Under-18s in narrow loss in Cork

Our Under-18s rounded off their training camp in Ireland with a narrow defeat to Cork City Under-19s on Friday lunchtime.

Cheered on by a large crowd of over 900 including a number of members of our Official Supporters' Clubs at Bishopstown Stadium, we conceded to Alex Kelliher inside 12 minutes but never managed to recover as our new-look youth squad learned some valuable lessons in a tough pre-season encounter across the water.

Having trained locally for most of the week, the players enjoyed their best spell of the game in the closing stages of the first half but found Cork goalkeeper Daniel Moynihan - who has appeared for the hosts' first team in the League of Ireland this season - in good form.

Josh Fitzpatrick gave us an early warning with an angled shot from the right side that hit the near post before Kelliher planted home the opener from the middle of the box after a well-worked move from the hosts. At the other end, Yusuf Akhamrich failed to connect with Oli Irow's excellent cross at the near post as a golden chance went begging, while Fitzpatrick arrowed an effort just over the bar as Cork tried to stretch their lead.

We mounted a sustained spell of pressure in the run-up to half-time but couldn't find a way past Moynihan, the keeper denying Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi at his near post before dramatically clawing away Damola Ajayi's free header in the box with 39 minutes played. Olusesi then teased a shot towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but again Moynihan was equal to it.

Despite all of that, Cork almost grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time, but Elliot Krasniqi saved us when he denied Harvey Skieters as he raced through on goal.

Both sides made a raft of changes as the game progressed but in truth there were few chances to add to the scoreline, substitute goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn claiming Fitzpatrick's angled drive at his near post with 20 minutes to go.

We almost snatched a stoppage-time leveller when Akhamrich roamed in from the right and unleashed a low, left-footed effort from 18 yards which Cork's replacement stopper Rory Moloney got down to save, with Timi Adekunle's low cross on the follow-up also pounced on by the keeper as the hosts, who are in the middle of their domestic season, saw out the win.

Match data

Goal: Cork City - Kelliher 12.

Yellow card: Spurs - Lehane 82.

Referee: Lucas Keating.

Venue: Bishopstown Stadium, Cork, Ireland.

Weather: Bright, gentle breeze, 16 degrees.

Attendance: 902.