Latest News Monday November 16th 2009
Published on: 3rd November, 2009
Again most of last weekends fixtures were washed out with only a few fixtures surviving. Another Stuart Glen hat trick paved the way for our first team to advance to the third round of the FAI Junior Cup with a a facile 5 – 1 home win over Aston Village – Sean Field and Gareth Murphy scored the other two. Our 11 Premier exited the DDSL Kavanagh Cup 3 – 4 to Home Farm F C, having taken the lead they found themselves 4 – 1 down at half time but a second half rally failed to find an equalizer to at least take the game to extra time. The defeat of our 18 Super in the FAI Junior Cup followed a similiar pattern having been a goal up they eventually went down 3 – 1 to St Pauls Artane. Keith McCracken scored a cracker in the 14 Premier’s disappointing home draw (1-1) against Knocklyon while in the only other game played Anto Devlin’s 15.2 had a fine 2-0 away win at Palmerstown Rangers.
High Drama as 16.3 win in Sudden Death Penalties.
Having had a great win in the first round of the SFAI Barry Cup our 16.3 (currently bottom of the DDSL 16B league) were drawn against DDSL Major team Lourdes Celtic in the second round. The boys knew that they would have a real test of character on their hands as they faced what would be better quality opponents. The saving grace for them was that the match would be played in Ellenfield on the Church pitch!
A full panel turned up fit and ready on the Sunday morning and listened to the last minute instructions from the management team before they kicked off – the plan was simple – try and hold on to the ball, play football in their half only and look to the wingers at every available opportunity.
The plan went out the window after only 3 minutes as a long pumped ball beat our two centre halves and the Lourdes forward nipped in to slip the ball beyond Joe Harry in goal.
The Saints upped the pace in their game and before long were the team playing the better football. Lourdes game plan consisted of pumping the ball towards their centre forward and hope for something to happen. The Saints, meanwhile got the ball on the deck and tried to open up the Lourdes defence. Their pressure paid off after 25 minutes as Nick Whelan scored from a corner with a header. It was real end to end football after that as Lourdes continued to pump the long ball forward but between centre halves, Hugh Gleeson and Nick Whelan and some fine goalkeeping from Joe Harry they were unable to score. Just before the break disaster struck as the Saints centre half slipped and missed his header allowing their forward to race on and beat the keeper from inside the area, 2-1 to Lourdes.
The second half saw the Saints dominate the game but failing to find the net. Lourdes capitalised on a quick break after 20 minutes to make the score 3-1. It was looking gloomy but the Saints kept on trying to get that second goal and with 10 minutes to go Paul Hansson was bundled over in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Paul stepped up and dispatched the spot kick himself. 3-2 and Lourdes were looking worried. Then with just minutes remaining Paul Hansson produced a sublime piece of footwork and a wonderful left foot shot from 25 yards that saw the ball rocket into the top corner. Within seconds he was buried under an avalanche of his teammates.
The game went to extra time and the Saints pushed for the winner but time ran out and it was on to a penalty shoot out. The previous weekend had seen the boys have a penalty competition among themselves so the management had no fears about the boys who volunteered. Up stepped Paul again and he made no mistake, he was followed by Nick Whelan who scored and as Lourdes missed their second the pressure was heaped on Cathal McCarthy. Cathal’s spot kick hit the wrong side of the upright and Lourdes scored to even it up again. Jamie Reynolds and Tom O’Malley scored their penos and again Lourdes matched them.
It was time for sudden death! Craig Comiskey scored first and he was followed by Hugh Gleeson. Then up stepped Glen Fay whose kick was saved as the Lourdes keeper guessed the right way. It was in Lourdes hands and their keeper decided that he would take the spot kick. It sailed over the bar to keep us in the competition. Next up was our captain, Andy McKenna who had battled hard in the middle of the pitch all day. Our nerves were on edge but he struck the ball perfectly to put us in the driving seat gain. Their player stepped up but put the ball the wrong side of the posts – cue mayhem as the Saints and the supporters who had gathered to watch mobbed goalkeeper, Joe Harry.
It was a terrific display from all 16 players on the team as individually they gave their all in defending and attacking and achieved the reward of their name being in the hat in the third round of the All Ireland.
SKB: Joe Harry, Joe White, Hugh Gleeson, Nick Whelan, Steven Doody, Adam Doyle, Andy McKenna, Craig Comiskey, Peter Higgins, Dwayne Doyle, Cathal McCarthy, Glen Fay, Jamie Reynolds, Alan Parkes, Paul Hansson , Tom O’Malley
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