Our U12s welcomed Portlaoise FC to Whitegates this morning for a Round 2 clash in the prestigious National Cup. The team delivered a superb performance, securing a strong 6-0 victory and advancing confidently to the next round.
Rovers applied pressure from the first whistle, and the reward arrived quickly in the 4th minute. A fantastic ball whipped in by Jamie O'Malley found Ryan Forde just inside the 18-yard area, who fired a decisive shot into the top corner.
We swiftly doubled our advantage when an initial shot was saved by the Portlaoise keeper, only for the rebound to fall kindly to Rian Jameson, who slotted it home. Harry Philippon was unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet after a brilliant solo run, beating four players only to be denied by the keeper.
Mark Yukhymenko continued his fine scoring form, collecting the ball on the right, beating his defender, and slotting into the far corner for the third. He then added a fourth just before the break, completing a 4-0 half-time lead.
The second half began just as brightly, and the boys continued to hunt for more. Mark rounded off his individual brilliance midway through the second half, completing his hat-trick with a neat finish after some fantastic passing football from back to front. He then latched onto a loose ball in the box to complete the scoring for the day at 6-0.
Both teams played a fantastic game of football in great spirits, showcasing excellent sportsmanship.
Míle buíochas to Portlaoise FC for travelling down, and a massive shout-out to Clare and all the staff at Francesco's Diner, who put on a lovely spread of food for both teams to enjoy at the end of the game. That hospitality is what makes our community great!
Rovers applied pressure from the first whistle, and the reward arrived quickly in the 4th minute. A fantastic ball whipped in by Jamie O'Malley found Ryan Forde just inside the 18-yard area, who fired a decisive shot into the top corner.
We swiftly doubled our advantage when an initial shot was saved by the Portlaoise keeper, only for the rebound to fall kindly to Rian Jameson, who slotted it home. Harry Philippon was unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet after a brilliant solo run, beating four players only to be denied by the keeper.
Mark Yukhymenko continued his fine scoring form, collecting the ball on the right, beating his defender, and slotting into the far corner for the third. He then added a fourth just before the break, completing a 4-0 half-time lead.
The second half began just as brightly, and the boys continued to hunt for more. Mark rounded off his individual brilliance midway through the second half, completing his hat-trick with a neat finish after some fantastic passing football from back to front. He then latched onto a loose ball in the box to complete the scoring for the day at 6-0.
Both teams played a fantastic game of football in great spirits, showcasing excellent sportsmanship.
Míle buíochas to Portlaoise FC for travelling down, and a massive shout-out to Clare and all the staff at Francesco's Diner, who put on a lovely spread of food for both teams to enjoy at the end of the game. That hospitality is what makes our community great!
