Achill Rovers 2 - 1 Manulla
Achill
Rovers U12s completed the 2010 Grading Pool 3 with full points, but only after a hard fought victory over a stuffy Manulla team.
Achill didn’t look like the unbeaten team early on as Manulla dominated the midfield exchanges. However, when this season's top scorer, Gerard Fadian, was put through, he finished clinically and the locals expected Rovers to go on from there. Manulla had other ideas and they equalised just before half time with a fine free kick from outside the box.
The second half was a hard physical battle and the match looked to be heading for a draw. Rovers introduced all of their substitutes and, with five minutes to go, it was John Callaghan who netted the winner, when his shot from nearly 30 yards was headed into his own goal by a Manulla defender trying to clear. It was a great effort by Achill but hard luck on Manulla.
Rovers now join the other pools winners who have qualified so far: Castlebar Celtic, Westport United, Straide & Foxford, Swinford.
Rovers also have an exceptionally difficult cup tie this Friday, when they travel to take on the high-scoring Westport Utd.
