Second half goals from Conor McCarthy and Cian Coleman saw Cork City U19s defeat their counterparts from Galway United U19s 2-0 in the Enda McGuill Cup semi final on Tuesday evening.
The game was played at Bishopstown Training Ground, and was a cautious affair initially until shots from Denzil Fernandes and Chiedozie Ogbene sparked the contest into life just after the half-hour mark.
The breakthrough for City came early in the second half when McCarthy headed home from Ross Welsh’s corner kick on 57 minutes.
However, the hosts had to repel chances for Rob Spellman, from a free kick, and Andrew Connolly, with an effort from the edge of the area, before Coleman settled the result – firing home from close range after good work by Ogbene and Aaron Drinan in the build up.
Speaking afterwards, City’s U19 manager Stephen Bermingham said: “I think we had the best of the chances in both halves but they made it difficult. We took our chances when they came with two excellent goals.
“We defended well. David Coffey didn’t really have any saves to make. We didn’t get the Cup last season so it’s great to get to the Cup final and we’ll look forward to that whether it’s UCD or St. Pat’s in the final.
“We had a great occasion last year in Markets Field when we had the League final there, so you’d hope you’d get the crowd out to this as well. Things are going great at the moment – top of the table, in the Cup final and the chance of being in the Uefa Youth League as well.”
A date and venue for the U19 Enda McGuill final will be confirmed in due course.
Elsewhere, Cork City’s U17s side were beaten 4-3 by St. Patrick’s Athletic in the quarter finals of the Mark Farren Memorial Cup. In a game played in Blarney, also on Tuesday evening, Cian Leonard got his 19th and 20th goals of the season respectively, with Mark Brosnan also on the scoresheet for the home team.
