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Conway Goal Secures Draw For Counties Youths

Thursday, 22 December 2011

CCFL Youths 2.
NDSL Youths 2.

A DIVING header from Ted Conway earned the CCFL a well deserved point in the last game of their Inter-League Youths campaign in Roscrea on Saturday.
With the DDSL and the AUL qualifying from the group, it was more a matter of pride when the North Dublin Schoolboys League came visiting on a cold, breezy December afternoon.
The NDSL arrived at Killavilla's ground in determined mood with a full compliment of 18 players while the CCFL were hoping for the best with just 12, including a strong representation of Killavilla clubmen playing on their home pitch.
But to the credit of both sides, they served up an interesting encounter, always competitive and where the result was at issue right to the finish.
From the kick-off the NDSL looked a useful team, well able to retain possession and always intent on getting worthwhile supply to the promising Eoin O'Brien up front.
But the CCFL were not prepared to give an inch, holding a near perfect shape, working tirelessly when not in possession, and delivering a text book lesson in how to tackle high up the pitch.
That attitude paid off in the 13th minute when they were awarded a free kick 35 yards out on the left flank and Dean Mullen's delivery was glanced to his own net by the unlucky Nathan Northcutt.
It was a bitter blow to the visitors as the goal was definitely against the run of play but it was also a score which did the match a power of good.
After O'Brien went close on a couple of occasions for the North Dublin side, Tullamore Town's Ted Conway should have doubled the Combined Counties lead but he hit the side netting at the near post after getting possession on the left flank and taking on NDSL keeper Rob Watters one-on-one.
The NDSL then needed a goalline clearance just before the break to deny Conway again.
Five minutes after the restart the Dubliners got the leveller when O'Brien latched onto a ball from midfield and showed great control and finishing ability to find the net from the edge of the box.
The visitors had made wholesale changes at the break, replacing their goalkeeper and two out-field players, all of which resulted in Darren Fields taking up a position in the middle of Villa Park.
Fields showed what a player he can be as he began directing proceedings but he was given too much room by a CCFL side which appeared to tire in the middle period of the game.
In the 70th minute O'Brien gave the NDSL the lead, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up by the CCFL on their own 18-yard line.
More chances started to come for O'Brien after that but twice he was thwarted as he sought the hat-trick, this time by Sean Murphy, the replacement CCFL keeper who had actually been introduced as an outfield player but then took up his customary position between the posts.
At the other end Tolan was not so lucky.  The CCFL were awarded a contentious free close to the visitors' corner flag on the right wing and Joe Thompson floated it towards the near post where Tolan could only reach high and push it backwards towards the back post.
As it dropped Conway bravely powered through to nod the ball home from close range, injuring himself in the process.
In the 11 minutes that remained the NDSL did push for a winner and had one penalty appeal for a hand-ball turned down before Murphy had the last say with a useful save from Johnny Clarke.
CCFL manager Eamonn Brady, along with his assistants Tony Hurley, Damien Keating, Chris O'Toole and Mick Gorman were justifiably delighted with the performance of all their players, many of whom will still be available to play at Youths level next season.

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