09/05 - Four goal blast sets up ‘winner take all’ with St Oliver Plunketts

POPE JOHN PAUL II……….4 RUSH P.S…….……………….1

A FIRST goal conceded in five outings, but there was still no stopping Pope John Paul II relentless march as they powered to another impressive win at Malahide Castle.

Once again the strength and depth of the Pope John Paul II squad came good and proved just too strong for Rush in this penultimate Fingal Primary Schools League clash which was played in ideal conditions. Goals from Colm Curtis, Conor Mullarkey (2) and Danny Zeleke fired the Malahide school into an unassailable lead and the only blot on the landscape was the concession of a penalty two minutes from time which was harshly awarded against Niall Higgins for what was the most innocuous of contacts in a situation which was hardly goal threatening.

But despite that sole concession, Pope John Paul II were once again highly impressive with Fionn Cahill slotting back in beside Zeleke in the midfield engine-room and pulling the strings impressively after coming back from a groin injury. Once again skipper Jacob Ferguson was imperious in the centre of the home side defence while Shane Hatton grew in stature with another whole-hearted display alongside him.

Colm Curtis got the goals flowing after a lovely build up down the left flank after seventeen minutes., Conor Mullarkey finished off expertly from close in to double the lead and the excellent Zeleke drilled a superb volley from the edge of the box though a forest of bodies to find the bottom left hand corner. Three-nil at the interval and Mullarkey soon got his name on the score sheet again with another well taken strike from close in. That signalled an opportunity to rotate the squad and by fulltime, a completely different eleven finished to that which started the game.

With a winner take all clash against St Oliver Plunkett in the final fixture, the opportunity to rest some first choice starts was appreciated while some of the fringe players were only too delighted to get into the action.
Despite the changes Pope John Paul looked comfortable and the likes of Seamus Greene, Eoin O’Connell, Oisin O’Toole and Emmett Cuddy all done well when introduced and will no doubt have impressed the watching St Oliver Plunkett spies.

Rush, who battled honourably throughout were to get some reward for their efforts and finally breached the Pope John Paul II rear guard when the consolation penalty was awarded.

Replacement goalkeeper Conor McGrath made a brave effort diving full lenght to his right to save the spot kick and managed to get a hand to the spot-kick, but couldn’t stop the shot finding the back of the net.

POPE JOHN PAUL II: Conor Ryan; Niall Gaine, Glenn Daly, Jacob Ferguson,. Shane Hatton, Colm Curtis, David O’Carroll, Danny Zeleke, Fionn Cahill, Conor Mullarkey, Paul Curley. Subs: Mark Finnerty, Paul Curley, Alan Tudor, Oisin O’Toole, Niall Higgins, Emmet Cuddy, Seamus Greene, Adrian Cassin, Conor McGrath, Conor Synnott, Kevin Lynnott.

Chase superb as Pope John Paul maintain unbeaten ‘Fingal’ start

SKERRIES NS……….…..0 POPE JOHN PAUL……...0

COLD and wet perhaps but with spirits high after a battling performance in testing conditions, Pope John Paul returned from Skerries with their honour intact following this competitive Fingal Primary Schools League encounter.

And the Malahide school , shorn of some regular choice players displayed that not alone is there a depth of talent but also a wonderful ‘never-say-die’ attitude instilled into the pupils.

Ably marshalled once again by the superb Jacob Ferguson, Pope John Paul had a couple of heroes in Conor Ryan in goal and Peter Chase who was drafted in late in the day and produced an all-action display in the heart of the Pope John Paul defence.
Aided by the elements in the first half Danny Zeleke had a couple of efforts on goal from well positioned free-kicks while Niall Higgins and Shane Hatton both had half chances that unfortunately went the wrong side of the goal.

Missing the influential presence of the injured Fionn Cahill, Zeleke compensated in abundance by producing a magnificent display in midfield and his clever promptings and teak-tough tackling stood him out as the game’s most influential player. The diminutive Ferguson’s reading of the game as sweeper was another stand-out aspect and time and again he mopped up and when Skerries got the odd sight of goal they found that Conor Ryan’s glove were holding everything that came his way.

The second period saw Malahide turn around to face into an increasingly stronger breeze and although Skerries got one or two chances on goal, the reality is that Malahide were the better team and created some excellent chances themselves.

