U13 Boys bid for All Ireland Glory
Sunday 30th April saw our u13 boys take on Kerry in their All Ireland Bowl Semi-Final. A dominant Desmond side controlled the first half, playing some great football and putting some great passages of play together. The only goal of the encounter came after 7 minutes of play when some great pressure from the Desmond’s caused Kerry to lose possession on the edge of their box and with some great link up play, the ball was played through to Ashton Kelly, who slotted it past the keeper from the edge of the box. Throughout the first half, Desmond keeper Ronan O’ Carroll had little to do, but what he did, he did well, working well with his defence as they kept possession and worked the ball up the field. The defence of Stephen Grimes, Jamie McAuliffe, Michael O’ Kelly, and Alex Collins were solid as usual, standing firm and ensuring Kerry weren’t presented with any goal-scoring opportunities.
Our midfield trio of Brendan Meehan, Dan Healy, and Ashton Kelly were tactful and confident, and once we managed to get a grip in midfield, Desmond’s grew more and more into the game. The pace of Finn Ruttle and Leon O’ Connor was too much for the Kerry defenders at times, and good link up play saw both players get into decent positions on a few occasions and unlucky not to convert.
Up front, Conor O’ Dwyer linked up well with the midfielders, and was a menace to the Kerry defence, giving them no time on the ball. Despite getting a few free kicks and creating some more great chances towards the end of the first half, Desmond’s couldn’t find another breakthrough before half time.
Half Time 1-0.
Desmond’s started the second half as they finished the first, creating more chances and finding a few openings in the Kerry defence. The second half saw Kerry force long balls down on top of our defence, but the Desmond’s boys stood strong and dealt with everything that was thrown at them. Desmond’s created a few more goal scoring opportunities but couldn’t find a second goal. Our substitutes of Yuri and Tiernan immediately made an impact upon introduction. 15 minutes remaining and it wasn’t for the faint hearted. Game management was key, and our boys took no chances at the back. The last few minutes saw Kerry have a series of corners but again the Desmond boys held their nerve, stood strong, and kept Kerry scoreless. Desmond’s worked as a unit to prevent an equaliser and eventually saw the game out.
Ecstatic scenes as the referee blew the final whistle and Limerick Desmond’s were through to an All-Ireland Final. A special mention to all the support present on the day. It was absolutely fantastic to see and hear and drove the boys on right to the final whistle. All roads now lead to Evergreen FC in Kilkenny next Sunday 21st May, where the boy’s face Midlands in the SFAI Interleague All Ireland Bowl Final at 1.45pm.
Final Score-
Limerick Desmond 1
Kerry 0
Looking towards the Final:
The stage is now set for an exciting showdown as two talented teams, Limerick Desmond and Midlands, go head-to-head in the highly anticipated All Ireland U13 Final. The final promises to be a thrilling encounter with both teams have shown great prowess throughout the competition, and this match is expected to showcase their abilities and test their mettle on the grand stage.
Limerick Desmond have proven their worth time-and-time again throughout the competition, displaying exceptional teamwork, technical ability, and tactical awareness. Coached by Dayle Danaher, they have consistently demonstrated a strong attacking style of play, coupled with solid defensive organisation.
From the back, our resilient goalkeepers with sharp reflexes and exceptional shot-stopping capabilities, coupled with a commanding defence, known for their aerial ability and strong tackles are prepared to counteract any attacking threat Midlands pose. The excellent composure, vision, and precise passing of our influential midfielders, paired with the speed and agility of our skilful wingers, are capable of creating opportunities with their dangerous crosses and precise dribbling. Finally, our dynamic forwards known for their pace and strong dribbling skills will hopefully create and capitalise on goal-scoring opportunities. Ultimately, the outcome of this match will depend on various factors and the ability to handle the pressure of a final. We would like to wish our U13 team & management the very best of luck on Sunday.
Path to the Final:
Quarter Final- Limerick Desmond 4-2 Limerick County (Conor O’ Dwyer x2, Finn Ruttle, Dan Healy)
Semi Final- Limerick Desmond 1-0 Kerry (Ashton Kelly)
Squad:
Ronan O’ Carroll
Stephen Grimes
Jamie McAuliffe
Michael O’ Kelly
Alex Collins
Finn Ruttle
Brendan Meehan
Dan Healy
Leon O’ Connor
Ashton Kelly
Conor O’ Dwyer
Yuri Statchak
Charlie O’ Mahony
Tiernan O’ Flynn
Conor McGarry
Daniel Tierney
Kyle Smith
Cathal Meehan
Shay Looney
Eric Kiely
Conor Lynch
Management:
Dayle Danaher
Dean Maune
Alasdair MacInnes
Caragh Kelly
Tom Healy
U13 Boys SFAI Interleague All Ireland Bowl Final
Midlands Red vs Limerick Desmond
Evergreen Park, Kilkenny, Sunday 21st May. 1.45pm