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Templeogue United 2-1 Castleknock Celtic
Cup runs are always a nice distraction from the league, but as Leicester know, sometimes it is good to only have the league to look out for. Those pesky cups can get in the way. And so off we set for our FIFA Rules match with extra time and penos for the 10 fearless players looking to kick start the season after more cancelled matches. A number of players were missing through injury and school exams so it was a test of the squad today against a team from the division above. The line up: Dawide Beirnat in goal, Bradley Creighton, Adam Geraghty and Jake Rice in defence, Dylan Coyne and Dylan Osborne in midfield and Josh Holland, Evan Ryan (Captain) and Cian DaCosta the front three, Nkemjika Onemwerha the support.
The players warmed up well and were asked to do what they are learning in training: movement off the ball, quick passing and nice layoffs for oncoming players, SIMPLES. It was a 50:50 start with chances at both ends, Evan Ryan and Dylan Coyne unlucky with the first two efforts of the match. But the Castleknock play was a bit slow in tempo and at times Templeogue were cutting through with ease as recovery runs were at half pace instead of full sprint. All the home teams pressure was coming down the Castleknock left and it was from one such move they took the lead. With players out of position Adam Geraghty had to leave his centre back post to try block the cross from the winger, Dawide Beirnat with a great save but the rebound drilled home by another unmarked play in the box, Adam unlucky with his block on the line following a good recovery run.
Dylan Osborne had to succumb to his dead leg received prior to the game and so it was the bare 9 for the rest of the half. Castleknock were starting to find some good passages of play, Dylan Coyne prompting from midfield, supported by runs from Jake at right back. Cian added some more energy in midfield but both sets of players found the pitch tough going. Dawide was again super accurate with his kick outs and Templeogue were leaving big spaces in behind for Evan. Dawide spotted this and another laser pass to Evan who ran free and a perfect lob over the keeper. 1-1 and a well deserved equaliser. Evan had some fine movement in the first half and got his shots away, left foot, right foot it didn’t matter and was unlucky not to have more.
So, some changes at half time, Dylan Osborne in goal, Dawide Beirnat to centre half and Adam Geraghty to midfield. Peep-Peep game on and Castleknock Celtic were a different team. Adam and Dylan controlled the game from midfield, Adam forcing all players to play ball with his link up play. Jake Rice was a constant out ball on the right and his decisions were always the right ones, a quick pass out wide and a supporting run. Dawide was controlling anything Templeogue could throw at them. It was long ball stuff from the away team and the one time the ball was over Dawide, Jake tucked in to clear out the danger. Fantastic. Bradley and Josh were starting to find some accuracy with the passing and linked up well. Nkemjika and Evan had the ball in some wonderful positions but for all our good play and territory we only had one shot from Dylan Coyne in the second half to test the keeper.
Dawide was super dominant in the defence and frustrated the home team managers with their cries of frustration of “he is only a keeper” directed to the Templeogue players. As they found out, he is a super keeper and a brilliant outfield player too. Neuer mixed with Pique and a bit of Zidane for good measure….. You got the feeling the next goal would win the game and it was set up for a smash and grab from the home team as Castleknock applied the pressure. And sure enough, a lapse of concentration led to 3 Templeogue players running in on Dylan Osborne with no protection and with a great finish to the corner it was 2-1 and 4 minutes left. Still time and Castleknock again had the ball in great areas with fine support available but the final decisions were not the correct ones, neither a shot or a cross to show for the posession. Alas it finished 2-1.
So, good luck to Templeogue United who deserved the win as they scored more goals, and “dem's de rools” as they say somewhere. The second half was much better than the first. Some fine performances Evan first half, Dylan Coyne, Adam Geraghty and Dawide Beirnat (second half). But man of the match goes to Jake Rice for his positional play, distribution of the ball, decisions when in possession and support play. Well done Jake, a top performance today.
After the match the kids minds were straight onto the next game, a league match. You could hear some players saying "we will win the league anyway"…. and a wise old man was heard whispering "not if you don’t create chances you won’t……..”
