Afternoon to forget for CK as fantastic cup run comes to an end
CK United’s Patryk Werra fires in a shot on goal Photo: Michael O'Rourke
After a brilliant run through to the quarter-finals of the Mark Farren Cup, CK United were knocked out in the quarter-finals in disappointing fashion. With the majority of the squad having experience of playing at U20 level this season, there was confident of pulling off a result and progressing, especially once they took the lead within five minutes. But UCD’s class shown through in the end.
CK were right in the game in the first half and held their own for so much of it, competing easily with UCD, just maybe not clinical enough in front of goal and they made poor decisions in front of goal. It was two goals in two minutes shortly before half-time that did for them.
In the second half, they were then chasing the game and once the fourth goal came just after the hour mark, they came undone and the floodgates opened, and they lost control of the game, not able to cope with the UCD threat.
CK took the lead when Timmy Adeleye, who has been in good form for the U20’s over the past few weeks, broke into space down the right and sent in a cross into the near post where Kieran Dunne was waiting to knock the ball into the far bottom corner to get them off to the perfect start.
Dunne went close to doubling the lead with an effort from close range but it was saved. UCD went close through Jack Cleland from the left but it sailed over the bar.
Charlie McConnell had an effort from the left saved by Alfie Black in the CK goal who was by far their best player despite letting in eight goals. His resulting corner from the left was saved. Patryk Werra saw his effort from the left fly into the side netting. Nathan O’Neill and McDonnell both had efforts saved by Black.
CK should have doubled their lead when Werra broke into space down the left and let a shot off towards goal but it was saved. Werra took too much time on the ball before letting the shot off. Had he taken the shot earlier or squared it, they may have had more luck.
UCD levelled when a James Loughnane cross from the right found the head of McDonnell who headed into the back of the net.
A minute later, McDonnell found space and his shot from the right found the bottom left hand corner to take the lead.
Just before half-time, it was 3-1 as a ball was played into the path of Nathan O’Neill who volleyed in from the right.
After the break, an Adeleye free from the right was knocked wide by Owen Walker on the near side. Cleland and Erik Tobli both had efforts saved by Black.
Akachi Ogbulafor went close for CK as his cross from the right was hit wide across the box with nobody in the middle waiting for it.
Just after the hour mark, Cleland took the game beyond CK when he launched a cracker from the right touchline into the far bottom corner to make it 4-1.
It was 5-1 when McDonnell played through Cleland on goal and he slotted his effort into the bottom left hand corner.
A Leighton Dempsey cross from the right found Max Ellis who buried a shot into the bottom left hand corner.
McConnell completed his hat-trick when he powered through the defence with five minutes to go and found the back of the net.
Adeleye went close with an effort but blasted it well over.
CK were put out of their misery when Cleland got his hat-trick and made it 8-1 late on.
Alfie Black; Andrian Robu; Zak Fenton; Darragh Daly; Philip Kacprzak; Owen Walker; Patryk Werra; Axel O'Rock; Kieran Dunne; Oluwatimilehin Adeleye; Akachi Ogbulafor.
Ryan Duane, Harry Fenlon, Daniel Fennelly, Gavriel Abella, Bobby Connell, Kyle Ryan, James Walsh.
Finn O'Leary; Matthew Gormley; Kahl Murphy; Daire Cooke Leonard; Albie Tormey; Gavin Sheahan; James Loughnane; Nathan O'Neill; Jack Cleland; Charlie McConnell; Erik Tobli.
Leighton Dempsey, Luca McLaughlin, Max Ellis, Finn Callanagh, Kevin Yan, Sam Cruz, Darragh Roche.
Mick Monaghan assisted by Mick Murphy and Joe Byrne.
