Birr boys lose out to late goal in cup clash

St Joseph’s 3 Birr Town 2

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Birr Town lost out to a late goal from St Joseph’s Reds in this Under-16 SFAI Cup game at Cushla Park, Monksland last Saturday morning.

The Offaly visitors were 1-0 and 2-1 down but drew level twice through goals from Jack McIntyre and Yi-Xuan Yang.

Aaron Martin scored what proved to be the winning goal for St Joseph’s, though the impressive Joel Slobin also grabbed another equaliser for Birr with a shot which hit the crossbar.

The Athlone outfit side started the brighter and they could have opened their account after a number of opportunities weren’t finished to the net. Senan Macken combined with Noah Glennon before playing in Cillian Gavin and the winger forced the first corner of the game in the fifth minute. Then, after a through ball put in by Rian Mulvihill, Glennon couldn’t get on the end of the move.

Shortly afterwards, Aaron Martin and Macken combined to set up Gavin for the first shot of the game but it wasn’t on target. Again both Martin and Macken created an opening for Glennon but the striker couldn’t find the target. St Joseph’s were on top but didn’t punish the visitors.

St Joseph’s had threatened but they finally broke their duck when, after Glennon and Martin linked up, Gavin finished with aplomb, beating Ben Swanepoel in the Birr goal. Gavin’s goal was deserved after the Monksland outfit had dominated the first 15 minutes of the game.

Birr started slowly but they gradually grew into the game after conceding. Both Rian O’Meara and Joel Shobin were making good inroads down the right flank and that pressure finally paid off for the Offaly side.

After over-elaboration in the home team's defence, the ball was given away and Jack McIntyre didn't have to be asked twice and he finished to the net, leaving it 1-1 at half time.

Birr dominated the early stages of the second half. Their best player Shobin was always looking dangerous on the wing and he combined with Seán Hynes and Ronak Jimmy and they forced a number of corners. They pressed for a goal that would give them the lead but they couldn’t find the target.

After another attack from the away side, St Joseph’s turned over possession and they soon had the ball in the Birr net at the other end. It was Martin that did the work and Glennon rounded both the defenders and the keeper before side footing into the net for a 2-1 lead (55th minute).

But again Birr wouldn’t go away. They had confidence built up at that stage and a pinpoint free kick from the left foot of Hynes landed on the head of Yi-Xuan Yang, who guided the ball into the net. It was deserved after they had the better of the third quarter, making it 2-2 going into the fourth quarter.

With the score now level, the hosts gathered themselves and they dominated the last quarter. They had an abundance of possession and they huffed and puffed but they couldn’t break down the resolute Birr defence. Strong and energetic runs by Kacper Drwal and promptings by Glennon threatened to get the crucial goal but Birr stood steadfast.

There was one final twist and it fell in the way of the home side. Industrious midfielder Drwal made the run and after both Macken and Glennon got involved, Martin finished the ball into the Birr net for the winner.

Player of the match: Kacper Drwal (St Joseph’s). Drwal was the player that gave his team go forward energy for the 80 minutes and assisted in a couple of their goals. Marius Buividavivius showed some good leadership at the back. Martin also contributed significantly. For Birr Town, Joel Slobin was best and his shot that cracked off the crossbar could have earned the visitors a draw and forced extra-time.

St Joseph’s Reds: Jeff Kelleghan, Sebastian Cullen, Ross McGowan, Conor Naughton, Marius Buividavicius, Kacper Drwal, Senan Macken, Rian Mulvihill, Noah Glennon, Aaron Martin, Cillian Gavin. Subs used: Evan Reilly, Aaron Lally.

Birr Town: Ben Swanepoel, James Boland, Yi-Xuan Yang, Scott Deane, Kyle Butler, Jamie Hernon, Rian O’Meara, Darragh Kirwan, Jack McIntyre, Joel Slobin, Seán Hynes. Subs used: Patrick Janus, Thaoban Lawal, Ronak Jimmy, Hugo Baskakovas, Jamie Farley.

Referee: Conor McCormack.