Match Report

The boys under 19 Metropolitan League, Division 2 final was held in Stella Maris grounds on Friday 4th May. St Kilian’s faced St John’s in their final game of the season and both teams started the game brightly. The breakthrough came after 15 minutes after Ethan Levins cut inside from the left wing and unleashed a powerful shot which their keeper could only parry it into the path of the in-rushing Liam Ryan, who remained composed and slotted it to the net.

St John’s responded well and Adrian Jesoniek had to push a goal-ward shot around the post shortly afterwards. St Kilian’s continued to defend resolutely and doubled their lead midway through the half when an excellently flighted corner from Stefan Weber found its way to Ethan’s head and he made no mistake from close range. St John’s were on the ropes at this stage and Marc Garrigos combined cleverly with Cathal Kelly and Oscar Carruthers before playing a telling pass to Ethan who broke past the last St John’s defender. The defender lunged at Ethan, making contact, but not enough to stop his progress and the referee waived for the advantage as Ethan broke towards goal. However, he composed himself and was unlucky to see his effort go narrowly wide. The first half was drawing to a close when disaster struck for St Kilian’s. A cross from the right found the in-rushing St John’s striker and he headed it to the net to reduce the arrears.

The second half saw St John’s start the game with renewed vigour and they drew level shortly after the restart. The St Kilian’s backline struggled to deal with the long, high passes that St John’s were launching at them and it went from bad to worse as St John’s scored twice more in the opening ten minutes of the second half to build a 4-2 lead. The St Kilian’s players were traumatised by the scoreline turnaround but settled down in the remaining 35 minutes. A number of substitutions were introduced which gave the team a fresh impetus, as well a change in formation and tactics.

St Kilian’s took chances at the back as they chased a way back into the game but, nonetheless, they looked solid at the back. They carved out a number of chances – Ethan shot narrowly wide with Hugo Heisterkamp tantalisingly close to being able to turn it goal-bound, Charlie Twomey saw a header from Stefan’s free kick just go over the cross bar and Stefan had a freekick go inches over the bar.

However, St John’s remained dogged in the defending to the end and the scoreline remained 4-2 in their favour.