Munster Youth Cup 1/4 Final

Bridge United 1-1 Charleville AFC

AET

(Bridge won 6-5 on pens)

Our youth side made history in becoming the first Club team to reach the last four of the provincial competition after coming out on the right side of an enthralling battle to beat with Charleville AFC in a sudden death penalty shootout.

The opening half was a very even affair with defences on each side to the fore. The game sparked into life on the 61st minute when the deadlock was broken by Charleville’s playmaker Joey Kavanagh who finished neatly from 10 yards after the ball broke to him in the box.

Charleville had a chance to double their lead on 66 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. However the Bridge were let off the hook as the penalty was fired over the bar. On 80 minutes Bridge got themselves back into the game as Scott Kirkland was taken down in the box. Liam Buckley made no mistake in slotting home the resultant penalty to level matters and set up a tense finish. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and after two periods of extra time that followed, the sides remained deadlocked.

In the penalty shootout Bridge had converted efforts from Liam Buckley, Storm Devanney and Thabiso Dube in the regular five with keeper Will Fitzpatrick making two fantastic saves. In a nail biting sudden death Bridge had three more successful attempts from Evan O’Callaghan, Leon Daly and Scott Kirkland before Will Fitzpatrick became the hero of the day with his third save to send the home side through to the Munster semi final for the first time in the Club’s history.

Commiserations to a really strong Charleville side too who will no doubt be bitterly disappointed to lose out in such dramatic and cruel fashion.

It was a fantastic effort from start to finish from the Bridge squad and management who now look forward to playing Ballingarry of Limerick’s Desmond league in the semi final.

Team: Will Fitzpatrick, Adam O’Sullivan, Storm Devanney, Liam Buckley, Luke Shea, Kyle Walker,Leon Kelly (Capt), Scott Kirkland, Leon Daly, Dylan Downes, Eli O’Sullivan.

Subs: Thabiso Dube for Kelly, Michael Carey for A O’Sullivan, Evan O’Callaghan for E O’Sullivan, James Egan for Walker, Conor Morey and Ian Collins