The Big Kick Off

It was the beginning of a new season at Bernard Curtis Park as Inchicore put together a team of youth and experience in a friendly fixture against CIE Ranch.  The weather recently, and even moments before kick off, has been sunny, humid and quite hot.  However just as the first ball of the season was kicked in anger the heavens opened, drenching the local support and greasing up the pitch.

CIE threatened early but Rob Nolan, starting in goal, kept out two close range efforts.  There were ten minutes on the clock when 'The Ranch' took the lead, a second soon followed.  The greasy underfoot conditions were proving difficult for the home team to deal with and three more goals followed for CIE to effectively kill the game off as a contest.

Inchicores wall lines up for the shot

Coach Alan O'Brien made some changes at half time along with some positional swaps to try stem the flow.  The changes worked a treat as Daren Atkinson began to stamp his authority on the game from midfield.  His trickery and interplay down Inchicores left wing released Philly O'Brien, whose rasping shot tested CIEs' goalkeeper.

John O'Brien on the ball

Inchicore finally got on the scoreboard midway through the second half from the penalty spot, and when a second arrived soon after it was game on.  Philly O'Brien went close on two occassions as it looked kike a comeback from the dead could just about happen.  Inchicores young replacement goalkeeper made two good saves of his own to keep the game alive but could do nothing to stop a low shot from CIE squeezing in as the 90 minute mark approached.

Mark Doyle controls the ball

A defeat to kick off not just the season but a huge week of football in the Inchicore area.  A game away to Saint Patricks is planned for tomorrow evening followed by the return of The Inchicore Athletic 5-A-Sides where the stars of tomorrow might just be discovered.