Two more narrow losses for the Dark Force Footballers
News Item added:17-07-2010
IT was another bad day for the footballers of St Brendan’s as both teams suffered defeat in their respective League clashes.
Up in Raheny, Peter Burke was lucky to have fifteen fit men at throw-in with a number of his players lost and wandering aimlessly around the maze that is St Anne’s Park.
Those who could make it on time got off to a great start and raced into a four points to two lead after just ten minutes played.
Garrett Cleary had unfortunately picked up a knock and was replaced by the late-arriving Ken Foxe, who really should have known better having played at this pitch several times before.
Still, he did arrive earlier than another player – who shall remain nameless – that did not make it until half-time at which point St Brendan’s and Raheny were level on the scoreboard.
By that stage, there had been some fine scores from Timmy Ryan, John Moore and Willie McLoughlin.
As the rain began to spill down, the worsening conditions seemed to play into the hands of the St Anne’s Park natives and they took the lead.
Their first goal was a pure fluke as the ball cannoned off a St Brendan’s player and into the net, only for a second goal to follow shortly after. Points from McLoughlin and Moore were the only thing keeping the Dark Force in touch.
St Brendan’s had a three-pointer of their own shortly after when Ken Foxe palmed on to Robbie Caulfield who passed to John Moore. The man from Kilmeena made no mistake adding to his scoring tally.
The lead was cut to two with just five minutes remaining but it was Raheny who pushed on and added another two points to their tally to leave the final score 2-10 to 1-9.
The Team: 1/ Colin Garvin, 2/ Peter Burke, 3/ Peter Fallon, 4/ Brian St Brendans, 5/ Shane O’Dwyer, 6/ John Ryan, 7/ Timothy Ryan, 8/ Mark McEntee, 9/ Derek Henry, 10/ David Henry, 11/ Willie McLoughlin, 12/ Robbie Caulfield, 13/ John Moore, 14/ Garrett Cleary, 15/ Dave Ryan.
Subs: Ken Foxe
Over in Finglas, the Darkest Force also had a narrow loss going down on a scoreline of 2-15 to 2-12.
The turning point came when one of the St Brendan’s players was harshly adjudged to have picked the ball from the ground for a penalty just outside the square.
A number of other dubious frees left the Gormanites frustrated but Paul McDonough could still be happy with some fine performances from his charges.
The Team that played Erins Isle 15/7/2010.
1. Mick McGinty, 2. Barry Halpin, 3. Will McCarthy, 4. Eoin Smith, 5. Hugh Smith, 6. Conall Boland, 7. Dave Sullivan, 8. Shane Dunnion, 9. Maolíosa McHugh, 10. Paul Conlon, 11. Darren Kelly, 12. John Michael McLoughlin, 13. Eugene Cunningham, 14. Conor Duignan, 15. Paul McDonough. Subs: Johnny Walsh for Hugh Smith, Damien Mullen for Cunningham.
Paul McDonough and Conor Duignan were the goal scorers, McDonough dared not to miss from two yards, and Duignan's shot went through a forest of players legs. Eugene Cunningham also notched a brilliant point thanks to hard work by Paul Conlon. After Erins Isle hit six without reply, one of which was a penalty, Paul Conlon stopped the rot with the final score of the first half. Half Time 1-5 to 0-10.
The Darkest Force were not helped in any way by a helicopter flying overhead for most of the second half after a gangland shooting took place nearby earlier in the day. Many players blamed that as a distraction for shots going wide.
