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Rush 1 : Malahide United 5 Captain:
Rory Boland
Scorers: Brooks 2, Jones 2, Grehan 1
Malahide put the home team under constant pressure
right from the start. It did not take long for the breakthrough
to come. After 5 minutes David put Gary away down the left, he
beat his marker and crossed for Owen to score.
After an interception from a kick out Gary hit
the post. This was followed up by great passing play and Gavin,
Conor and Owen combined for the second goal finished by Gary on
11 minutes.
The defence of Kevin, Keating, Niall Gaine,
Conor Ryan and Kevin O'Flynn was outstanding and Rush could not
find a way to threaten the Malahide goal. At the same time Conor
Quinn, Gavin, David and Rory were in control of the midfield area.
David O'Carroll put in a cross from the left
on eighteen minutes and Owen met it confidently for the third
goal. Three minutes later Rory put Gary through for the 4th goal.
Malahide had a deserved lead of 4 nil at halftime.
Ten minutes into the second half Rory and Neil
played the ball down the right and Mark had a shot which tested
the Rush keeper. On 20 minutes, Conor Grehan won possession from
a Rush kickout and drove to the line before scoring the fifth
with a low shot from a tight angle.
After 26 minutes Rush scored on the break as
Malahide tired. The home team created a further couple of chances
but the finishing was poor.
Paul, Gearoid, Mark and Neil all had shots before
the end but the Rush defence held firm. Overall, another strong
performance 5 - 1, well done.
25/09 - Malahide Utd. 5 - 0 Rivervalley Rangers
Captain: Niall Gaine
Scorers: Gaine 2, Jones 2, Boland 1
Rivervalley started the game with great determination and had
the majority of the possession for the first fifteen minutes or
so. The visitors had the home defence in trouble and forced a
corner after 10 minutes. They were unlucky not to go ahead from
the corner and Malahide had to withstand many attacks in the early
stages. At this stage Malahide were finding it difficult to get
the ball out of their own half. Gradually the team stepped into
gear and took control of the game.
After 15 minutes Owen Jones was put through and he finished well
but the goal was disallowed. Conor Grehan and David O'Carroll
were causing problems down the left flank and after combining
well with Owen, Conor was fouled just outside the box on 20 minutes.
Captain for the day, Niall Gaine stepped up to curl a great free
kick into the far top corner of the net. All the defending players
could do was stand and watch.
About 5 minutes later Conor and David won another free kick about
fifteen yards outside the box on the left. Once again Niall stepped
up to take it and it proved too hot to handle for the Rivervalley
keeper. Malahide were on top but Rivervalley continued to play
some good football. The home side struck again with 10 minutes
to go to half time. Mark Hughes and Conor Quinn were now winning
the midfield battle. Owen was put through by Conor after some
good play by Neil out on the right and he finished with great
composure. Malahide led 3 - 0 at half time.
During the half-time break all of the players took on board some
much needed vitamin c and water.
Rory Boland and Gavin O'Shaughnessy came on at the start of the
second half and immediately made an impact. Gavin had a shot after
a one two with Mark and the Rivervalley keeper saved well. Rory
put Paul Kerley through and he tested the keeper once more with
a strong shot.
Kevin O'Flynn and Kevin Keating gave the Rivervalley wide players
no room to do any damage and the back four defended very well
as a unit. Conor Ryan and Niall Gaine let nothing through the
middle and they were well protected by Conor Quinn who successfully
played a holding role late in the game. Andrew had to be on his
toes to make a good save midway through the second half.
Malahide made it 4 - 0, ten minutes into the second period, thanks
to Owen Jones second goal of the game. Rory won the ball in midfield
and went by two midfielders before releasing Paul up the right
hand flank with a deft pass. Paul sprinted to the edge of the
box before putting in a perfect cross for Owen to finish off a
great move.