The best of these fell to Shane Hatton who got in on goal but his final effort lacked power and direction and Skerries were grateful to see their own keeper collect and clear to safety.
With Skerries adopting a ’route-one’ approach with high dropping balls, this was the cue for Peter Chase to stamp his presence on the game and time and again he returned the ball with interest and using his statuesque presence to telling effect. And when the ball evaded Chase or Ferguson, goalkeeper Ryan held everything that came is way with the assurance of a confident ‘keeper.

It was, given the reduced squad numbers and the difficult playing conditions, a performance that John Paul can be proud of. Paul Curley tried manfully, Seamus Greene got through a huge amount of work, Mark Finnerty along side Zeleke covered every blade of grass while Adrian Cassin showed what a tidy defender he was and his clever dribbling out of defence tidied up more than one Skerries attack.

Zeleke and Finnerty both picked up yellow cards but given the competitiveness of the occasion, they were arguably harshly awarded while Alan Tudor and Conor McGrath worked hard on behalf of the team when they were introduced.

In the end honours and spoils were divided and it ensured that Malahide’s record of not conceding a goal in this competition remained intact.

A job well done and a result the players can be proud of.

POPE JOHN PAUL: Conor Ryan; Adrian Cassin, Jacob Ferguson (capt), Peter Chase, Niall Gaine, Danny Zeleke, Mark Finnerty, Seamus Greene, Niall Higgins, Paul Cruley. Subs: Alan Tudor, Conor McGrath.

Six of the best for Pope John Paul II

POPE JOHN PAUL II MALAHIDE 6:0 ST TERESA'S BALBRIGGAN

Gannon Park 04/04 - Report and Pictures Eamon Scott

POPE JOHN PAUL II kicked off their Fingal League Primary soccer league campaign with a six goal demolition of St Teresa's Balbriggan at Gannon Park on Tuesday.

The Jacob Ferguson skippered side, featuring many Malahide United players were simply too classy for their north Dublin coast rivals and had gained the upperhand as early as the fifth minute when midfielder Danny Zeleke finished off good approach work by Sean Reilly down the right flank.

Despite facing into the breeze, the slick combination play of Pope John Paul saw them camp in their opponents' half for long periods and the lead was doubled in the eight minute. Fionn Cahill's corner caused confusion in the Balbriggan defence and Shane Hatton won possession as the ball was just about to run out of play, and, from an acute angle, drilled a low drive home from close in.

Left winger David O'Carroll got in on the scoring act with a delightful third. O'Carroll conjured a marvellous turn and chip from six yeards out that just cleared the outstretched reach of the Balbriggan keeper to find the back of the net.

With a large panel to call on, it was a case of rotating players and giving them some time on the field of play and for Seamus Greene it was a case of striking gold with his first touch after he was introduced fro Niall Higgins. Green came on in the the 23rd minute and within sixty seconds had got his name on the scoresheet. He kept his composure to slip the ball under the advancing Balbriggan 'keeper with a a delicate deft touch after Fionn Cahill had created the opening with a penetrating run from midfield.

The four nil interval scoreline was a decent reflection of the dominance of Pope John Paul with Conor Ryan in the home goal a virtual spectator, such was the level of possession the Malahide boys enjoyed.
Fionn Cahill and Danny Zeleke were a dominant partnership in midfield while the introduction of Alan Tudor up front gave Pope John Paul a strong strike target and the young Latvian was unlucky to see his goalbound shot deflected out for a fruitless corner as Pope John Paul II continued on where they had left off at the end of the first half.

But the all-action Malahide boys kept their composure and were rewarded with a fifth goal when good approach work by substitute Paul Kerley saw Zeleke challenge bravely at the edge of the box and his eighteen yard strike rocketed to the roof of the net.

Kerley was unlucky with a couple of efforts on goal but the icing of the cake was provided by Seamus Greene who doubled his own tally with a speculative shot from outside of the box. With five minutes left on the clock his strike from 25 yards caught the Balbriggan netminder somewhat unsighted and he saw the ball bribble through his legs to complete a bad day at the office for the gallant Balbriggan Boys.

It was the perfect start for Pope john Paul and with addional players to come into play, the prospects of a successful campaign over the five remaining matches look promising.

POPE JOHN PAUL II: Conor Ryan; Adrian Cassin, Jacob Ferguson (capt), Mark Finnerty, Niall Gaine; Sean Reilly, Danny Zeleke, Fionn Cahill, David O'Carroll; Niall Higgins, Shane Hatton. Subs (all used) Kevin Lynnott, Paul Kerley, Seamus Greene, Alan Tudor, Conor McGrath (g/k)