
Saturday, March 24 2018 (Rathuard)
Scorers: Jack O’Carroll 3, Jay Ryan 2, Karl Kelly 2, Jack Foley & Johnny Ryan
Newport Town U16s travelled to Geraldines for a vital league clash on a glorious day. Both teams started well with Geraldines getting the better of the early clashes with only good defending from Sean O’Brien and Dylan Ryan keeping the home team at bay. Newport struck first against the run of play on 10 minutes with Sean O’ Brien and Jack Foley combining on the left to release Jack O’Carroll in the box. O’Carroll won a penalty after stepping across the defender and the same player slotted away the resulting penalty. The same trio combined again to win a corner a few moments later, and Jack O’Carroll headed from Jay Ryan’s corner to double Newport’s advantage.
Geraldine’s fought their way back into it on 20 minutes with a good strike from 20 yards beating Jack O’Sullivan in the Newport goals at the bottom right corner. Newport weren’t finished and Jack O’Carroll became creator this time, releasing Jack Foley who showed great composure in the box, and slotted past the keeper. Again, Newport midfield combined well, this time Sean Freeney the creator for Jack O’Carroll, who slotted low into the corner from 10 yards out to secure his hat-trick. But Geraldines weren’t deterred and won a penalty for a dubious handball late in the half, to pull the score back to 4-2. Newport weren’t happy to finish the half on that scoreline, and two goals late in the first half, from Jay Ryan and Johnny Ryan, effectively ended the tie before the half time whistle.