Malahide struck again 15 minutes and the final goal proved to
be the goal of the game. After good midfield play the ball was
centered to Gavin, who pulled it back onto Rory's right boot and
he powered it straight into the top corner of the net to make
it 5 - 0. Gary Brooks and Gearoid McLaughlin came on and were
soon both causing problems for the opposition defence. The game
ended in a 5 - 0 win for Malahide - ' A great day at the office'
as Sean would say. The most positive aspect is that everyone contributed
to a very strong team performance. However, we still have lots
of room for improvement in the weeks and months ahead.
18/09 - Castleknock Celtic 1: 1 Malahide
United
Captain: Conor Grehan
Scorers: Hughes 1
Once again, Malahide got off to a fast start
and all of the early play was in Castleknock's half. A number
of half chances were created, Conor Grehan putting in some fine
challenges and passes on the right hand side.
After 10 minutes Andrew launched a kick out
down the field and Gary outsprinted the defenders to get in a
shot. The keeper made a double save and was very busy at this
stage. Malahide created a number of half chances - Rory, Mark,
Gavin and Owen all had attempts which were saved. Castleknock
conceded 3 corners and were feeling the pressure. David, Niall
and Kevin had to be sharp to defend a few attacks from the home
team, but the defence's concentration was good.
After 20 minutes Rory had a shot blocked and
on 25 minutes Owen put in a good shot. The Castleknock defenders
were very busy and time after time they put in some good tackles
to keep the Malahide attack at bay.
About 10 minutes into the second half Castleknock
broke out and put a ball into the Malahide box. It broke kindly
for the attacker who took an easy chance to score.
It was a warm morning and a combination of the
big pitch and the sun took the strength out of the lads. However,
the substitutes who came on were very strong and really injected
some energy into the game.
Malahide searched for the equaliser and after
20 minutes the breakthrough came. Out on the right wing the ball
was worked to Rory and he lobbed a great ball into the box - Mark
surged forward with great determination and strength and finished
with a low shot - 1 1.
Gearoid went close and was unlucky not to score,
Neil Taylor had a great near post shot saved by the Castleknock
keeper. Mark had another shot saved close to the end.
While Malahide were pressing forward for the
winner, the home team continued to break on the counter attack
and could have scored also.
A tough game finished with honours even, the
home team's keeper made the difference with a great display.
16/09 Friday - Malahide United 4 : Ratoath
Harps 2
Captain: Kevin Keating
Scorers: Brooks 2, Taylor 2
The lads enjoyed wearing their new gear for
the first time on Friday night and right from the kick off they
imposed themselves on the away team.
The early play was all in the Ratoath half and
it did not take long for a breakthrough. After 5 minutes Neil
Taylor broke down the right and put in a teasing cross. Gary Brooks
blocked the defender's clearance and slotted in the first goal.
Malahide continued to dominate and after 12
minutes the second goal came, after good approach play from Rory
Boland, Gavin O'Shaughnessy put a great ball through and Neil
Taylor scored the second.
The defence of Kevin Keating, Conor Quinn, Niall
Gaine and Kevin O'Flynn were not giving the opposing forwards
any space at this stage.
David O'Carroll worked the ball up the left
to Paul Kerley, who passed to Gary Brooks after 15 minutes and
Gary went by his marker and hit a shot into the top corner for
the third.
The home team continued to dominate, however,
on a break the Ratoath attack won a soft free kick just outside
the box. Malahide tried to organise the defence but a good free
kick found the net.
The home team increased their lead just before
half time - Rory's clever chip put Neil through and he finished
well for the fourth goal.
The second half continued with the home team
pressing continuously. Conor Ryan and Conor Grehan did not let
any Ratoath attacks develop and they began several Malahide attacks
from the back. Gavin and Neil both had shots which tested the
away team's keeper.
Another disputed free kick was awarded to Ratoath
halfway through the 2nd half and they scored with a high shot
to the net.
Neil passed to Mark and his shot was well saved.
A short corner from Mark to Kevin Keating almost resulted in another
goal. Gearoid McLaughlin and Owen Jones were threatening the Ratoath
goal each time they received the ball.
Malahide's midfield continued to dominate and
Rory, Mark, Kevin O'Flynn all went close.
A very sporting match finished with the home
team winning 4:2.
