We would to thank everyone who attended our annual table quiz at the Tankard on December 28th. A great night was had by all and it was well supported. We would also like to wish all of our players, trainers, supporters and sponsors a Happy New Year.
U16s:
The 16s traveled to Camp last Saturday for a league fixture. A good day for a game and it was an excellent game. Camp came out 3-1 victors in the end of a good scrap where both sets of players gave as good as they got. Camp are the current league leaders so it was always going to be a tough one. We started against the breeze and for the first 20 minutes it was honours even with defenses on top.
Our back 5 of Brian O’Regan, David Lenihan, Ossie Clifford, Ciaran Murray and Padraig O’Mahony were in top form ably helped by the midfield quartet of Alan McElligott, Cormac O Brien, Sean Donnellan and Ed Moynihan. Ossie and Ciaran had particularly good games and are forming a very good centre back partnership.
Then as we were getting more of the ball, Camp countered and got in behind us forcing a rash challenge in the box leading to a penalty which was duly converted. For the last 20 minutes of the half we pressed well and had some smashing passages of play with Ciaran Carmody and Christopher Murphy up front at the centre of things linking up with our midfielders. Unfortunately we weren’t able to penetrate an excellent Camp defence so 1 nil at halftime.
We came under huge pressure immediately in the second half and only a double save by Brian followed up by a goal-line clearance by David kept the score the same. We gathered ourselves soon after, got good possession of the ball and again put some good passages of play together eventually leading to Christopher scoring a great goal after turning their defence inside out and finished with a great shot to the corner of the net.
5 minutes he had another chance but put it narrowly wide. It was Camp’s turn to turn the screw then and on a counter attack they scored after Brian had pulled off a great save. We introduced Jack Lynch and Padraig Donnellan to see if we could anything out of the game and both contributed to the cause.
It was to and fro at this stage and we came close on a number of occasions but with 10 minutes to go Camp got another penalty which was hotly disputed but the ref’s decision is final and again they scored to put a gloss on the scoreline. Well done to both sets of players for a great game which was watched by a decent crowd.
U11s:
Firstly on behalf of the club I would like to thank the O Neill family for proudly sponsoring our new U11 jersey’s.
Our U11 team were at home on Saturday against Castleisland. In a game where we started very well and dominated the entire first half we found ourselves on the losing side in the finish.
From the kick off we played excellent putting Casteisland under constant pressure. Our man marking and passing was much improved from our previous game. As a result of great play from Fenit we scored two goals in quick succession. Some great finishing from Paddy Falvey and Ròn O Neill made it 2-0. Towards the end of the first half Castleisland were awarded a penalty and was scored to put only one goal between us in a very one sided first half. We could not convert enough goal scoring opportunities from our possession and this eventually cost us.
The second half started more evenly and Castleisland we allowed too much space and got back on level terms. In fairness to our lads there ran themselves into the ground but with about ten minutes left in the game this began to show as Castleisland found it all too easy to to score two late goals.
Our boys can feel proud as each and everyone gave a solid performance.
Training will resume again this Wednesday night.
Youths: AC Athletic 2 Fenit Samphires 4
Our 18s had a hard fought victory away to AC Athletic last Saturday. We started the game poorly and were 1 down after three minutes when a harmless looking effort somehow got through our defence and found it’s way into the net. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise as we upped our game immediately and we dominated possession for the remainder of the half.
Bobby O Regan in midfield in particular drove us on ably helped by Thomas Lenihan and Max Benner. Up front Luke Dalton was winning possession and set up a lot of play against a strong, athletic AC defence. We started to force them back and had a few shots on their goal but their keeper was equal to them. After 25 minutes AC had a man sent off and we pushed on even more. Oisin O Brien by now had gotten into his stride and was brought down in the box with Bobby scoring the ensuing penalty.
We continued to press and were rewarded on 43 minutes when Oisin scored with a shot going in off the post from 25 yards. The second half was a bit different with AC coming out and having a go at us but the back five of Jack McCarthy, Jamie Hogan, Padraig O Connor, Antoin Stanton and Thomas Dwyer stood firm with Jack in particular alive to any danger when the defence in front of him was breached.
AC pushed up and left space behind their back four but our quality of long passing wasn’t up to scratch to cause them any real difficulty. This took from the game we had been playing in the first half and possession was pretty even for 25 minutes. We then introduced David Murphy at the back, Darren Chester as a defensive and John Dillane on the wing. The three lads gave us impetus and we started to get in behind them again with Sean Higgins and Oisin repeatedly going close after some improved approach play.
With 15 to go Sean got in and rounded the keeper but his shot was cleared off the line to Oisin who scored. The game was limping to a conclusion when AC scored from a corner after some poor defending by us but Oisin restored our two goal lead when he scored from a rebound from a free. Final Score AC Ath 2 Samphires 4. Well done to all the lads for their effort on the day.
