Our U10 girls entertained Cappoquin in Suir Crescent yesterday and another very good performance by the girls shows the progress being made in training by this lively bunch.

A trip to the league leaders faced the boys who haven’t been getting the rewards for their recent hard work in training. We took an early lead through a super right footed finish from Lee Freyne and stuck to our game plan through out with a solid back 4 in front of Jake Moore leaving very few openings for the home side. The second half saw us breaking at pace and a second goal on the hour mark saw Jason Halloran with a tidy volley from a nice cross from Lee Freyne was richly deserved. We went close a couple of times after but also had to weather the storm with villa emptying their bench and getting more dangerous as the game wore on. A goal for Villa deep in injury time gave us a nervy finish but the lads held on for the three points.

Our youngest group faced a more physical Dungarvan team but this didn’t put them off as they took the game to them and led at half time through Kieran. Tired legs and inexperience caught the boys in the second half but a much improved performance again.

A tight Derby game with our boys just edging it with Harry scoring the all important goal in this one. It could have been two but a missed penalty by Noel scuppered that. Good first win of the season.

A tight first half where the boys matched Ferrybank but went in 1 down. Second half saw us push on a little trying to get an equaliser but we got caught on the break with a couple of late goals, good performance again regardless of the scoreline.

A sleepy first half cost us in this game with Hibs firing in several long range efforts to lead by 5 at half time. A much better second half where the boys were very much improved to hold Hibs scoreless.

A miserable wet and windy morning saw two teams try to grab the three points on offer in the south Kilkenny derby. We drew first blood with Tommy K rifling home a low effort from the edge of the box. Ryan S went close on a number of occasions, but the Piltown keeper pulled off some top saves. We conceded a soft equaliser midway through the first half but bounced back with Will D swinging in a corner, which went all the way to the net. The second half saw us dig in and we were grateful to John M for standing between the sticks with him gathering a number of Piltown efforts. Not a pretty affair by a long shot, but three points secured with all 12 on duty digging deep in tough conditions.

Suir Crescent pitches were frozen all week, but the stormy wet weather today thawed them out. De la Salle were the visitors today and the first half didn’t kick in to life until the last ten minutes. Shane dribbled in to the penalty box and squared for Conor F to get his first goal of the season. Chances at both ends came quickly and De la Salle got 3 quick goals, the last one just beating the offside trap before half time. Mooncoin knew we’d have to score next to get back in the game and a through ball from Shane was taken by James and he drove in to the box before being brought down for a penalty. Cathal slotted it away. Cathal was then unlucky as he rattled the bar from a powerful shot from outside the box. As we pushed on for an equaliser De la Salle got a penalty from a great run in to the box by their No8. He got up to put the penalty away and it finished 2-4. Great effort put in by everyone today and special thanks to Cathal, Naoise, Shane and their parents for driving back from Castlecomer development training session to help the team. A good competitive match with plenty of quality football by both sides in terrible weather conditions.

Our girls took to the pitch this morning for our first game of 2024 against Ballyduff. It was cold but conditions were perfect for the game. We set out our side to stifle the opposition and it worked out from the kick off. We had 3 or 4 good chances to score before Ella Brennan broke the deadlock on 13 minutes. We continued to create chances and we doubled our lead through Aoibhe Rees scored on 20 minutes. Because of our attacking game plan we almost got caught before halftime.
The second half started much like the first with our girls pushing on. And about 10 minutes into the second half Ella Brennan popped up to score her second. Midway through the half Saoirse Corcoran fell awkwardly and had to be taken off due to injury.
All of the 19 girls who were there got game time and every single one of them played their part in Mooncoin’s 3 0 victory. A very good performance by all against a Ballyduff side that never gave up and showed a great attitude throughout the game.
Only downside is Saoirse’s injury and hopefully she will be back in a couple of weeks.

Our u10 girls visited Southend this morning and played out a cracking game with the hosts with the spoils shared after the 50 minutes.