"We can get results against anyone" - Cabinteely's Vilius Labutis

Still only 18, Vilius Labutis claimed his first senior goal on Friday to keep Cabinteely FC top of the SSE Airtricity League First Division (for 24 hours at least until Longford play Limerick on Saturday evening).

The Lithuanian Youth international cancelled out fellow teenager Jake Ellis’ opener as the South Dublin side extended their unbeaten away record by securing a well-deserved point against Bray Wanderers in the East Coast derby.

Having debuted in the reverse fixture back in February at Stradbrook, the central midfielder said of the 1-1 draw at the Carlisle Grounds “I’m delighted to get my first goal. I thought we could have won the game though. It could have gone either way. All the lads are disappointed; I think that shows how far we’ve come this season.”

Just old enough to vote in next months elections, the Leaving Certificate student gave as good as he got with veteran Paul Keegan in the middle of the park in what many considered was a man of the match display in wet conditions by the seaside. 

“Having gone in 1-0 down from a first half which I thought we had the better of play, (Director of Football/Manager) Pat (Devlin) had a word with us at half time and we responded on the pitch. We all worked hard for each other. That’s what made the difference in the second half.” 

He continued ‘Stephen McGuinness made a great penalty save. But all the lads worked hard. On the night, we felt we were the better team. We’re still unbeaten away from home which is a great positive to take into Shelbourne next week.”

Cabinteely welcome the Reds to Stradbrook next Friday in what promises to be a mouth-watering top of the table battle in the capital.

“We know we have to go and do the business against Shels. It will be tough. It will be a huge game. They’ll be wanting to come back at us after we won (3-2) in Tolka Park. But we have the belief in the squad we can get results against any team,” said Labutis.