On 52 minutes, it was game over as St Kevin’s captain Sean Grehan nipped in to punish a bit of hesitancy in the home defence and rolled the ball into an empty net.
The 3-0 score line flattered St Kevin’s, who despite having the majority of the ball created very little clear-cut chances.
In the closing seconds Sean Grehan was sent off for a second yellow for the visitors but it was too late to affect the outcome.
This was a tremendous game of football, played in front of an enormous home support. St Kevin’s knew they were in a game and were very complimentary of the home side afterwards.
They advance now to the last 16 and will be favourites to win the competition.
For Keadue it was a gallant end to a glorious season and Aidan Comiskey can be very proud of his team especially their performance against a team packed with underage International players.
Keadue Rovers: Dean Timoney, Cian McGee, Jamie McCready, Jack Ward, Cillian Bonner, Ryan Brennan, Matthew Comiskey, Mark Brennan, Oisin McKelvey, Liam Boyle, Oran Fallon Subs: Aidan Boyle, Daniel Kerr
St Kevin’s: Fiacra Biagel, Billy Gilmore, Owen Mougan, Matthew Anderson, David O Kaagbue, Sean Grehan, Callum Warn, James McMannus, Kieran Lee, Samko Ageaba, Subs: Bryan Presto, Jamie Murphy, Peter Alexander, James Carr, Michael Swan
