This was one of those games that was won in the first 20 minutes. Cuala’s u16 midfield (especially their 6, 8, and 9) were really well disciplined and worked like a well oiled machine, the hectic pace they began with carried them into an early lead and they piled on the pressure relentlessly. Half-time was a welcome break for the Ravens, time to assess and regroup. Lesser teams might have crumbled, but the Ravens held their ground against another Cuala onslaught after the break before raising themselves up and bringing the game to the opposition. This was more like it, fast moving attacks coming from everywhere on the pitch and close support always being available. By my reckoning the Ravens scored 2-8 in the second half, with Cuala scoring 1-5 (I may be wrong). For these lads, half of them in the u15s, to pick themselves up and bring the fight to a class act like Cuala speaks volumes for their grit and determination to never give in. As a team they should be proud of themselves, rightly so, because when they play as we all know they can there’s nobody they should fear.