The squad photo that never was!!
Match Report - Sunday 11th September
2005.
Swords Manor 0:4 Malahide United
Captain: Mark Hughes
Scorers: Brooks 2, O'Shaughnessy 1, Taylor 1
The new season got off to a winning start with
a comprehensive victory away to a game Swords Manor team. There
was a great turnout of parents to support the lads for their first
league match. It was a very hot day and the lads needed to take
lots of liquid to keep hydrated.
Malahide were soon into their stride and dominated
the early stages, Kevin O'Fynn had a surging run up the left wing
after 2 minutes and put in a dangerous cross. After 8 minutes
Mark Hughes had a long range effort which tested the Swords keeper.
Gearoid McLaughlin went on a mazy run and put in a good shot,
he was causing all kinds of trouble for their defence.
Swords broke through the middle after 10 minutes
and Conor Ryan had to put in a crunching tackle to keep out the
Swords centre forward. Some good tackling by Kevin Keating, Niall
Gaine and Conor Grehan kept the Swords attackers at bay. However,
Swords were unlucky not to take the lead after 11 minutes, after
working the ball down the left their winger put in a tremendous
shot which hit the crossbar.
Malahide immediately went up the field and nearly
scored. Kevin O'Flynn put Gary Brooks through with a long throw
and his shot went narrowly wide. The midfield partnership of Rory
Boland, Mark Hughes, Kevin O'Flynn and Gavin O'Shaughnessy began
to take control of the game and they began creating chances.
There was a goalmouth scramble 15 minutes and
after Rory, Gearoid and Mark had a go, the ball came back to Conor
Grehan who put in a great shot which was well saved by the keeper.
The breakthrough came after 20 minutes when
Gary Brooks was put through by Conor Grehan and he scored with
a low and hard shot at the near post.
Swords threatened again and Andrew Callaly had
to make a double save to keep Swords scoreless.
Malahide were now dominating the game. Just
before halftime, Gavin went on a clever run down the right wing,
he beat his full back and put in an inviting cross which was finished
by Gary for the 2nd goal.
Between the forwards closing down the Swords
backline and the midfield and defence totally in command at this
stage Malahide deserved their 2 nil lead at the break.
Early in the 2nd half Andrew had to make a save
at the near post from a Swords corner and having punched the ball
he followed up with a great save.
The heat was taking it's toll, and tiredness
was creeping in, a couple of passes were not given and too much
was being taken out of the ball. Possession was lost and Swords
nearly scored on the break.
The central defenders Conor and Niall displayed excellent positional
sense and strength to keep on top of the opposition's forwards.
Kevin Keating and Kevin O'Flynn ensured that the Sword's wide
players were kept at bay.
The third goal was the best of the day - very
direct and simple. Rory Boland threw the ball inside to Gary,
he hit it first time to Gavin who continued into the box and hit
a right foot shot high into the Swords goal.
Owen Jones and Neil Taylor came on and had an
immediate impact. Owen played some great passes through the centre
of the Swords defence and combined with Neil who put in a strong
shot on goal.
Conor Quinn had come on and was now putting
in some great tackles in midfield to continue Malahide's dominance
in this section of the field. He was also getting forward at every
opportunity to support the attack.
Paul Kerley came on and began to attack all
of the Swords kickouts. He won lots of possession and was a constant
threat to the Swords midfield and defence.
On the 40th minute, Gavin rose at the near post
to meet another Kevin O'Flynn corner and nodded the ball down,
unfortunately Gavin was denied his second goal by a lump of earth
on the goal-line and the ball bounced away.
Another fine move started by Rory put Gavin
away down the right, he crossed for Owen who put in a low shot
which the Swords keeper could only parry and Neil was following
up to finish at the far post.
Swords kept threatening on the break and Andrew
and his defence had to cut out a number of dangerous attacks.
However, Malahide finished strongly with Rory,
Paul, Conor and Gavin pouring forward to create chances with a
good passing game while Neil and Owen attacked constantly.
The victory was well deserved and every
one of the 15 players played their part.
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