LYIT Soccer team secured a second victory ‘on the trot’ yesterday in Blanchardstown in the Colleges & Universities Football League Division 1 North fixture.
Shane Byrne’s team were faced with their second away fixture to a Dublin team, having secured the points in Tallaght last week.
The game lived up to it’s promise of one of the best fixtures of the round with Blanchardstown IT and Letterkenny IT considered to be two of the best teams in the group. The action started as early as the 9th minute with Daire McDaid, playing in midfield, striking wide of the upright as he made one of many attacks from his central position on goal.
LYIT welcomed a newcomer to the defence, Ciaran Kelly, the Finn Harps U 19 player, showed all the experience needed to cope with the unrelenting attacks from Blanchardstown in the opening 45 minutes. Ciaran was paired in central defence with Fearghal Harkin, Clonmany, now an established player in LYIT rear guard.
With honours even at the break, the second half brought with it all that is good in clever wing play from Simon McGlynn and Ryan Connolly. McGlynn pressed hard on Alan Keogh in the Blanchardstown right back position and found space on many occasions behind their defence line. His efforts were almost rewarded as early as the 12th minute of the second half when McGlynn rounded Keogh and drew the goalkeeper only to strike the post.
Ryan Connolly, the Rathmullan player, made all of the running on the right flank with Karl Byrne, the well regarded left back from Blanchardstown unable to move the ball with his usual efficiency, thanks to Connolly’s pressure. Thanks to Connolly’s work on the right, Adrian Delap delivered the quality passing typical of his play.
Ryan Connolly on the attack for LYIT against Blanchardstown IT on Wednesday, LYIT won 2-0 with goals from Martin Doherty and Paul McVeigh (Paddy Gallagher)
Adrian Delap playing for LYIT closing on a Blanchardstown IT attack in the CUFL game this week in Dublin, LYIT won 2-1. (Paddy Gallagher)
The LYIT first goal came from the hard working Paul McVeigh who found both Simon McGlynn and Martin Doherty in support as he slipped his marker on the right flank. McVeigh held the play up sufficiently to allow Martin Doherty, Cockhill Celtic, to strike and score from close range on 75 minutes.
Blanchardstown worked hard to establish level terms, Simon McGlynn pressed the full back and went close once again, narrowly clipping his shot over the crossbar. Eight minutes after the first LYIY goal, Paul McVeigh made victory for the travelling side a certainty. Having been fouled just outside the area, McVeigh himself struck the ball over the Blanchardstown defensive wall into the net.
LYIT:
Mark McElhinney, Caolan McDaid, Fearghal Harkin, Ciaran Kelly, Adrian Delap, Brian McVeigh, Martin Doherty, Daire McDaid, Captain, Paul McVeigh, Simon McGlynn, Ryan Connolly, Subs Michael Kusigagbe, Shay Durning, Ibrahim , Derek Ani and Eoghan Doherty.
