Heartbreak at the Frank Healy County Ground in Ennis yesterday evening, as Moneypoint U15s came agonisingly close to a major shock before bowing out of the Division 1 Cup on penalties.
Ennis Town arrived as a side who had reached the semi-finals of the u15 National Cup this season and who had beaten Moneypoint 3-0 in the league only weeks earlier. But this time it was a different story, as a magnificent team effort fell just short in the cruellest way possible.
The game kicked off in perfect conditions, though on a pitch that had seen little recent rain — a factor that would play its part later. Ennis Town shaded the early exchanges, but Moneypoint were dangerous on the break, and it was that threat which brought the opening goal. A long, punted free kick from Abed N was punched clear by the Ennis keeper, only into the path of Adam R, who leapt more in hope than expectation and saw the ball ricochet off his head and into the empty net. A thoroughly deserved goal for a player who chases every lost cause and challenges for everything. Moneypoint went in at the break a goal up, braced for an Ennis onslaught.
Instead, the second half started brightly for Moneypoint, who enjoyed more of the ball than expected. Suddenly TJ L found himself with a little space at the edge of the box and the ball at his feet. TJ is deadly in such circumstances and this time he delivered again with a rasping strike that beat the keeper hands down before hitting the top corner. What a goal! The score now 2-0, and a major shock firmly on the cards.
Then came the expected response. Ennis Town, drawing on their big-game experience, laid siege to the Moneypoint goal for the remaining twenty minutes. Wave after wave of attacks were repelled by valiant defending from Jamie M and Abed N, before a scrappy goal from a corner, scrambled home in a goalmouth melee, set up a grandstand finish.
With our defence standing firm, Ennis were increasingly forced into shots from distance — and at least three or four of those looked destined for the net until Seamus G produced saves that wouldn't look out of place in the professional game. At the other end, Moneypoint continued to threaten on the counter, with Adam R twice rattling the woodwork after powerful driving runs.
The equaliser, when it came, was cruel. An Ennis clearance bounced unpredictably on the bumpy, uneven surface, catching the Moneypoint defence flat-footed. An Ennis player got in behind and finished clinically. 2-2, both sides visibly spent, with extra time now looming.
Extra time proved tighter and more cautious, as is so often the case with tired legs and nerves fraying on both sides. Chances came and went for both teams, but neither could find a winner, and so it went to the dreaded penalty shootout.
Five brave volunteers stepped up for Moneypoint, and hopes were high heading into the shootout. But the Ennis Town goalkeeper produced three outstanding saves from well-struck penalties, and Ennis made no mistake with their own kicks. Heartbreak, then, after another epic battle against top-class opposition — the second in the space of five days. Context that makes the effort all the more remarkable: most of the squad have played demanding minor football during the week, and four brilliant U14s had even featured in an inter-county blitz in Tipperary earlier in the day.
This team is now on course for another meeting with Ennis Town in the final league game of the season, where we’ll hope to finally get one over our old rivals. Each time these two sides meet, Moneypoint get a step closer. 😀
Before that, there's plenty still to play for: as losing semi finalists we play a Shield Final at Lees Road next Sunday, and two must-win league games against Avenue and Shannon also coming up. Then, come autumn, attention turns to the U16 National Cup, where — on this form — Moneypoint believe they can go further than last year.
