Carrick Town FC under 12’s got their much needed first win of the season when they hosted Killglass-Enniscrone in their temporary home at the Leitrim Village Community Pitch on Saturday afternoon.
Carrick were marginally the better team in the early exchanges,forcing a series of corners without managing to trouble the visiting keeper.Then,true to recent form Carrick found themselves 1-0 down to the visitors first meaningful attack due to defensive frailties.A routine ball into the box wasnt cleared despite numerous attempts before making it’s way to the visitors left winger and his shot found it’s way to the top of the net despite the best efforts of Carrick Keeper Diarmud Mc Kiernan.
Worse was to come minutes later as Carrick found themselves 2-0 down.Again the Carrick defence were slow to react as the visitors right winger made his way past three Carrick players unchallenged before hitting a super strike that left the keeper with no chance.With half-time approaching something had to be done and a tactical switch sparked a revival.Midfielders Michael Murtagh and Enda Morton swapped sides and this had an immediate effect.Great work by Murtagh on his new left wing saw him play a lovely ball in behind the defence for the strikers to chase with Lee Mc Govern getting there first and finishing well for his long awaited 1st goal of the season.Not content with 2-1,Carrick were level on the stroke of half time,this time the action was down the right and some excellent interplay between Aaron Mc Loughlin and Morton saw the latter send in a super ball for the inrushing Murtagh to crash home the equaliser.
After a tight opening to the second half Carrick made a substitution that was to change the game.Paul McGoldrick came from the bench and with almost his first touch released Mc loughlin down the right and his strong run and cross was again met by Murtagh and the captain dully made it 3-2 with a fine finish to claim his 2nd of the game.Mc Goldrick did’nt have to wait long to get on the scoresheet himself as almost straight from the kick-off Carrick were on the attack,again it was Aaron Mc loughlin bursting into the box before cutting the ball back for the “supersub” to slot home with a neat finish.Carrick had turned the game around in an impressive ten minute spell and talisman Daire Farrell completed the scoring with a fine individual goal,using his power and pace to beat his man and then the keeper with a crisp finish.This was Farrell’s 8th goal of the season and continued his run of scoring in every game this season.Indeed Carick could have added a few more and only an offside flag stopped captain Michael Murtagh from completing what would have been a fine hat-trick.
With Carrick now having a firm grasp on the game the manager was able to give all his subs a run out with all of them doing well when introduced.Conor Beirne and Jack Maguire in particular caught the eye.After another slow start,a problem which the management team have to work on,Carrick eventually turned in a good preformance with fullbacks Liam Rynn and Damien Flynn very solid in defence.In midfield Aaron Mc Loughlin,despite carrying a knock,was dominant and up front Daire Farrell and Paul Mc Goldrick lead the line well but a special mention must go to man of the match Shane Walsh who was immense once again.
TEAM SUBS (all Used)
Diarmud Mc Kiernan
Shane Mc Carthy Paul McGoldrick
Damien Flynn Conor Beirne
liam Rynn Jack Maguire
Shane Walsh Cathal McElgunn
Joe Sharkey Blake Walsh
Michael Murtagh (C) Callum Morahan
Aaron Mc Loughlin Cormac Nolan
Lee Mc Govern
Daire Farrell
Enda Morton Special thanks to Bernie Goldrick and the