This morning, our U12B team faced off against local rivals Rathnew in their first Cup semi-final. The game was a reverse fixture to the home game we played in the League, two weeks ago where Rovers won 4-2.

Playing in Rathnew, the home team had the advantage and Rovers wasted no time making their mark with an early deflected goal from a great run and cross by Charlie Shine. Rathnew stepped it up after the early setback and had several opportunities before equalizing mid-way through the first half.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Alex Doyle, who had pulled off several good saves, kicked a long punt up field which managed to bounce over the Rathnew defence and on to JD Delahunt who shot low past the keeper and into the bottom corner. Rovers took a 2-1 lead into half time.

The second half saw intense pressure from Rathnew, but Rovers' keeper Alex Doyle, who put on a man of the match performance, made multiple crucial saves. With 10 minutes to go Charlie O’ Neill played an unbelievable ball, right through the middle of the Rathnew defence. JD ran onto it with two Rathnew defenders bearing down on him, he kept his composure to pick out the bottom corner again to make it 3-2 to rovers!

The final minutes were tense, with parents and coaches looking for the ref to blow the whistle, injury time seemed never ending, but our back four of Nathan Harris, Larry Donnelly, Mark McCoy and Johnny Billington held strong to secure a hard-fought victory and a spot in the final.

Special call out to our super subs of Dhruva Rynhart, Bogdan Kashcheiev, and Odhran Convery who all played a key role in the win