Corkbeg kicked off their season with a narrow loss to Park United on a beautiful Saturday morning in Whitegate. The team are being looked after this year by John O Regan and Scott Wilson and Will play their football in Division 1A.
The Beg started the better of the two teams as they had a continuous spell of possession and on 18 minutes were awarded a corner after good play on the wing by Gift O Biwuru. Killian O Driscoll Whipped in the ball with his left foot and David Hickman rose above everyone else and he flicked the ball into the net to give Corkbeg a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. However from here until half time Park stepped up their game and they scored two goals within 5 minutes to put themselves 2-1 up. Although the away side were on top Corkbeg still had a few chances with Josh Leahy and Sam Murphy going close. On 36 minutes Corkbeg equalized through a goal from Josh Leahy that was well finished. Park nearly got a third as the ball was crossed in from the left and it broke loose and it would’ve hit the back of the net if it wasn’t for a superb block by Cian Maguire to deny the Park striker a certain goal. On the stroke of half time Park countered from a Corkbeg attack on the right hand side and drove into the box where a low driven shot beat John Manning at his near post. Park leaded at half time 3-2.
Corkbeg were forced into a half time substitution as Jay Wilson limped off and he was replaced by Reece Tynan. The home side re-adjusted after the injury and were now ready for the second half. Similar to the first half Corkbeg dominated the opening 20 minutes with Cian Keohane and Killian linking up very well. Oisin McGovern was doing a great job ensuring his man didn’t get the better of him on a few occasions at the back. The equalizer came for the Beg from Killian O Driscoll who finished off a great Corkbeg move which started from A goal kick and worked its way up the field where a Christophe through ball found its way to Cian Keohane, his cross was deflected and it fell to Killian, where he took one touch and banged it into the top corner. It was 3 a piece with 32 minutes to play. Corkbeg made another change which saw Sam Murphy being replaced by Sean Carroll. Sean got straight into the game and played a few fabulous one-twos with Gift as the Beg looked for a winner. Park were denied by John on two occasions where the United man found acres of space behind the Corkbeg defense but twice in the space of a few minutes John denied him to keep the game level. However park did score from a through ball that evaded the Corkbeg defense and the Park winger calmly slotted the ball home to put Park 4-3 up with 23 minutes remaining. It would’ve been 5 all but for a great clearance from Oisin as a bouncing ball got the better of the oncoming Corkbeg keeper but Oisin got it clear under a massive amount of pressure from the Park striker. Another change for the home side saw Josh Murray replacing Killian O Driscoll. The home side searched for another goal to level the game up but unfortunately it never came and the beg sloppily lost the ball which saw the Park winger run through one on one with the keeper where he chipped John Manning to wrap up the game for Park. Overall Corkbeg were unlucky and can be happy with The overall a Performance. It finished Corkbeg 3-5 Park United.
Corkbeg face St Mary’s this coming Wednesday in the first round of the cup with the venue yet to be decided.
Corkbeg Team: John Manning, Cian Maguire, Christophe Riff, David Hickman, Jay Wilson, Oisin McGovern, Killian O Driscoll, Cian Keohane, Gift O Biwuru, Josh Leahy, Sam Murphy.
Corkbeg Subs: Reece Tynan for Jay Wilson, Sean Carroll for Sam Murphy and Josh Murray for Killian O Driscoll.
Corkbeg Unused Subs: Daniel Murray, Sean Deasy.