- OUR PARTNERS
Sunday 1st May 2016
U11C1 vs Finglas Celtic
Following their 5-2 away result against the same opposition last Wednesday, this double header had expectant crowd attending the match yesterday afternoon at Paddyshill.
There was a nervous start for the home team, clearly aware that a win today would allow them to step into unknown territory at top spot for the first time in the league this season.
Early chances were almost taken by the away team, but stalwart defending by keeper Nathan Cooke, and defenders Colin Buckley with Archie Duncan, who cleared the goal line with impossible defending which allowed the home team to wake up and smell the coffee.
The Porto players, winning their last 3 games, allowed nerves to take over during the early stages and Finglas went ahead, deservedly so mid-way through the first half, following a number of scrappy chances, due to lack of concentration by the Porto players. Home side on lookers were nervous, 2-0 up would have been a fair score after 10 mins for the away team. The Porto players took a good hard look at themselves, shook themselves down and pulled up the sleeves.
Porto starting to demonstrate a hall mark of their play for most of the season, introduced a highly charged pressing game with energised wide play on the counter and accurate crossing at pace. So much so, persistent pressure forced a corner, and the dead ball set piece by Cian Bolger was perfectly glided at pace onto the head of Jack LaComber, who managed to guide the ball just under the keeper into the bottom corner – game on!
LaComber’s’ brace soon arrived with persistent play that was a nuisance to the away defence, with a right foot shot past the keeper, giving Porto a 2-1 lead with around 10 mins to go until the break. Persistent play on the left flank by Dylan Beed and tireless centre-mid play by Joey Kinnane, forced the away team back into their own half. A muddle in the box allowed a deflected shot by Dylan Cronin to push the team 3-1 in front. A further left foot slot just past the keeper, whose nerves were shot at this stage, gave Captain Jack LaComber a deserved traditional hat-trick for the day giving his team a 4-1 lead at the break.
Finglas were good value for their efforts in the second half and certainly deserved more than 2 goals in the second half. Continued bed rock defending by Archie Duncan and partner Colin Buckley, both fighting for every ball and challenge with good timing and understanding. This allowed Joey Kinnane to anchor the mid-field play to find the tireless efforts of Darach Keaveney and Ian Moran for most of the second half.
With minutes to go a last effort run down the left by Dylan Beed, providing a pass for Ian Moran in a better position in the box to finish in style. Recognition here for young Moran stamping his scoring ability for the team during every game since the turn this year. Let’s not forget the efforts of the other players with strike partner Darach Keaveney unlucky on a few occasions and young Joey Kinnane, with continued energy following his hat-trick last Wednesday at Finglas away.
With 4 games to go this season the Porto team could do well…. Ssshhh we’re top, at the moment.
Man of The Match: Archie Duncan
