18/02/06 - Malahide United 4:2 Drumcondra

8C2’s ‘Back on Track’.

The 8C2’s got back on track today with a great 4-2 victory over Drumcondra FC at home at ‘The Castle’.

Despite missing Harry Doyle and Matthew O’Connell who were both on holidays, the team was strengthened by the return of Keith McKeown after 2 weeks absence. Liam Waterhouse, playing in goal for the 2nd time in as many weeks, captained the team after his heroic performance in goal against Kinsealy. The team had a new look with Jamie Walsh moving into midfield and Lachlain Ellingboe taking up the sweeper role.

United started well and penned back ‘Drumcondra’ in their own half.. Gavin Conway, and Andrew Kenny had good opportunities to open the scoring before Gavin ran on to a ‘sweet’ pass from Alex Pugh and crashed the ball into the net from way outside the box. That great strike put him top scorer. Ciaron Conway and Lachlain Ellingboe had very little to do but were always on their toes. Andrew Kenny wasn’t giving up the ‘Top Scorer’ award to Gavin too easily and scored United’s 2nd with 2 minutes to go. He ran onto a great pass from Jamie Walsh and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

In the 2nd quarter, Drumcondra started to come into the game, but Malahide were still winning most possession with Jamie Walsh having a great game in the middle. Paul Grehan and Lachlain Ellingboe had a bit more to do in this quarter and Liam Waterhouse had to be on his toes to stop Drumcondra from pulling one back. Keith McKeown was putting himself about in the midfield area and was playing ‘probably’ his best quarter to date. Ciaron Conway had moved into midfield and was passing and tackling with great assurance. United got a third with a clever quick corner by Jamie Walsh to Andrew Kenny. Andrew moved into the box and crashed the ball under the Drumcondra goalkeeper. Gavin Conway was unlucky not to score another goal at the end of the quarter and only some good goalkeeping prevented it.

In the 3rd quarter, Drumcondra pulled one back with a very good goal from their best player. He scored from a tight angle after a very good run down the left. United did not panic and continued to win most of their tackles in midfield with Alex Pugh, as strong as ever and Jamie Walsh and putting in some great runs. Andrew Kenny ran on to a great pass from Ciaron Conway and fired in his ‘Hat Trick’. A deserved 4-1 to the home team. Lachlain Ellingboe and Paul Grehan continued to put in some great tackles at the back and Ciaron Conway was a revelation up front with a number of great runs and passes.

In the last quarter, United continued to press, but Drumcondra never gave up and scored a deserved goal with 3 minutes to go. With the Hat Trick hero substituted, Keith McKeown put in an even better quarter with his passing and tackling. He has obviously being practicing while he was away, Liam Waterhouse was again assured in goal, although he had a little less to do than in the last match. Jamie Walsh was most unfortunate not to add to United’s goals with at least five shots that narrowly went wide or were well saved by the goalkeeper. Alex Pugh decided to mark their best player and effectively took him out of the game for the final quarter.
So, it’s a 2nd win in 4 games for the 8C2’s. The guys continue to work hard and are listening and learning all the time. With the win today, we should move up the table.

Very well done guys. Andrew is getting the Hat Trick award, but it couldn’t have happened without a great team effort from all involved.
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11/02/06 - Kinsealy v. Malahide United

8C2’s run comes to an end.

The 8C2’s unbeaten run in 2006 came to an end today against a very strong Kinsealy Boys away at the Castle. United were missing 3 key players today with goalkeeper, Matthew O; Connell, last weeks captain, Harry Doyle and Keith McKeown unable to make the game

Ciaron Conway was back from his exploits in the National Quiz was handed the captains armband because of his performance in the Dunshaughlin game. Liam Waterhouse put on the goalkeepers gloves for the first time this season.

United started well and were knocking the ball around and controlling midfield. Ciaron Conway, Alex Pugh and top scorer Andrew Kenny were winning their fair share in midfield and Jamie Walsh and Lachlain Ellingboe were cleaning everything that came their way at the back. Kinsealy didn’t really threaten Liam Waterhouse in goal and Gavin Conway and Alex Pugh came close on a couple of occasions to put United in front but the Kinsealy goalkeeper made a couple of good saves to stop them.

