Our 11 boys cup team began the David Doran cup with a Monday night trip to Johnstown. Thomastown started brightly & dominated possession but the pitch was not making it easy to play free flowing football. With all the possession the away side were always vulnerable to the break & were caught out after 15 minutes when Spa United's nippy little striker broke through on goal. Despite what looked like a perfectly good last-ditch tackle from Padraic Lyng the referee gave a penalty which keeper Jack Clifford could not do anything about. Worse was to follow 3 minutes later when a deflected shot from Spa spun wickedly to give Jack no chance to make it 2 nil to the home team. Despite the setbacks Thomastown heads did not drop & were unlucky not to pull a goal back with Padraic Lyngs thumping header from a Ryan Spelman corner smashed off the crossbar. The comeback started when a 25-yard free kick from James Tierney was destined for the top corner but for the intervention of a Spa defender on the line who stopped it with his hands. The referee had a good think about the decision for some reason but eventually gave the penalty & James stepped up to bury the penalty. Thomastown's tails were up now & with Ryan Spelman ruling the roost in the centre of the park they equalised with 2 minutes left in the first half. James Tierney set off on one of his trademark runs & played a lovely ball to centre forward Michael Kirwan who split the defence with a super pass to Cillian Phelan & Cillian supplied the ice-cold finish to leave it at 2 all at half time. The second half was a more even affair with both teams pushing hard for the winner. Bobby Brennan, Alex Quinn & Tristian Donald were under pressure at times in the Thomastown rear-guard but did a great job in protecting keeper Jack Clifford. With Ryan Spelman driving the away team on from midfield Thomastown got the winner with 10 minutes to go. Ryan beat a number of tackles before unleashing a wicked shot which the keeper could only parry & goal poacher Danny White was in the right place to apply the finish. Thomastown had the best chances to score again with James Tierney going close & Danny White had only the keeper to beat but an unfortunate bobble took the ball away from him but the game finished 3-2 to the away side. It was a brilliant result after being 2 nil down away to one of the stronger teams at this age level. Player of the match goes to new signing from The Rower Ryan Spelman who showed all his skill & heart throughout the game & is a huge addition to the team.

Team- Jack Clifford, Alex Quinn, Bobby Brennan(C), Padraic Lyng, Sean Cottrell, Ryan Spelman, James Tierney, Michael Kirwan, Danny White, Tristian Donald, Leon Phelan, Cillian Phelan.