South Belfast Youth League u11
St Mary’s FC 7-1 Sirocco FC
It was top versus bottom at Blanchflower pitches in the East of the city on Saturday as Division One league leaders St Mary’s took on Sirocco FC.
St Mary’s striker Eoin O’Reilly got his side off to a quick fire start with the opening goal, lofting the ball over the head of the Sirocco goalie and Eoin McNicholl doubled their lead having collected a defence splitting pass from Matthew Shannon to score.
Sirocco’s Caitlyn Hamilton, who had caused St Mary’s lots of problems in the previous encounter between these two sides was adopting a more defensive role in the first period but could she do little to prevent Mark ‘Sparky’ Davey from adding to St Mary’s lead with a fantastic mazy run ended with a confident finish.
Just on the stroke of half time, the in-form Cormac Morgan controlled a McNicholl corner but curled his effort inches past the upright. If Carlsberg done left backs, on current form, young Morgan is probably the best left back in the league!
Sirocco made two changes at the break but amusingly forgot to withdraw their substituted players and kicked off the second period with their midfield well and truly bolstered.
Eoin McNicholl added to St Mary’s lead five minutes in with a neat finish having latched onto a precise through ball for his brace while Mark Davey could now have his own personal goal of the season competition having added another cracker goal.
Eoin Lundy and Daniel Hackett came off the bench for St Mary’s with Lundy looking particularly bright in attack and Hackett slotting into the back line with relative ease.
Matthew Shannon drilled an effort narrowly over the top from a precise Conor Bannon corner but at the other end Oliver Breen could only watch as a Morgan back pass drifted narrowly wide of the upright with Sirocco pushing hard for a goal.
The dangerous Caitlyn Hamilton pushed up front for Sirocco for the final ten minutes and showed her class when collecting a ball through the middle and confidently beating Breen for a consolation strike.
However, St Mary’s made it six when an Eoin McNicholl centre was confidently dispatched by Eoin Lundy and young Lundy doubled his own tally when collecting an Eoin O’Reilly pass to complete the scoring to ensure St Mary’s go marching on.
Man of the match – Cormac Morgan (St Mary’s FC)