In the 2nd quarter, Kinsealy Boys 1st team came into the game, but Malahide were still winning most possession with Jamie Walsh sweeping up well at the back. Paul Grehan started the 2nd quarter in midfield and swapped with Lachlain Ellingboe after a couple of minutes to try and prevent Kinsealy from taking control. Alex Pugh was putting himself about in the centre of midfield and got hurt on a couple of occasions making hard tackles to stop Kinsealy from scoring. When Kinsealy did get through, Liam Waterhouse was outstanding in goal saving the day on at least 4 occasions with diving, catching and kicking saves. Kinsealy finally got their breakthrough with 2 minutes to go in the quarter. All of the guys were ‘goal side’ for a corner, but unfortunately they got a lucky break and got their noses in front.

In the 3rd quarter, Kinsealy continued to press and showed some great skill passing and running and only some great tackling from captain, Cairon Conway and the ever reliable Jamie Walsh kept them out. With the lack of substitutes, the guys were tiring and the concentration level dropped a little. Kinsealy got a 2nd goal after 3 minutes and followed up with a third on 6 minutes after United failed to clear their from a corner. However, United showed some great character to pull one back with 2 minutes remaining. Andrew Kenny put their sweeper under pressure and won the ball up in the right corner with some great support from Alex Pugh and put in a dangerous cross. Gavin Conway was on hand to put the ball in the back of the net. Gavin’s goal put him joint top goal scorer with Andrew Kenny this season.

In the last quarter, United continued to press, but Kinsealy’s good play was giving them the edge. Liam Waterhouse was again putting in a great performance and Jamie Walsh and Paul Grehan were frustrating the home team with some great defending. Ciaron Conway, Alex Pugh and Andrew Kenny did some hard running in midfield and were still trying to get another goal. Gavin Conway ran himself into the ground and was replaced by Lachlain Ellingboe with a couple of minutes to go. Kinsealy finally put the game beyond doubt with a couple of goals, despite the heroics from Liam Waterhouse.

Despite the defeat and missing some key players, this was probably the best display of the season. The guys are improving with each game and are putting in some excellent individual performances. The teamwork is improving and we would expect to be up there at the end of the season. Hopefully next week will see the return of Harry and Keith and this will strengthen the team

Very well done guys. Great display against a very good team.
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04/02/06 - Malahide United 2:2 Clontarf FC

8C2’s continue Great run.

The 8C2’s continued their great run with a credible draw against League leaders, Clontarf FC at ‘the Castle’. Although missing the hard tackling Ciaron Conway, who was off at the National Quiz final showing off how ‘brainy’ he is, and the gritty Keith McKeown who had a great game the previous week, the team were still confident after last weeks winning performance.

Harry Doyle was given the honour of captaining the team after his hard running last week and Lachlain Ellingboe returned to strengthen the team.

United did all the pressing in the first quarter with Liam Waterhouse and Andrew Kenny winning everything in midfield. Alex Pugh playing at centre of midfield was showing all the skills he had picked up in training and was outrunning and out passing his marker. Clontarf were penned back in their own half and only some good defending from the visitors prevented United from going ahead. Clontarf were fortunate to go ahead towards the end of the 1st quarter when a couple of unfortunate slips let them in for the 1st goal. Goalkeeper, Matthew O’Connell had been a spectator up until the goal and was unlucky not to save Clontarf’s 1st and only effort of the quarter.

In the 2nd quarter, Clontarf came into the game, but Malahide were still winning most possession with Jamie Walsh and Paul Grehan playing particularly well at the back. Gavin Conway was putting their backs under serious pressure and could have scored on a couple of occasions with a little more luck. Clontarf asked a few more questions of Matthew O’ Connell in this quarter, but Matthew was equal to the task,

In the 3rd quarter, United upped their performance and Clontarf were pegged back again. Andrew Kenny, who ran himself into the ground, took a neat pass from Alex Pugh and smashed the ball into the net. His 3rd goal in 2 games. A minute later, Harry Doyle had a great shot saved by the Clontarf goalkeeper, but Alex Pugh was on hand to coolly slot the ball into the net with his ‘dodgy’ foot. Some of the spectators were asking’ Which was his dodgy foot?’ because he did so well!!! A deserved 2-1 to United. Unfortunately as the quarter ended, Clontarf scored a goal from a corner despite 2 great saves from Matthew O’Connell.

