Weekend Preview

Well it was a superb weekend for Inchicore last week with all three teams recording very impressive victories.  There was a total of fourteen goals scored, four of which came from the boot of the talented Keifer Byrne, and only one goal conceded.

All eyes on the ball

This weekend kicks off with Mossy and the boys taking on Lorcan Celtic away from home.  With two solid wins in Premier 1 Saturday since these two teams last met anything could happen, can Mossy and the boys make it three wins on the trot?

Tomo Byrne and Derek Green then take the U-21s back to Markievicz Park for a game against Sacred Heart.  Having netted seven against Ballyoulster last week I'm hoping for another barnstorming performance from the youngsters.  The powers that be over at The LFL are predicting a very tight encounter for this one.

And finally wrapping things up with an early afternoon kickoff on Sunday Ali O'Brien and his band of lads take on Bagnelstown in the first round of the LFA Junior Cup.  With this game being moved to CIE with an early kick off I'm hoping the boys can get the job done within the 90 minutes so we can all head off and watch The Dubs take on Mayo in The All Ireland Final.

The Brace Mahony

Robert Mahony opened the scoring

There was an estimated 100,000 people in Dublin today for the Flightfest celebration along the River Liffey.  The best show in town, however, was down by the Grand Canal in Bluebell as Inchicore went up against Alpine / Oldchurch in an LSL Premier Sunday clash.  As the 737s', B-17s' and A380s' soared high above us in the sky the referee blew his whistle and it was time to forget all about the airshow.

The first real chance fell Inchicores way when a cross into the box was almost put into the back of the net by an Alpine defender, a let off for sure.  The visitors shot high over the bar soon after as the chances came thick and fast.  It was Robbie Mahony who opened the scoring with a wicked free kick that curled around the wall into the bottom left corner of the Alpine net.  It was a great start for the home team and the lead could have been greater if not for a great save by the goalkeeper from an Al Brennan shot.

The one nil halftime score was a fair reflection on the game but Alpine refused to go away and levelled soon after the restart.  A pass into the Inchicore area was headed goalwards and saved well by Rob Nolan but he couldn't keep out the rebound as Alpine threatened an upset.  Alan O'Brien didn't panic and seemed to rejig his team to cope with the Alpine attack and the go ahead goal soon arrived via the boot of Rob Mahony for his second of the game.  Alpines goalkeeper didn't know who to blame or where to look as Mahony lobbed the ball over his head from wide out on the left wing at the half way line, a tremendous effort that was fit to grace any arena.

Dean Costello beats his man while watched by Jay Carey

Rob Mahony looked to push on for his hat-trick but it was captain Ger Marshall who provided Al Brennan with a delightful through ball for the striker to grab the home sides third goal and put some daylight between the sides.  The rout was complete when Jay Carey tapped home after some wonderful build up play from the Inchicore attack as full time approached.  With the planes still flying high above our heads the ref decided that the crowd had seen enough and brought to an end another fine performance from 'The Core'.

Todays result moves Inchicore up to second on the table only a point behind league leaders Marks Celtic.    The win also capped a fine weekend for the club with all three teams scoring impressive wins in their respective leagues.  

The Thriller In Ballyer

I was back to watch Inchicores under 21 team again as I had to head to Belfast on Sunday for a race, denying me the chance to see some LSL Premier Sunday action.  It was a group decider in The William Sheeran Cup as Inchicore travelled to 'The Lawns' in Ballyfermot to take on the all conquering Ballyfermot United.

Keifer Byrne thwarts a Ballyfermot attavk

It took less than a minute for the home team to gain the lead as they played the first half with a very strong wind behind their backs.  It was an unfortunate deflection from goalkeeper Martin Carroll that struck Ballyfermots striker and headed straight to the back of the net.  You could say it was a bad start and there was still a long way to go.  Things got worse minutes later when a penalty was conceded and Ballyfermot doubled their lead.  On the half hour mark it looked like the game was over as a contest when the home team, with a vociferous crowd egging them on, scored a third after some neat work down their left flank.

Inchicore were thrown a lifeline as halftime approached when the mrecurial Keifer Byrne ghosted through 'Ballyers' defence and set up Caomh McAuley who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from close range.  Ballyfermots keeper then made a fine save on the stroke of halftime and early in the second half to keep the margin at two goals.  Inchicore then had Martin Carroll to thank as he pulled off a tremendous save, tipping a dipping effort onto the post that bounced away to safety.  Gareth Byrne was shifted to a midfield position as  the visitors upped the tempo and began to pile on the pressure.  The pressure paid off when star midfielder Keifer Byrne grabbed a goal after sprinting past the home teams defence and lifted the ball over the goalkeepers head.

Karl Timms looks to beat his marker

With five minutes remaining Ballyfermot were hanging on for dear life as the impossible was beginning to look possible.  A red card for a Ballyfermot defender gave Inchicore hope as time ticked away, Keifer Byrne sent the resulting free kick over the bar but made no mistake moments later when played through one on one with the goalkeeper.  The leveller stunned the home crowd into silence and sent Inchicore and their supporters into raptures.

