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Nothing dirty about this Dozen. Castleknock finish season on a high against Cabinteely, 12-0.
If Nureyev & Nijinski played soccer they would have been called Boyle and Coyne, such was the grace and speed that they moved across the pitch today. With 9 goals and 4 assists between them Cabinteely could not keep up with their pirouettes to change direction nor their Allegro, moving themselves and the ball quickly. However in between the Ballet show a football match broke out!!!! On the big Pitch 4 with long grass and only 7 players to choose from the team were advised to pass the ball in order to keep up their energy levels, which they did with great enthusiasm. Captain for the day Eoghan Smithers gave his team talk before the match telling his players to look for possession and space and not to panic when they had the ball.
The game started with Eoghan Smithers in goal, Richard Ogu and Gideon Durojaiye in defense, Dylan Thompson, Dylan Coyne and Owen Boyle in the middle and Ross Kennedy leading the line. It was a brisk start by Castleknock but they could not find a breakthrough with some misfiring shots and some wayward passing, but then it clicked into place with Nureyev and Nijinski at the heart of it. A swift move and BOOM, assist by Dylan Coyne and Goal by Owen Boyle. Heads were immediately up and Owen Boyle turned provider playing in Ross Kennedy who gave the keeper the eyes and slotted calmly to the keepers left, but only after the keeper was on the deck to his right. Ballotelli would have been proud of that one. The defenders were looking on and so Richard Ogu decided he could have a part to play rampaging up field before a nice pass found Owen Boyle and cool as you like slots the ball home, 3-0. Coming close to half time but this group of players were not finished. Gideon Durojaiye was showing his wonderful defending skills keeping the Cabinteely attack at bay. Dylan Thompson was now dominating the midfield with strong runs on the right wing and some fine crosses. It was a Dylan Thompson pass which played in Owen Boyle who moved it on to Dylan Coyne, wrong footing the defense and SMASH 4-0 at half time.
The second half started with Richard Ogu taking over in goal and Eoghan Smithers taking up a defensive role. So would Castleknock ease off now they were 4-0 up, a bit like Liverpool against Crystal Palace? Tip off to Dylan Coyne and off he went, skilling the pitch beating 5 Cabinteely players before SMASHING the ball past the Cabinteely keeper. 7 seconds on the clock and goal number 5. Castleknock kept pressing, Dylan Thompson impressing again with a through ball to Owen Boyle and WHOOOSH 6-0. Ross Kennedy, with some smart runs was holding up play very well and it was his hold up play and pass back to the onrushing Gideon which allowed a 15 yard SCREAMER from Gideon Durojaiye nestle in the top left corner, seventh heaven. Next time Gideon turned provider and laid it on a plate for Owen Boyle. Are ye all keeping up! Owen Boyle then decided to play in his midfield partner and CRASH Dylan Thompson made it 9 of the best. A pattern was developing, If you score it was your duty to then assist and Dylan Thompson kept the pattern going playing in Dylan Coyne, a neat finish for a Top 10. Not happy with that Dylan Coyne intercepted a Cabinteely pass and ran at the heart of the defense with a sidestep here and a shimmy there it was 11.
Not to be outdone Owen Boyle decided he would be Magnus Magnusson from Mastermind. "I've started so i'll finish" and so he did, scoring off a move set up by Gideon Durojaiye. So 12 goals and some neat play on show. It was a bit one sided but the players kept trying their hardest, always showing respect to the opposition. Never nice to lose by a big score but Castleknock were on the wrong side of similar scorelines earlier in the season so no one could deny them their day of glory when it all clicked together. Handshakes all round and nice finish to the season for Castleknock. A big well done from a proud Coach to the Castleknock Players as they finish the league as the top scorers. The Entertainers of the league no doubt.
It could of been Team of the Match but a Coach has to make the tough decisions. So Man of the Match goes to the player who was happy it was raining at the end of the match as he was on fire! Well done to Owen "Nureyev Magnus Magnusson" Boyle for his 5 goal haul and 3 assists who wins Man of the Match. A fine end to the season by the players turning around a first half league standing of W1-D1-L8 into W6-D1-L3. So next up is the awards night on Wednesday to see who takes over from Yusuf el Morsy who won a top award last year. Now in New Zealand perhaps he is reading about his ex-team mates on the internet. If so Yusuf, hope you are enjoying the Winter and keep an eye on the site for the end of season player awards.
