U9 Premiers beat league leaders Portrane 2-1
After winning the league and cup double at U8C last season, our U8s were moved up 3 league places to U9 Premier.
So far this season they are one game away from securing a semi-final place in the league cup, and after their fantastic win against Portrane in the league they have now secured a place in the U9 Premier and U9 Premier Plus new super cup.
After last week's 4-2 defeat to Rivervalley in the opening U9P league game, a game Ashbourne should have won and this week missing the much improved Cian Hayes, the U9s bounced back this week with a fantastic display of pass and move football, resulting in 2 fantastic goals for the inform James Redmond. With the league leaders Portrane arriving at Ashbourne unbeaten in 7 games, it was always going to be a tough task for our young lads, but like last season they showed true grit and determination to win the game. Right from the start Ashbourne put Portrane under pressure with midfielders Cormac Mc Gahan and Daniel Byrne winning every tackle and loose ball, both midfielders were calm on the ball and were always looking get the ball out wide to the Ashbourne wingers. Ashbourne should have been rewarded a penalty in the opening 5 mins, when James Redmond was pushed off the ball inside the box, only for the referee to wave play on. Ashbourne were rewarded with a goal 10 mins into the first half, when Christopher Davis outclassed the Portrane full back to swing the ball into the oncoming James Redmond, who slotted the ball home from close range. Just after the tip off, Ashbourne's substitutes Charlie Handley and Morgan Wilkes both came on to keep the pressure on Portrane and both displayed composer and courage whilst on the ball. With the remaining 5 mins of the half left, Portrane got a couple of chances, but only to find the Ashbourne's goalkeeper Harry Wilson in outstanding form to come and collect the ball just from under the strikers feet. Portrane came close to scoring right on halftime only for a well timed tackle from Daniel Byrne to put the ball out for corner.
The 2nd half was always going to be a battle, with only one goal in it, Portrane continued to press hard for the equalizer but were continuously stopped by Ashbournes new defensive partnership of Evan Mc Guirk and Christopher Twomey. As time wore on and the legs got tired, Portrane got themselves a goal with 12 mins remaining in the game. It was time for Ashbourne to make another substitution to try and change the game and go for the win, and enter Jake Brady who battled up front and closed down the Portrane defence to take the pressure off Ashbourne. With 4 mins left Christopher Davis and Jake Brady battled to win the ball on the half way line, for Jake Brady to slot through a perfect pass for James Redmond to run onto, leaving him a one on one with the oncoming goalkeeper, with calm and coolness of the Premiership, James Remond slotted home the winner low into the bottom right corner to tremendous applause from the Ashbourne supporters.
A tremendous result and performance by all the U9 players, and a big thank to all the parents for their continued support this season - Alan & Ken