Two victories for Rathfriland U10s

Damolly Colts 0

RATHFRILAND U10 team played Damolly on Saturday past and came away with a comfortable win.

In perfect playing conditions the game started well for Rathfriland when within two minutes they were a goal to the good with Ethan Copes bursting through the Damolly backline and rifling a shot low and hard into the corner of the net giving the ‘keeper no chance.

Good work again involving Copes in the middle of the park allowed Kristian Annett a clear opening and he made no mistake, firing his shot past the stranded ‘keeper to make it 2-0 before the half time break.

Rathfriland got just reward for the pressure they were applying when Copes again forced his way into the opposition box and unleashed a fierce shot to again leave the ‘keeper with no chance to make it 3-0.

TEAM: Monaghan, McDowell, Dickson, Ingram, Copes, Fitzpatrick, Davenport, Annett.

Rathfriland U10s 2

Creggan Rovers 1

Rathfriland started this game on a high and a couple of changes in personnel from their opening win saw McDowell start in nets for Monaghan to go to left back.

Again the team started well and immediately piled the pressure on Creggan. Copes again was influential in almost every Rathfriland move. Along with Fitzpatrick, he controlled the midfield area making it hard for the opposition to get across the halfway line with the ball.

Indeed it was these two who combined for the opening goal of the game with Copes finishing a lovely move leaving the ‘keeper no chance.

From the kick-off Rathfriland again applied the pressure and this time it was Fitzpatrick’s turn to finish a move which had almost every player in the team involved in the build up.

A change at half time saw Annett make an appearance in nets with Monaghan sitting out for Davenport to come into the fray.

Creggan started to apply some pressure from the beginning of the second half and with Rathfriland beginning to take chances going forward it left them vulnerable to being hit on the counter attack. Rathfriland got a warning about this when from their corner the opposition broke quickly finding some defenders out of position and only some frantic last ditch tackling preserved their two goal cushion.

It wasn’t to be long before Creggan got their reward for hard work though. They broke away up field and fired past Annett in nets to make it 2-1 and ensure the last five minutes were going to be nervy.

To their credit Rathfriland kept pushing and Fitzpatrick fired against the post; the same player also forcing the Creggan ‘keeper into a couple of fine stops.

TEAM: Monaghan, McDowell, Dickson, Ingram, Copes, Fitzpatrick, Davenport, Annett.