An early start for a long road trip didn’t deter our U12 kids in green from picking up a great result against Tullamore Town Rovers in second round of the SFAI National Cup this morning. The kids were at it from the first whistle when Ronan Byrne played a ball into Daniel Clarke who turned to feed Mikey O’Neill, who drove down the right wing and delivered a lovely ball for Alessio Coppola to fire home. A few minutes later an Isla Hindle corner landed at the feet of O’Neill who coolly picked out Coppola again to double the lead. Coppola was at it again when he picked up a loose kickout to extend the Rovers lead further. The next was a lovely team goal when Hindle picked up the ball in midfield, swivelled and fed the ball to Captain Kevin Yan who played a lovely through ball to O’Neill who squared it to Hank Murnane for a clinical finish. Byrne started the next Rovers attack from the back by picking out Hindle who burst down the line and delivered a delightful cross for O’Neill to grab his first of the game. Simon Lynch was then in on the action when he intercepted a pass and beat the keeper from close range. Yan was at it again, regained the ball in the box and rolled the ball to Murnane for his second. Tullamore to their credit didn’t drop their heads and were duly rewarded when they broke up a nice passage of Rovers play, and their centre midfielder hit a beautiful looping ball over the despairing hands of Ben Morrissey in the Rovers net. Fine defending from Jack Collins and Will Carey ensured that Tullamore didn’t trouble Morrissey for the remainder of the half. Rovers regrouped at half time and started the second half the same as the first when Nadal Kingne broke out from centre half to assist O’Neill for his second goal. Hindle was loving her role on the right touchline today and excellently cut inside to put Clarke clear and he duly slotted home to increase the Rovers lead. Matthew Gough was between the posts for Rovers in the second half and was called upon to deal with a threatening Tullamore free kick midway through the half. Freddie Kavanagh then launched a telling solo run down the left wing and finished it by unselfishly squaring the ball to O’Neill for his hat-trick. Eoghan Quinn was next to burst down the line and gave a lovely through ball to Lynch who beat the defender but was faced by the on rushing Tullamore keeper. Lynch squared the ball excellently to Clarke, who tapped in at the back post only for the goal to be ruled offside. Thus ending the game and a great performance from our kids to advance to the third round of the competition. Tullamore can be very proud of their players for never dropping their heads and battling to the final whistle. A huge thanks to all at Tullamore Town for hosting the game and providing lovely refreshments after the game.