Smiles in the Sun as Dark Force are simply Brazil-liant
News Item added:21-06-2010
CONCEDING four goals is usually a recipe for defeat but St Brendan's left a shaky first-half performance behind them and put Clann Mhuire to the sword in a rampant second-half display.
In the blazing Grangegorman sun, the Dark Force got off to their usual slow start as the Opposition's route one football paid dividends. They got the first of their three early goals when one of the midfielders burst through the centre and delivered an unstoppable drive past the despairing dive of Garvinho. The second goal came as the big full forward caught and passed off to one of three Naul men lurking on the edge of the square. Goal three came after a speculative shot from distance bounced off the bar and into the grateful arms of a Clann Mhuire man who had the easiest of finishes.
Lesser teams would have crumbled but St Brendan's were in no humour for another League defeat and kept themselves in touch with some fine forward play. The half backs were surging forward and both Timmy 'Tito' Ryan and Brendan Sharkinho hit nice points. The decisive moment arrived after a precise through ball was played by Shane Foleiro de Costa to Garrisco Cleary, who cannoned his shot into the roof of the net.
St Brendan's were managing to keep themselves in touch despite the goals and at the break trailed by 3-3 to 1-5.
The second half was an entirely different matter and Clann Mhuire never managed another score from play. Sharkinho went in as full back to teach the tall and burly full forward a lesson, and the opposition's big man ploy was nullified. Indeed, Sharkinho's dominance was such that he felt so sorry for the Opposition that he decided to score a goal on their behalf, just to give them a chance.
The Dark Force gave their best display of the year, with a Samba-esque performance that a Brazilian could be proud of, and clocked up thirteen second half points, many of which would not have been out of place in Croke Park.
Garrisco Cleary gave a master class of forward play coming to meet the ball, laying it off or just taking his points. Willieauro McLoughlin's magical left boot was put to use both in play and from the ground, and he ended with four points, two of them 45s, another skill to add to his repertoire. Dave Hito Henry and Dave Ryeta Ryan were also in on the action as was Gavin Hanliano, with all of them on the scoresheet.
With Foleiro de Costa, Eamiano Holly and Mark McEnteinho utterly dominant in midfield, Clann Mhuire simply could get no possession. About their only second-half attempt at a point was blocked by Kinhosa Foxe, who had moved out to centre half back. The corner backs Petildo Burke and Justin McCormito were first to every single ball and Trevisco Purtill broke up any attempted attack and then surged forward to devastating effect.
Clann Mhuire did manage two points from set plays and they had their fourth goal when a mishit 45 was spectacularly directed to the net by Sharkinho's hand. It was a first goal of the season for the Louth man and one that joins Shanio Santos O'Dwyer's famous headed clearance of last year in the annals of St Brendan's folklore.
As the game drew to a close, Clann Mhuire managed one last rally and were awarded a free close to the St Brendan's goal line. With Garvinho joined on the line by about seven Dark Force defenders, the Naul player still tried his luck. His fierce shot bounced back into play and was again sent towards goal only for Eamiano Holly to deflect it away from danger.
The final whistle came: a four-point victory, a superb second half performance and a victory that delighted captain Petildo Burke.
Unfortunately, the game was marred by an injury to Tom Heery after an accidental collision early in the match. Hopefully, Tom will back where he belongs in a Brendan's jersey very soon and has a speedy recovery.
1/ Garvinho, 2/ Tom Heinhosa Heery, 3/ Kinhosa Foxe, 4/ Petildo Burke, 5/ Tito Ryan, 6/ Sharkinho, 7/ Trevisco Purtill, 8/ Eamiano Holly, 9/ Shane Foleiro de Costa, 10/ Gavin Hanliano, 11/ Willieauro McLoughlin, 12/ Garrisco Cleary, 13/ Dave Ryeta Ryan, 14/ Dave Hito Henry, 15/ Justin McCormito
Subs: Mark McEnteinho, John Mooreca
It was an altogether different type of game on the bottom pitch where the Darkest Force also ran out winners in a game that would have been high-scoring had it been in the World Cup, but was low-scoring by Gaelic football standards.
While John Michael McLoughmar was attending his 177th wedding of the year, his fellow St. Brendans 2nds players won their third match of the season against Man O'War in a thirteen-a-side clash that lasted just fifty minutes.
The half time score was two points a piece with the scorers being 17 year old Paul Sullivinho, the Darkest Force's youngest ever player and Derek Hildo Henry. Other players had scoring chances but missed the target including Coninho Boland whose lung-bursting 70 yard solo run and shot just fell short.
Paul McDonoisco arrived for the start of the second half after getting a flight from Newcastle, England and his presence proved inspirational for the home side as they began to rally, Maoliosinho McHugh, fresh from his antics in Croatia, hit three successive points, but in between, the North County Dublin outfit hit back with scores of their own to equalise 5 points a piece going into the final few minutes. Paildo Tivnan and the Brendan's defence were alert to whatever Man O'War threw at them and ensured a clean sheet for the second match in a row.
Wio McCarthy and Hildo Henry then had scoring chances, but it was the King of the Four Masters, Shanaldo Dunnion that was to hit the winning point in the most spectacular fashion imaginable, the lead up was total teamwork with up to nine players involved in the move.
The final whistle was greeted with relief and Grangegorman was a happy place again. Final Score: 0-6 to 0-5.
P.S. Brazilian names are courtesy of Damien Mullisco and the Midfield Dynamo website: http://www.midfielddynamo.com/fancythat/yourbrazilian.htm
