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Mount Merrion outgun Castleknock Celtic in an Irish El Classico 5-3.
James Bay releases his new album, Chaos and the Calm and that was a great description of the match. It started with a full squad of 11. Jesse O in goal, Ross K, Eoghan S, Neil K, Richard O and Dylan T the defensive team, Dylan C, Declan O’M, Daniel O the midfield unit and Gideon D and Owen B sharing the striker duties. It was a small pitch and the game ebbed and flowed, with the only space to be found out wide. Castleknock Celtic were putting Mount Merrion under pressure with a succession of corners, pinged in by Dylan C but the Castleknock players did not react fast enough in the box and chances were lost. All the pressure came from passes out wide. Mount Merrion showed why they are top of the league and with great Calm started to play some nice football in front of the Castleknock back line, patiently passing the ball from side to side.
However it was a fortunate first goal with a stray pass out from the keeper finished by the Mount Merrion striker. Castleknock were continuing to pressure but when they did not have the ball some players were a bit slow to react. A Mount Merrion midfielder was given the freedom of the park before he unleashed a pile driver, 2-0 to Mount Merrion and nothing the keeper could do there. But there were signs from Castleknock Celtic that they were in this game, creating good positions but not making the most in the final third. The best came from Ross K with a sublime defence splitting pass onto a fine run and call from Gideon D but he could not find the finish. Nonetheless is was fantastic play.
So half time and some switching to be done. Dylan C was pushed upfront with Owen B and Declan O’M in behind, and boy did it work. Right from the get go they were causing Chaos in the Mount Merrion defence, Dylan C with very clever runs and layoffs, Owen B with neat interchanges of passing and Declan O’M retaining possession when it broke down. Picking the ball up right of centre, Dylan C lobbed a ball in, Owen B quick as a flash spotted the keeper stranded and bravely got between keeper and defender to slot the ball home. 2-1 and game on. Castleknock were at it big style but Mount Merrion finished when they had too much time in the box, Castleknock players all going to the ball and leaving the Mount Merrion players with a simple pass into space. From 2 yards out no mistake, 3-1.
But Castleknock keps causing Chaos when they got the ball wide. Jesse with a great pass to Dylan C who controlled and played an instant pass out wide to the onrushing Gideon D, now playing right back, drove into the box and BOOM 3-2. The players seemed to understand that out wide is where you can create chances on such a small pitch and the same players teamed up, Dylan C receiving a pass, control, laying space, Gideon onrushing and BOOM eile, another goal, same as the second one. 3-3 and tails were up. You are weakest after you score, so they keep saying on Sky Sports and right from the kick off Mount Merrion scored 4-3 in the blink of an eye. Castleknock went at them again and Gideon unlock with another pile driver. Castleknock battled to the end but with the last kick of the game Mount Merrion scored their 5th and so it ended 5-3.
A great match, played in good spirits and some good learning points for the players. Dylan T again superb in defence, one tackle in particular worthy of the Aviva, Gideon D with energy from right back and 2 good goals, Dylan C with great awareness and 3 assists. Ross K with a great pass worthy of Stamford Bridge. So having given long consideration we have a Unit of the Match Award instead of MoTM and it goes to Owen B, Declan O’M and Dylan C, the midfield / striker triangle, for the first 10 minutes of the second half when they were Calm and caused others Chaos, dragging Castleknock back into the match. Why a unit, well because all players need to work as a unit and when we did this well we were fantastic, when we did not work as a unit, we were…. well….. not so fantastic. So well done fells, triangles are good, but don’t tell Brendan Behan that.
