St Mary’s U13’S continued with their excellent winning start to the season with a super 4-1 away win to Red Star at Blacks Road on Saturday, to make it 5 out of 5 wins and they remain top of the table, 2 points clear of Abbeyvilla.
They started the game brightly and took the lead on 7 minutes when a move involving Quinn , Park and Ross was finished off with some aplomb by striker O Reilly, who coolly slotted home past the keeper. Instead of pressing home their advantage they sat back a little and were caught with a ball over the top which left the striker clear, only to be taken down by St Mary’s keeper just outside the box. The referee fortunately only brandished a yellow card to the net minder, and the resultant free kick was cleared by the defence.
St Mary’s went straight up field and great wing play set up a chance for McGarritty which went wide and from the next attack Park missed a sitter from 10 yards which was harder to miss than score.
At the other end, O Malley conceded a free kick which Begley did well to head wide from close to the goal line. The equaliser was coming and duly arrived when Red Star broke quickly through the sleeping midfield and deservedly made it 1-1. Keeper Morgan made a great save close to half time to keep the scores level, and at the other end Park couldn’t get enough power on an effort , so at half time the scores remained level.
After a half-time rollicking by their coaches, St Mary’s grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and took the lead when O’Reilly’s first shot was blocked, he quickly thumped the ball home despite a fine effort by the Red Star keeper who was to have a busy second half. Straight from the resultant kick off St Mary’s surged forward again and Breen played a great ball through to O Reilly who completed his hat trick with a fine finish. Mc Naughton and Ross were bossing the midfield now and a Ross through ball set up Park who slotted home to make it 4-1 St Mary’s. Red Star to their credit kept going and tried to hit St Mary’s on the break and Ross did well to head off the goal line to prevent a consolation goal. With full-time looming, Red Star broke through again and the striker chipped Morgan from the 18 yard box only to see his effort come back off the post. This was another fine all round team performance, with Eoin O Reilly earning the man of the match award for his clinical finishing.
Training is at Barney school at 7:30 pm sharp on Thursday nite, and this week’s opponents are a much improved Sirocco team at 10am on Mallusk on Saturday who will provide a stern test to the current 100% winning start.
