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Two well matched teams took part in a very competitive game in a cold but sunny Porterstown Park on Saturday morning. Owen B led out his troops as Captain for the early kick off. Jesse was again the net minder and improving every game. Dylan T, Richard and Daniel formed a solid back line. Gideon, Ross, Eoghan S, Dylan C and Declan were pulling the strings in midfield with Neil and Owen B leading the attack. Silent Sideline was in full swing (well sort of) and the match kicked off. St Mochta’s passed the ball about nicely but Castleknock won possession and went on the attack straight away, Neil running at the defence and unlucky to shoot wide when through on goal. It was a hard fought game with the majority of play in the midfield third. Dylan C was supporting play very well and giving the player on the ball options while Declan was again first in the tackle. Eoghan S and Ross were getting stuck in, helping their team mates when needed. 

 

When St. Mochta’s did get through Dylan T, Richard and Daniel were in no mood to let them score. Jesse was a by-stander for the first 10 minutes his defenders performing so well. Gideon and Daniel started to drive the team forward with some fine runs on the wings, Gideon unlucky with a mis-hit shot on the greasy surface. Neil was holding the ball up well and Owen B finding a pocket of space to try play his now familiar link up passes. Richard had a powerful run from his box all the way to St. Mochta’s box, holding off the back tracking St Mochta’s player. It was a lung bursting run but the Ferrari ran out of gas and when the St Mochta’s defender won the ball it was one big punt upfield which caught Daniel and Declan out and a fine finish gave Mochta’s the lead. Smash/Grab comes to mind.

 

More of the same in the second half with Castleknock applying pressure but could not find the net. Dylan C was primed to shoot and just as he did the ref blew for a free for Castleknock but Dylan C still shot beating the keeper but AGGGHHHHH the goal ruled out as the ref had blown the whistle. The resulting free was cleared off the line. Castleknock kept going and Dylan C controlled the keepers kick out with his back foot, drove forward and hit a TANK of a shot over the keeper and smashed against the crossbar (I checked the goals at 4.40pm and yes, it is still shaking). Unlucky again. With some neat play Castleknock could not fine a killer pass or space in the final third. Daniel set off on a mazy run and went from left back to their penalty box and just dragged his shot wide, excellent stuff. The free count was building with Castleknock piling on the pressure but they could not find the breakthrough, the keeper saving from yet another free.

 

It was an entertaining game that St. Mochta’s won 1-0. With some smarter play in attack this Castleknock team would have got the goals their effort deserved. But not to be. Some fine performances today, Gideon driving the team on, Jessie hitting his man every time from a goal kick and Daniel with some silky runs on the left, with a slalom here and a slalom there. But Man of the Match goes to the player who supported his players in defence and attack and showed some neat tricks to beat his marker and deliver an end product (a shot or a pass) Well done to Dylan C. 

 

Practice is now in Laurel Lodge All Weather, 6-7 Monday and 7-8 Wednesdays.