Page 54 - royal-times-17-18

U17 Boys Soccer

Back Row (L-R): Mark Stewart, Michael McKeon, Joshua Ajayi Middle Row (L-R): Fredrick Elliot, Mr Dale Robertson, Jack Gilmore, Michael-
James Metcalfe, Jamie Eccleston, Matthew Eguakun, Gabriel Asare, Nick Palmer Front Row (L-R): Stuart Smyth, Kelvin McNally, Aaron
Heaslip, Adam Pringle, Adam Dunne

U17 SOCCER Match 2: Royal 3 – 1 St. Bricin’s, Belturbet (League)
The second game of the group saw a strong team
The U17 boy’s football team was coached by Mr Robertson performance from the lads from the Royal. They were
during the 2017/18 season. They were quite an experienced relatively comfortable at half time at 2-0 up. Nick Palmer
squad this year with several 5th years and TY players and scored with a smart finish and then Mark Stewart finished
they had a very successful season.
with the aid of a deflection.
The squad was as follows: Early in the second half Stewart scored a great header from
Michael McKeon Boyle, Matthew Eguakun, Michael James a corner from Kelvin McNally. However that was as good as
Metcalfe, Stuart Smyth, Jamie Eccleston, Adam Dunne, it got for the Royal as Belturbet pulled a goal back and then
Craig Ebbitt, Nick Palmer, Mark Stewart, Kelvin McNally, applied some pressure. Goal line clearances were needed
Aaron Heaslip, Fredrick Elliott, Joshua Ajayi, Gabriel Asare, from Adam Dunne and Stuart Smyth but in the end the Royal
Hendrick Risch, Adam Mee, James Moore, Franklin Elliot. saw the game out to claim the three points.
Match 1: Royal 2 – 2 St. Mogue’s Bawnboy Match 3: Royal 5 – 1 Inver College. (League)
The first league game was a good hard fought match An excellent all round performance from the Royal saw
with Bawnboy, but the Royal were missing a couple of them comfortably overcome the lads from Carrickmacross.
experienced players which affected team selection. They All the more impressive here was that the team knew they
fell behind early to soft goal, but fought back and great play had to win by three goals to top the group on goal difference,
from Kelvin McNally on the right put Joshua Ajayi through and they delivered this in style with a 5 – 1 win.
on goal. He was taken down and the referee pointed to The midfield dominated in this match and indeed all five
the spot. McNally duly converted the spot kick to send the goals came from midfielders. Captain Aaron Heaslip scored
teams in level at the break.
a hat trick, one directly from a corner. Mark Stewart and
In the 2nd half the Royal took the lead as a wonderful Nick Palmer delivered the other goals to see RSC top the
through ball from Aaron Heaslip left substitute Hendrick Cavan Monaghan U17b group.
Risch to finish with style in the top corner. Other chances
then fell to Heaslip & Ajayi, however a spirited fightback Match 4: Walkover: Royal 3-0 Glenties
from Bawnboy saw them score an equaliser with a long Comprehensive school (Ulster schools cup ¼
range effort. final)
The reward for topping the group was a home tie with
This was a good point for both teams at the beginning of Glenties Comprehensive School in the Ulster schools cup
the group.
¼ final. However they were unable to fulfil the fixture so we
got a bye to the semi-final.

54 The Royal Times 2017-2018