In the last quarter, both teams were evenly matched with Paul Grehan, Lachlain Ellingboe and the ‘Unsung hero’ Jamie Walsh were excellent, winning all of their tackles and passing very well. Gavin Conway never stopped trying and Harry Doyle put a ‘Captain’s’ performance in. Liam Waterhouse replaced Harry with a couple of minutes to go and kept up his hard working display to the end.

The guys continue to improve and are showing some great skills and are matching the skill with great effort. Despite missing Ciaron and Keith, this was a great performance against the ‘league leaders’. The hard training is beginning to pay!!

3 games unbeaten now. Well done again guys.

28/1/06 - Dunshauglin 2:3 Malahide United

Under 8C’2 got their first win of the season in a ‘classic’ encounter with Dunshaughlin Youths in Dunshaughlin. The game in the ‘Printrite Shield, Section A’ was their 3rd game in this tournament and followed a creditable draw against St Ita’s, Portrane, last time out.

Despite missing the influential Lachlain Ellingboe for the first game of the New Year, they had a strong team with ‘birthday boy’ Andrew Kenny captaining the team for the 1st time this season.

United got off to the perfect start with a great goal from Andrew ’Birthday boy’ Kenny after 5 minutes. Andrew took a neat pass from Alex Pugh and ghosted by the defender to score. Malahide were bossing the game in midfield with Alex Pugh and Liam Waterhouse winning everything and playing some great passes to Harry Doyle who was playing as the lone striker. Harry was unfortunate not to score a 2nd for United after some great work by the midfielders up the left.

The 2nd quarter started in a similar vein to the 1st with the birthday boy scoring again. This time he hit a great shot from outside the box and the ball struck the upright and hit the back of the net after some good work from Keith McKeown. Jamie Walsh and new boy Paul Grehan were playing very well at the back and shielded the ever reliable Matthew O’ Connell in goal.

Dunshaugllin came back very strongly in the 3rd quarter and Ciaron Conway at the back and Keith McKeown in midfield put in some hard tackles to save the day on more than one occasion. Alex Pugh had a golden opportunity to make it 3-0 after beating four Dunshaughlin players before shooting narrowly wide. Dunshaughlin pulled a goal back with a couple of minutes to bring them back into the game with one quarter remaining. Harry Doyle who was up front did some great running to win the ball from the opposition and he ran himself into the ground.

In the last quarter, Dunshaughlin had their tails up and put the United’s backline under pressure and only some excellent tackling from Jamie Walsh, Paul Grehan and the team and some assured goalkeeping from Matthew O Connell kept Dunshauglin out. Gavin Conway and Liam Waterhouse were trying hard to give the backs a break by taking on the opposition up front, but Dunshaughlin finally got their reward for hard work and scored the equaliser with 4 minutes to go.

It looked like a 2nd draw in a row for the C2’s until Ciaron Conway won an important challenge at the back and passed the ball to Liam Waterhouse. Liam played a long ball over the Dunshaughlin defence and Gavin Conway was in a race with their keeper to win the ball. The goalkeeper thought he was the winner, but he didn’t take into account that Gavin never gives up!! Their goalkeeper tried to clear, but Gavin stuck out his foot and steered the ball into the back of the net. 3-2 to United and the last couple of minutes the guys were solid and didn’t give Dunshaughlin another chance to equalise.

So the New Year gets off to a great start with a well deserved win. The guys have been training very hard all season and were unlucky not to have chalked up their first win until now. All the players involved today and Lachlain have broken their ‘duck’ and with a display like this one, it won’t be the last!!

Well done guys.