Rochestown College 2 - 0 Skibbereen Community School
Report by Sean Spenser
When you take into account the fact that last year both Skibbereen and Rochestown got to the Munster Cup semi-finals and the Cork Cup final, the draw for the first round of the 2017/18 Munster Cup seemed very odd! Nonetheless, it surely would be a great game of football. The weather was not going to help either team, playing so soon after storm Ophelia, but no one could expect much different. It was pouring rain, with a strong wind, still both teams would make sure to give their all!
The game started off with Rochestown dominating possession, but much like last years Cork Cup final, just unable to find that final vital pass. Rochestown were however picking up quite a lot of corners. Most of them were comfortably cleared by Skibbereen, but if you let a team have too many, eventually it will pay and 30 minutes into the first half Rochestown put in a corner. It wasn't quite cleared far enough and Rochestown's number 8 picked it up on the edge of the box, he shot and it beat everyone and on the line hit off Thomas O'Mahony and went in off the bar. Unfortunate to concede so close to half time, but Rochestown were on top.
Going to half time, both sides could be relatively happy. Rochestown had got their all important goal, but Skibbereen had given their hearts, pressing and getting in the way. Still, when you work that hard, you're not going to be able to keep it up for too long. If Rochestown got a second goal before Skibbereen, it looked like the game would be over, but if Skibbereen scored first Rochestown would be very rattled! 13 minutes into the second half Skibbereen played a short goal kick. It was never fully under control and it fell to the Rochestown number 13. He played in the number 9 who fired past Micheal Sheehy into the roof of the net. A goal out of nothing, but that's the risk you take trying to pass out from the back.
The rest of the second half was like a reverse of the first half. Skibbereen attacking and attacking, going for it, but unable to find the crucial pass. The biggest difference was that Rochestown looked extremely deadly on the counter attack and Micheal Sheehy had to save multiple one on ones and goal scoring opportunities. Unfortunately Skibbereen's pressure amounted to nothing in the end as Rochestown were extremely well organised and fast breaking when they needed to be.
Just like that, Skibbereen's hopes of winning the U15 2017/18 Munster Cup were over before they had begun. They came up against a better side and the quality showed. They didn't give up at all and the game was epitomised by the fact that all three of Skibbereen's central midfielders limped off the pitch!
Man of the Match: Thomás O'Mahony - Thomás had a fantastic game. He didn't stand out at all to onlookers which always means you're doing your job well! He didn't put a foot wrong all day and worked very hard. The pace of both wingers that played down his side didn't seem to phase him at all and he remained composed, calm and cool headed. On top of that he stood off at the right times. He didn't venture forward, but that was exactly what Skibbereen wanted out of him. A performance that any full back would be extremely proud of!
Starting XI: Míchéal Sheehy, Thomás O'Mahony, Matthew Mulcahy, Robbie Minihane, John Leahy, James O'Neill, Eoin Murran, James McCarthy, Jack O'Brien, Cormac McCarthy, Isaac Harte.
Substitutes: Mícheál Collins (Cormac McCarthy), Jason Nott (Mícheál Collins), Adam O'Donoghue (Jack O' Brien), Shane Casey (Isaac Harte), Feilim O'Donovan (Eoin Murran), Donnachadh Maguire (James McCarthy).
