Welcome to our new website. 

Alan was eased back into management with today's starting 11 picking itself, due holidays and injury. The lineup was Sean C in goal, in defence, Shaun B,Evan,James,Taylor , midfield was Hugh,Harry,Adam,Danny, with Ryan and Jack upfront.

Having spoken pre game about Ashbourne's love of the offside, Portmarnock knew they were up against a well organised outfit, but Portmarnock had a game plan and they executed this in style. Playing into a strong breeze, the first 10 minutes went to script, with Portmarnock having the lions share of possession in a game that was for most parts contested in the middle of the park. Then on 10 minutes Portmarnock got a free on the halfway lines and with Ashbourne lining up for a long cross field ball, Adam went short to Tyler, who feed Hugh out on the wing and he in turn played a first time pass setting Jack in on goal who calmly finished to put us 1 up. The quick thinking of all players involved and the first time passing of this move was the key to breaking Ashbourne's offside trap and getting the goal.

Following on from taking the lead, Portmarnock  had to dig deep and fight hard to combat the oppositions attempt to use the wind as a aid to get back them back into the game. Sean made the difficult look mundane through his good hands and communications with his back four, Harry sat in the holding role protecting the back four, with Evan and James mopping up anything that came through the centre, while Sean B and Tyler had the wings under control.

At half time we talked about going at them more in the second half and releasing the ball to our wings quicker. From the tip off Danny and Jack did just that, breaking a few tackles to leave Danny in for a shot,that went narrowly wide. Portmarnock pressed from their kick-outs, winning back possession and nearly had a second. Adam and Harry were now running midfield, aided by Jack dropping in their for the opposition kick outs. We had two strong shouts for a penalty overlooked following trips on Ryan and Danny. With 25 minutes gone in the second half we looked in control but needed a second to put the game out of reach of the opposition. Then a potential game changer moment came, with a lucky punt upfield by Ashbourne, leaving their striker a 50:50 challenge against Sean. As you can guess there was only ever going to be one winner in that one!!

We had several chances, Hugh a peach of a header following a Danny cross, Jack a turn and volley, Jack again a 1 v 1 following a eye of a needle through ball from Harry, Adam with a strong shoot. Then with 10 minutes left Adam set Danny free down the right with a first time ball. Danny's pace enabled him to cut inside his man and just when he was about to pull the trigger he got tripped. Danny dusted himself off and stepped forward to slot home. 

James wanted to get in on the act and made several breaks forward from centre back Ala john stones. With the game almost up Harry got hold of the ball in the centre and beat the first line of defence by threading it through to Adam, who again first time picked out Jack in the wide position. Jack got to the bi-line and cut it back for Ryan to neatly slot the ball home in a convincing win for Portmarnock. 

This was a great performance by all 11 players, I think Alan's comment post match that he could not have picked a better 11 summed up the day. 

Scores : Jack, Danny, Ryan

Man of the match : Sean Carroll