Visitors Springfield Flex Muscle to advance in FAI U17 Cup. St Mary's v Springfield Sep 2003

 FAI UNDER 17 CUP 

Young Springfield Flex Muscle to Outlast St Mary's in Snickers FAI U17 Cup Clash

Blast from the past! Sep 2003

 Ross Coveney (captain) heads clear for the Saints

St Mary's 2 Springfield 5

Springfield U17 ran riot in the second half, defeating St Mary's 5-2 to advance to the second round of the Snickers FAI U17 Cup. Despite a spirited fightback from the Saints in the first half, Springfield's clinical finishing and well-drilled play proved too much to overcome.

St Mary's (above) and Springfield

Hogan Heads the Way for Springfield

Springfield wasted no time, taking the lead in the 14th minute. A long throw-in by defender Steve Mulcahy found Andy Hogan unmarked in the box, and he nodded home for a 1-0 lead.

St Mary's responded quickly, though. Midfielder Denis Twohig played a clever ball through to strike partner Michael Hamon, who rounded goalkeeper Mark Bambury to equalise just ten minutes later.

Fouad kicks clear for Mary's

Double Dose of Hogan Puts Springfield Ahead

Echo Man of
Match Kyle Downing

However, the joy was short-lived for St Mary's.  Hogan headed in his second of the game from a free kick by Ian Stack.  Stack added another just a minute later, unleashing a powerful shot from distance that beat Donal Neenan in the St Mary's goal, putting Springfield back in control at 3-1 before the half-hour mark.

Fawzi Responds for St Mary's, But Springfield Seal the Win

St Mary's refused to go down without a fight. Just before halftime, a long ball from Hamon found full-back Fouad Fawzi racing up the flank, who finished well to make it 3-2. They almost snatched an equaliser at the end of the half, but Twohig's shot rattled the side netting.

Under pressure

The second half belonged to Springfield. Paul O'Keeffe set up Steve Denehan for a chance that went narrowly wide, before O'Keeffe himself found the net in the 49th minute, tapping home from close range after a low cross from Stack.

The fifth goal for Springfield was a work of art. Paul Quigley spotted Neenan off his line and, from midfield, chipped the ball beautifully over his head the keeper's head to seal the win.

Heading duel

Both Teams Make Changes, But Scoreline Remains Unchanged

The final quarter saw a flurry of substitutions, disrupting the game's flow. Neither side managed to add to the scoreline, and Springfield went through to the next round.

Strong Showings from Both Sides

While disappointed with the result, St Mary's can be proud of their fighting spirit. Fouad Fawzi and the strike partnership of Twohig and Hamon were bright spots for the City side. For Springfield, Andy Hogan's brace and the overall leadership of Man of the Match Kyle Downing were key to their victory.

Great catch!

St Mary's: Donal Neenan, Fouad Fawzi, Colm Coveney, Mark O'Mahony, Ian O'Connell, Colin Farmer, Roger Cordon, Ross Coveney (captain), Patrick McCarthy, Michael Homan and Denis Twohig. Subs: Christopher Lettice, Luke O'Mahony, Robert Murphy, Daniel Martin and Tadhg Lane. Manager: Mick Dalton.

No way through

Springfield: Mark Bambury, Alan Moriarty, Steven Mulcahy (captain), Jason McCarthy, Paul O'Keeffe, Ian Stack, Steve Denehan, Andy Hogan, Kyle Downing, Barry Kirby and Paul Quigley. Subs: George McCall, Jamie Coughlan, Peter Haine, Brian Smith, John Hogan, Martin Kennedy and James O'Callaghan. Manager: John Coughlan.

Referee: Andy Mylod.

Full stretch