16/9/06 Castleknock Celtic 1 – 6 Malahide United

9D1’s off to a flyer.

The D1’s got off to a flyer with a comprehensive 7-1 victory over Castleknock Celtic in Castleknock. This was the first game of the season and the team who were all together from last season had been doing some serious pre-season training to get ready for this game. Castleknock had beaten us 2-1 in the final game of last season so this was a good test of how much the guys had been practicing over the summer.

With a full compliment of 10 players to pick from, Gavin ‘Birthday Boy’ Conway was given the captain’s armband and started in his usual centre forward position.

United got off to the perfect start with a great goal from Andrew Kenny after 4 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 the much improved Lachlain Ellingboe winning everything and playing some great passes to Gavin. Paul Grehan and Jamie Walsh were very solid at the back and this meant that Liam Waterhouse in goal was a virtual spectator. After 12 minutes Malahide were 3 up. First Gavin Conway got his first of the day as Alex Pugh was again the provider and Alex finished off a great period for United by scoring his usual ‘poacher’ goal at the back post after some quick thinking at a corner from Lachlain. Gavin Conway made it 4-0 with a goal that showed that he ‘never gives up’. He chased a long ball from Paul Grehan and hassled the goalkeeper into a mistake before slotting the ball into the back of the net.

With 5 minutes to go in the half the manager realised that the match was 2 halves rather than 4 quarters (Doh!!!) and put on the 3 substitutes. Harry Doyle replaced Gavin up front and gave the Castleknock defence some major headaches, the hard tackling Keith McKeown and the ever reliable Cairon Conway coming in for some tired players.

The 2nd half was much the same as the first with United passing there way out of any trouble that came their way and putting the Castleknock defence under serious pressure. Some great work from Ciaron, Lachlain and Harry set up the ‘Birthday Boy’ Gavin for his hat trick.

At 5-0 Castleknock got a consolation with a well taken goal from their best player. Andrew Kenny got his 2nd with a well taken goal after a great through ball from Liam Waterhouse and Jamie Walsh finished off the scoring after some of the hard tackling from Paul Grehan at the back.

So the season has got off to a great start with the guys showing that hard work in training does pay off. The score-line could have been higher if the lads had passed in some situations instead of trying to score, but all in all, it was a great team display.

Well done guys.