The CCFL Youths interleague Squad played their 1st game against the DDSL in this Years FAI Interleague competition in Leah Victoria Park in Tullamore on Saturday 3rd November.
The CCFL suffered a blow in the warm up when central midfielder Darren Keena (Mullingar Athletic) suffered an injury which ruled him out of the encounter however his replacement John Byrne (Clongowes Wood), proved himself to be an able replacement by putting in a great display.
Youths Captain Ian McCarthy (Killavilla) made a bold decision to play against a strong wind in the 1st half and right from the off the CCFL showed that they could compete with a strong DDSL Team and had the best of the opening exchanges with Bidemi Afolabi (Clongowes Wood) going close on a couple of occasions, as the half wore on the DDSL started to play their way back into the game and struck the opening goal right on the 45min mark.
The second half began in the same vain as the 1st with very little separating the sides however the DDSL Manager, pulled a rabbit out of the hat when he introduced a member of the Irish U17 Squad and he along with the DDSL left back started to cause problems for a visibly tiring CCFL squad, the pressure eventually told with the 2nd and final goal for the DDSL. Manager Eamonn Brady introduced 3 subs in quick succession which steadied the ship and the CCFL ensured that they are well in the hunt for qualification out of an extremely tough group.
The squads next game is away to the AUL who beat the NDSL 3-1 on the 24th November
CCFL Team
Richard Reddan (Newbridge), Cathal Cleary (Mountmellick), Dylan Downey (Newbridge), Ian McCarthy (Killavilla Utd) Capt. Eoin Clarke (Mullingar Ath)
Dean Byrne (Abbeyleix Ath) Darragh Daly (Mullingar Ath) John Byrne (Clongowes Wood) Mikey Clear (Edenderry Town) Keith Byrne (St.Peters) Bidemi Afolabi (Clongowes Wood)
Subs Used: Rory Finnegan (Gallen Utd) for Clarke, Jordan Williamson (Rosenallis) for Afolabi, Cillian Callaly (Rosenallis) for John Byrne.
