FOOTBALL: Milk Cup 2001 - Fermanagh
U16 1; Grasshoppers Zurich 1 - The
Fermanagh U16 team produced an
outstanding performance at Castlerock on
Tuesday night when they earned a well
deserved draw against Grasshoppers in a
match that had a little bit of everything in
front of a 300 strong Fermanagh support.
Fermanaghís Michael Kerr scored a goal to
befit any game with a swerving 35 yard shot
from wide on the left, Christopher Breen
turned in a man of the match performance
making numerous top class saves and for
the second game running, Donal O’Reilly
was a rock at the back. It was, however, a
fine team performance with the tactical
switch of moving Phillip Keenan to the right
wing and pushing Donal McNulty up front on
his own working well as the Fermanagh U16
team turned in a much better display than
the previous night against Blackburn Rovers.
The only blemishes were Grasshopper’s
equaliser six minutes from time and the
dismissal of James McKenna for a second
yellow card after being provoked by his
opposite number.
The strong and physical Grasshoppers started well with Joel Gasche shooting
goalwards but O’Reilly was back well to clear off the line. Indeed, a minute
later Zurich nearly opened the scoring when Marco Lopes hit the outside of
the Fermanagh post with a fine drive. Zurich bossed the game for much of the
opening twenty minutes but the Fermanagh defence held firm and gradually
the Fermanagh lads played themselves into the game. On 21 minutes,
cousins Phillip Keenan and Michael Kerr combined, with the former crossing
to the back post. The ball was only half cleared and fell to Robert McAuley
who hit a super drive just over the bar.
Stefan Kohler then broke forward and his shot was deflected up in the air but
the impressive Zurich midfielder reacted quickly to head the ball towards the
corner of the net, only for Breen to claw the ball out of the top corner for the
first of several magnificent saves.
Just before the break, Luis Frangao made a mazy dribble into the Fermanagh
box before unleashing a shot but Breen was again equal to the task, saving
low to his left and at half time the game was scoreless.
Fermanagh started brightly in the second half with Keenan firing in a
dangerous cross cum shot that evaded the Swiss keeper but also the far post
as the score line remained 0-0. Then came a moment to illuminate any game
at any level. Keenan took a quick free on the left to Kerr, who was 35 yards out
from goal and five yards from the touchline. Kerr then let fly with a trademark
left foot drive that swerved out of the reach of the Zurich keeper and into the
top corner for a goal of supreme quality. Celebrations to match the goal then
ensued much to the delight of the large Fermanagh support.
Zurich became a little rattled, thereafter, and the game became somewhat
heated. Zurich seemed to be given a lifeline as Marco Milosavec waltzed into
the penalty area, seemed to trip over the ball but referee Black, awarded a
penalty. Kohler took the resultant kick but Breen produced another super save
down to his left with the general feeling among the Fermanagh supporters that
justice had been served.
Kohler nearly made amends a minute later when his header got the better of
Breen for once, but O’Reilly was there to clear off the line again. Breen then
made two more fine saves from Stefan Lichsteiner and Carlos Da Silva as
Zurich went all out for an equaliser.
Fermanagh battled hard to keep their goal intact but the Swiss pressure
eventually told when a corner from Da Silva fell to Diego Blumati who fired the
ball high into the roof of the Fermanagh net from six yards.
It was now 1-1 with five minutes of normal time remaining and Breen had to
pull off another fingertip save to deny Da Silva as Fermanagh fought tooth
and nail to hold on to their hard earned point. McKenna then reacted to being
spat at and on the assistant referee’s advice, the referee issued McKenna with
a second yellow card and dismissed him.
Five minutes of injury time ensued, and the drama continued up to the final
whistle with O’Reilly clearing off the line again and Breen producing another
fine save at full stretch. That was the end of the goalmouth action, save for a
15 man altercation in the Fermanagh area as Breen seemed to be kicked on
the ground with a yellow card for Michael Kerr the outcome. Soon after, the
final whistle sounded much to the delight of the Fermanagh players,
management, officials and supporters.
The Milk Cup is all about rising to the challenge of playing against the elite in
Europe. For this to happen, the players must rise collectively and individually
to the task in hand. There can be no doubt, that Fermanagh achieved these
goals in the most thrilling fashion possible on a heady Tuesday night in
Castlerock.
FOOTBALL: Milk Cup 2001 - Fermanagh
U16 1; Grasshoppers Zurich 1 - The
Fermanagh U16 team produced an
outstanding performance at Castlerock on
Tuesday night when they earned a well
deserved draw against Grasshoppers in a
match that had a little bit of everything in
front of a 300 strong Fermanagh support.
Fermanaghís Michael Kerr scored a goal to
befit any game with a swerving 35 yard shot
from wide on the left, Christopher Breen
turned in a man of the match performance
making numerous top class saves and for
the second game running, Donal O’Reilly
was a rock at the back. It was, however, a
fine team performance with the tactical
switch of moving Phillip Keenan to the right
wing and pushing Donal McNulty up front on
his own working well as the Fermanagh U16
team turned in a much better display than
the previous night against Blackburn Rovers.
The only blemishes were Grasshopper’s
equaliser six minutes from time and the
dismissal of James McKenna for a second
yellow card after being provoked by his
opposite number.