Dublin outfit ‘more clinical’ on the day, says Cooke
MATCH REACTION
Daire Walsh
THERE was disappointment for Cork Youth Leagues in Whitehall on Saturday, when they suffered a 2-0 reversal to Dublin & District Schoolboy Leagues (DDSL) in the semi-final of the FAI Umbro Youth Inter-League.
Speaking after the game in Home Farm FC’s grounds, Cork manager Declan Cooke felt that a below-par second-half display, as well as some key missed opportunities, proved to be their downfall. “We could have been one up maybe 20 minutes into the game. It just one of those days.”
Although DDSL posed problems for Cork prior to Jamie Gray’s opener on 66 minutes, the visitors also displayed their attacking potential in the final-third, with right-winger Denzil Fernandez proving to be lively throughout.
In the end, Cooke pointed to DDSL’s clinical edge as a major factor in their success, and was also aware of the fine margins that determine the outcome of these encounters.
“I definitely think in the first-half we had two great chances as well. Another day we could have scored three or four goals. I think, in general, fair credit to Dublin. They were clinical, and I think on the day that’s the difference.
“He [Fernandez] did very well down the right-flank. He cut across, and just only the decision-making at this level. It’s a game of inches. The difference is, Dublin took their chances, and Cork didn’t.”
Although it is always heartbreaking to lose a contest of this nature, Cooke is hopeful that his squad can absorb the lessons from this defeat, and continue to develop their overall game.
“You’d hope [they’ll learn], because a lot of the lads would have been involved in the emerging talent in Munster Schools. In our club [College Corinthians], a lot of them were over in Huddersfield last [Wednesday] week.
“They [Huddersfield Town] only beat us in the second half of extra-time. Another national cup semi-final, losing out as well. You’d hope that with these experiences, the players would kick on and learn from them,” Cooke added.