WDSL MATCH REPORT - U13 SFAI INTER LEAGUE TROPHY QUARTER FINAL

WICKLOW 2

SLIGO-LEITRIM 1

Two goals in as many first half minutes sent Wicklow into the Semi Finals of the U13 SFAI Inter League Trophy 

In a tight encounter on the all-weather at Travers Insurance Park in Arklow, the home team led 2-0 at the interval thanks to the quick-fire double on Monday afternoon.

But they needed a staunch rearguard action in the second period to hold off an excellent Sligo-Leitrim outfit.

The breakthrough in the Quarter Final came in the 18th minute. 

The visitors tried to play out from the back. The ball was intercepted with Kevin Yan expertly drilling in low left-footed from 15-yards from the left of the box.

Less than a minute later, Yan embarked on a weaving run off the left flank., He threaded a pass for Rian Ward to run onto. As away custodian Oisin Kenaghan advanced, Rian Ward rolled a low effort goalwards with Cian Ward following up to tap into the empty net.

It was a different scenario after the turnaround. The visitors regrouped and imposed their own game on the hosts.

However, despite their domination of possession, the Westerners struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

That was partially down to the Garden County outfit’s resilience in defence, getting in vital blocks and several last-gasp clearances.

Sligo- Leitrim were awarded for their honest efforts in the first minute of stoppage time.

James Feeney was brought down inside the 18-yard area.

The striker picked himself to score the spot-kick. But only after the impressive Dylan O’Neill got a hand to the ball which went in off the right post.

Wicklow’s reward is an away trip in the last four of the competition to take on Limerick District who defeated West Cork 4-0 at Pavilion North Campus UL.

The other Semi Final South-Tipperary/ or Lisburn-Castlereagh/ or Kildare A take on Roscommon District.

WICKLOW: Dylan O’Neill; Ciaran Kenny, Drew Doyle, Will Carey, Freddie Kavanagh; Evan Gregan, Oskar Dominik, Cian Ward, Tyler McElvaney; Kevin Yan; Rian Ward.

SUBS: Robbie Doyle, Sean Byrne, Jude Lawlor, Drew Mernagh, AJ Long, Sean Levins, Harry Waite.

SLIGO-LEITRIM; Oisin Kenaghan; Jack Henry, James Gilmartin, Warren Camill, Joe Muldoon; Senan Keane, Glen Carty; Ryan Tuffy, James Blake, Alfie Gordon; James Feeney.

SUBS: James O’Donoghue, Tommy Muldoon, Ronan McGuinness, Alex Travers, Aaron Breheny, Noah Zakaria, Donagh Conlon.

REFEREE: Tony Doran (Wicklow ISRS).

Report by Paul Dowling