Blast from the Blast. November 2003.
Pics: 21st November 2003
Cork AUL
Keepers busy but no goals as Cork AUL and South Tipperary earn a point each in the FAI Youths National Inter-League.
Cork AUL 0 Tipperary Southern and District League 0
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| TSDL. You'll recognise Shane Long! |
Both keepers played well, but Cork’s Adrian O’Donovan was probably the busier of the two as the AUL and visitors Tipperary Southern District League (TSDL) played a scoreless draw in their opening group game in this season's FAI National Youth Inter-league championship.
Cork had the best chance of the game in Turners Cross, but the visitors, with future senior international Shane Long in their ranks, had more scoring opportunities on a night more suited to sitting beside a roaring fire. The very cold conditions and the frosty skim on the field didn't help, and it probably had something to do with the fact that the quality of the play deteriorated in the closing quarter.
Cork forward Rob O'Shea is confronted by Barry Gibbons (3). 
Cork's Ciaran Lucey first to the ball.
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| Tipp keeper Ger Robinson rises to save. |
Keeper O’Donovan was probably the top home player on the night. Full backs Trevor Dunlea and John Lynch didn't do too badly either while Grattan's John Kearney was probably best of a midfield that played second fiddle for most of the game. The Cork strikers rarely got going though late sub Alan O'Mahony promised more than most in his short spell on the field.
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| Tipp defender David Smyth boots clear. |
Tipperary had some outstanding players in their pack, including excellent keeper Ger Robinson. Skipper Paul Hoare, well helped by David Smyth, stood out at the back while Shane Long’s aerial power and Pat O’Donnell’s 90 minutes of tireless, often skilful, action gave them an edge in the middle. Their forwards didn't have much luck either but Keith McGuire looked sharp.
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| Tipp defender Paul Hoare clears his lines. |
Ger Robinson was first called into serious action in the 21st minute. Then he raced from his line and reached a long cross from the right just before the incoming Steve Barry.
Four minutes later, Tipp’s McGuire raced onto a long ball and, though under increasing pressure, managed to hold off his marker and get a firm shot away but it was fairly central and keeper O’Donovan held it well.
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| Tipp midfielder Pat O'Donnell (6) goes highest but fails to stop incoming ball. |
Seconds later, Tipp’s Anthony Gleeson broke clear, beating the advancing keeper, but shot into the side netting from a not-impossible angle. Cork just about survived this short period of intense pressure.
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| Cork's John Kearney on the ball. |
The game's best opportunity fell to Cork’s Ciaran Lucey in the 32nd minute. Then, unmarked, he raced in to collect and control a cross from the right by Kanturk’s Jason O'Sullivan. But the Coachford man drove wide of the near post.
The Tipperary visitors were well organised, and this showed in the 62nd minute when McGuire raced into the box to collect a quickly taken free kick, but keeper O’Donovan again made an excellent stop.
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| Cork's Alan O'Mahony (left) heads past David Smyth. |
And, two minutes later, opposite number Robinson showed his class when making a tremendous save when the Cork midfielder John Kearney hit a terrific 30 yard shot on the run.
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| Tipp defender Barry Gibbons, under pressure from Jason O'Sullivan and Brian O'Sullivan (right) |
The final quarter was disappointing enough. The few opportunities fell mainly to Tipp, but McGuire, Deveraux, and sub Rob Farrell all failed to convert half chances, while the Cork forwards, sub O'Mahony aside, were frozen out by Hoare and company.
Cork AUL: Adrian O’Donovan (Douglas Hall), Trevor Dunlea (Everton), John Lynch (Kanturk), Brian O’Sullivan (Grattan Utd), Seamus Long (Douglas Hall) captain, Ciaran Lucey (Coachford), John Kearney (Grattan Utd), Brian O'Sullivan (Leeside), Rob O’Shea (Lakewood Ath.), Steve Barry (Douglas Hall) and Jason O'Sullivan (Kanturk). Subs used: Paul Walsh (Everton) for O’Shea (56th minute), Alan O’Mahony (Ballyphehane) and David O'Keeffe (Everton) for Barry and Lucey (both 84th), and Damien Kelleher (Kanturk) for J. O'Sullivan (90th).
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