Ballyfermot then had one last chance to take all three points when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of Inchicores penalty area.  The free kick was well struck but the crossbar came to 'The Cores' rescue.  The full time whistle was greeted with howls of delight from Tomo Byrne and his young team as they pulled off one of the greatest comebacks I have ever seen.

The comeback is complete

It was truly one of the greatest games I have witnessed, reminding me of another Inchicore team who came back from three goals down when St Patricks Athletic narrowly lost 4-3 against Slovan Bratislava.  It even rivalled Liverpool FCs' miracle in Istanbul for drama.  Now with qualification for the next round of the cup is their more to come from Inchicores young charges??

Nolan Saves Inchicore From Defeat

I missed last weeks round of matches in The LSL Sunday Premier Division which saw Inchicore pick up a huge 7-2 win against Park Celtic after a 4-1 loss away to Liffey Valley Rangers.  As I arrived at Bernard Curtis Park for Sundays encounter against Blessington it was apparent that something was up, I was asked if I had some boots and gloves (jokingly of course).  With only the bare minimum of 11 players available there was no goalkeeper amongst them.

With only minutes to kick off it looked likely that Inchicore would have to start without a recognised goalkeeper.  Rob Nolan arrived with seconds to spare to the teams relief and the game could finally kick off.  Blessington made a great start but found Nolan to be in inspired form.  Three top drawer saves from the net minder in the space of five first half minutes gave the home team a foundation from which to build upon.

Dean Costello had Inchicores first real effort but Blessingtons goalkeeper showed his agility to tip Costellos close range effort over the bar.  Inchicore upped the tempo and had two great chances to break the deadlock just before halftime but headed straight at the keeper on both occasions.  It was Blessington who headed to the break knowing they should have been ahead thanks but for the fine work of late Inchicore call up Rob Nolan.

John Luby sees his free kick come back off the wall

A stern half time team talk from coach Alan O'Brien saw an even more determined Inchicore take to the field for the restart.  Al Brennan, playing as a lone striker, saw a well hit strike off his right foot fizz inches over the bar.  It was midway through the second half that saw the deadlock broken when Blessington succumbed to Inchicores pressure and concede a penalty.  John Luby was coolness personified as he stepped up and put the keeper the wrong way with a finely taken spot kick.

Ciaran Ronan, making a return to the team, almost doubled Inchicores advantage moments later but his shot was cleared expertly off the line by a Blessington defender.  Blessington pushed for an equaliser but Sean Blake was a rock in the centre of Inchicores defence that kept their strikers at bay time after time.  The visitors thought they had a leveller when a deflected shot almost caught Rob Nolan in goal off guard, his legs came to the rescue and the lead remained intact.

The tie was settled as a contest with ten minutes remaining when a huge clearance from the edge of his own box by Dean Costello released Al Brennan who calmly slotted past the advancing keeper.  It was a fine goal for the striker and one that the home side thoroughly deserved.   Inchicore saw out the game with the clean sheet intact and the result sees them move up to fourth on the ladder with a trip to bottom club Cabinteely coming up next Sunday

Eight Of The Best

Keifer Byrne opens the scoring

Markievicz Park in Ballyfermot was the setting as Inchicore Athletics under-21 team began their season in earnest.  A late change of opponent saw Sallynoggin FC drafted in to their William Sheeran Cup Group H.  Tomo Byrne and Derek Greene were the nervous coaches on the sideline as the first ever Inchicore development team awaited kickoff.

There were no sign of nerves from the youngsters though as they put their more experienced opponents under severe pressure right from the word go.  First blood was drawn by the home team with barely five minutes on the clock.  Keifer Byrne lined up a free kick from the left and drove a low angled shot past the wall and out of the goalkeepers reach to nestle in the bottom left corner of the net.  It was a great start and it got even better soon after as Keifer Byrne doubled his tally with an accurate looping shot over the goalkeeper that went in off the crossbar.

Sallynoggin were rattled and had no answer to the pressure being applied by Gareth Byrne in midfield and Craig Doyle up front.  As half time approached midfield whizz kid Keifer Byrne killed off the game as a contest and claimed the match ball in the process.  This time it was a powerful shot from inside the box beating the goalkeeper at his near post.

Gareth Byrne battles for posession

A more determined visiting team came out for the second stanza but any hopes of an unlikely comeback were put to bed when Sean McGarry proded home a close range header.  Craig Doyle then made it five for the home side before Gareth Byrne found the back of the net with a stinging effort from twenty five yards that left Sallynoggins keeper diving in despair.

Keifer Byrne grabbed his fourth and Craig Doyle made it eight as the game slipped away from Sallynoggin.  The visitors somehow grabbed a consolation goal against the run of play as full time approached.  It was only a minor blip on an otherwise commanding performance however.

It was a great start to their cup campaign that sees them head their group albeit on goal difference.  Ballyfermot, favourites to top the group, scored an 8-2 win over Ballyoulster so Inchicore will have to be on their gaurd for that encounter.  Without a doubt I am certainly looking forward to that game, it should be a cracker.