Match of the Week: Lucan U17s see off Tallaght Town

LUCAN UNITED moved into seventh place in the DDSL Under 17C Division, when they bagged two goals in the final ten minutes of their clash with Tallaght Town, winning 3-1 in Airlie Astro last Sunday afternoon.

On the balance of play they deserved the win, but this game almost went pear shaped for them when they lost their way after an hours play.

They started the brighter of the two and had most of the ball, but just couldn’t add the finishing touch until the 20th minute.

Guy Napier was the scorer when he was on hand to slot home from just inside the area to ease the nerves that were beginning to show, and they went into the break with a slender lead.

The second half saw a huge change in the visitors attitude and they began to gain the upper hand, and in the 60th minute they levelled the game with a cracker from Leon Murray.

That goal rattled United and for a time they were at sixes and sevens and really Tallaght should have capitalised, but they failed to despite seeing a shot from Andre Osunde crash off the upright.

Tallaght Town lost the game to Lucan United in the last ten minutes

However, eventually Lucan began to regain their confidence and, with captain Denis Curlokus running the show, they regained the lead with ten minutes remaining.

After Cian Merriman saw his goal bound effort saved, Curlokus took the resulting corner and Paul Hickey powerfully headed home.

It was tough on Tallaght who had fought so well in the second half, despite this being their first game back since December, and they had a gold plated chance to level the tie just before United sealed the win.

Lucan United grabbed two late goals to seal all three points against Tallaght Town Photos by John Mooney

With the ball in the Lucan area the home defence somehow lost possession and Osunde pounced, but keeper Sean Bradley saved his effort with his feet.

Lucan’s Elliot O’Donovan gathered the lose ball and played it long down field where Craig Wilson chased, headed over the advancing Tiernan Potter-Holohan, and then rolled into the empty net to break the hearts of a brave Tallaght Town.

LUCAN UNITED: S. Bradley, M. Kheir, E. O’Donovan, V. Mellius, A. Scott, P. Hickey, D. Curlokus, C. Moran, B. McCloskey, G. Napier, C. Merriman, C. Wilson, L. Wynne, N. Canazalis, J. Nkenchus.

TALLAGHT TOWN: T. Potter-Holohan, S. Walsh, L. O’Connor, J. Keeley, A. Cullen, E. Behan-Doyle, D. Alakati, C. Brady, L. Kelly, A. Osunde, R. Tangara, C. Sunderland, C. Murray, L. Mooney, A. Mohammed.

REFEREE: L. Wells.