U14 Division 1 Shield Final: Tulla Utd v Lifford AFC
Venue: The Cragg, Tulla 
Date:14-09-2023 
KO: 6:30pm


U14 Lifford produced a dramatic turnaround after half time 0-0, with  two second half goals to win the U14 Division 1 Shield 2-0 against U14 Tulla Utd.


Lifford started very positive attacking play but 10 minutes into the game Blake Erwin injury forced an early substitute for Lifford. Tadhg O’Loughlin came on in midfield, and Captain Sean O’Callaghan going back as Centre Back for Blake Erwin.


The 1st half saw Lifford with patient passage of passing from Siney Neenan in midfIeld through to Lifford’s striker Kaylum Mata threatening down the centre, adding to attack saw Rhys Farmer playing the wide left channel getting a lot of play against Tulla Utd’s right back and also Emmanual Chukwuemeka caused a constant threat to Tulla Utd’s left back.


Even at half time 0-0 Lifford’s GK Conor Lyons did very well in the first half linking up with centre-back Aran Buma playing out from the back along with right full back AJ Sydney and left full back Kayden Moloney adding to the build up play.


After half time the Lifford Team started the with a high tempo with Lifford No6 player Caua Riberio controlling the middle of midfield and Lifford got a free kick wide left inside just inside Tulla’s half. Lifford’s Captain Sean O’Callaghan took the free, kicking high into Tulla Utd 18 yard box, raising to the high ball Tadhg O’Loughlin meet the ball cleanly straight into the top corner to put Lifford 1-O up. 


Tulla started to put long balls into the Lifford box but full back AJ Sydney dealt with the long balls with his tough tackling and Conor Lyons pulled off  one great save from only Tulla’s real chance to equalise. 


A tactical change from Lifford brought on Faruk Bashua for Emmanual Chekwuekeko. A lovely through ball from Siney Neenan for Faruk on his first touch saw 1v1 with Tulla’s GK who pulled off a great save. 


Again Tulla long ball tactic didn’t pay off with Kayden Moloney working the left side with a counter attacked to Rhys Farmer coming inside shift the ball from his left foot to his right shooting but again the Tulla's GK pulling off a great save.


Another counter attack from Lifford this time was successful when Faruk Bashua rounded the GK to score Lifford’s second goal.


Lifford then made three substitutes with Tyler Murrihy, Aiden McParland and Adam Doyle all coming on, with Adam Doyle breaking through on his first attack to be taken down in 18 yard box and to disbelief of the Lifford supporters no penalty given.


Lifford came out on top winning two nil. U14 Manager Declan Farmer commented: “This was a great team performance after a depleted squad at start of the season and was great to see Kayden Moloney, Tyler Murrihy, Kaylum Mata, Faruk Bashua and Emmanual Chukwuemeka all playing an age group up. Just shows Lifford are good club with development  players is the priority, we push our players to highest level possible seeing last season our U13 player Sean Meere moving into U14 Treaty Utd with League of Ireland, and hopefully we will have more going onto League of Ireland. Myself and coach Duram Sydney have put alot time coaching this group of players and it’s seeing this team come together showing, resilience,
character and having good performances they get their just rewards and a great finish to the season.”


Lifford next challenge now the new season starting with U15 National Cup in October 2023


U14 Lifford Team: Conor Lyons, AJ. Sydney, Blake Erwin, Aran Buma, Kayden Moloney, Siney Neenan, Caua Riberio, Sean O’Callaghan, Emmanual Chukwuemeka, Kaylum Mata, Rhys Farmer.

Subs: Tadhg O’Loughlin, Furuk Bashua, Aiden McParland, Adam Doyle, Tyler Murrihy