01/12 - MALAHIDE UTD 3 : RATOATH HARPS 2

It was a very stormy Malahide Castle, that staged last Saturday’s lunchtime fixture.

Having played Ratoath already this season we knew they were a strong physical side that played good football.

So with Ronan, Mathew and Emma unavailable, the remaining brave 9 started the match knowing this was going to be tough. Ratoath pushed forward and were rewarded with an early goal. It was not long though before Malahide equalized. The two sides were well matched, with very little between them.

Aaron and Josh kept a tight defence. Adam controlled the game as sweeper, Ben and Jack shared the goalkeeping duties while Christopher, Cian and Michael were always dangerous going forward.

Despite the weather, there was some great passing from Malahide and a great team effort which resulted in Luke scoring the 1st hat trick of the season (and going home with the match ball!).

Malahide finished 3-2 on the day in a game played in good spirits by both teams.

13/10 - Castleknock Celtic 1 - 1 Malahide United

Having lost to Castleknock on the first game of the season, we were nervous at the prospect of facing the current league leaders at home.

With Cian McPhilips and Christopher McDonnell away on International duty we knew this was going to be a tough match. Both teams started at a blistering pace but unbelievably the score was 0-0 at half time.

With some tactical changes in the second half, Malahide tried to unlock the Castleknock defence. A superb long range shot by Mathew McConnell, saved by the Castleknock goalkeeper landed only as far as Aaron Murphy who hit the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

Castleknock responded with a superb strike (which Shay Given himself couldn’t have saved) which was applauded by both teams.

The Captain Emma Costello held the defence together and was greatly supported in the second half by Luke McGahey and Ronan Conlon-Dooley.

With Michael Sheridan, Josh McKenna, Ben Ryder and Adam Elebert pushing for a winner and Jack Natin in goal, the game ended in a fair 1-1 draw.

A good result from a good game appreciated by the crowd of 35 people in attendance.

Written on behalf of Jack Kearney – Official Team Reporter.