Terenure FC

UCFL Div. 3 Shield
11 April 2012

Dollymount FC 2 – 3 Terenure FC 3rds

Still out with injury I declined the midweek trip to one of my least favourite football pitches and thankfully my absence brought the lads some luck. Dollymount have been a constant thorn in our side since we landed in division 3 and this was a first win over them at the fifth attempt. Manager/Goalkeeper Niall McCall saved a penalty at a key stage of the game that probably went a long way to securing the win while Graham Maher produced another two goals to bring his personal tally to 7 goals in his last 6 games and 8 from 9 starts for the season. The 3rd goal was an O.G. although I’m told Noel O’Brien is desperately trying to claim it. The win means there’s still a chance we can make the shield final, but we can’t afford to drop any points and need Phoenix to slip up against either Dollymount or Dundrum.

UCFL Div. 3
14 April 2012

Brookfield 2nds 3 – 1 Terenure FC 3rds

Still injured but with the game in Jobstown only a 15 minute stroll from my house I wandered over to lend my support. There was a distinct lack of wingers available for the game and so we started with two players more comfortable as central defenders on the wings, this meant that the main goal for this game was always going to be containment and attempting to score ourselves from set pieces. Brookfield are in the running for the title and will take it if they win their remaining matches, they have a young team and they play football on the deck from the back, in the first half they played with a strong wind behind them but failed to create too many clear chances and fluffed the ones they did. This saw us going in at half time with a lot of optimism and the hope that the wind advantage would see us spend more time in the Brookfield half. Unfortunately it never really worked out that way and Brookfield continued to dominate possession and once they put the ball in the net they never looked like losing the game. The second goal that really ended the game as a contest was a controversial penalty, a cross came in from the wing but was over-hit and not near a forward player, there was a bit of a collision between our defender and their forward but there was no appeal for anything from Brookfield and the forward was nowhere near the ball, but, much to everyone’s surprise, the ref blew his whistle and signalled for a penalty. The Brookfield striker obviously wasn’t intimidated by Niall’s excellent penalty save percentage and he smashed it home. Nerves maybe kicked in for Brookfield in the last ten minutes and substitute Owen O’Neill found himself through on goal for us but his finish was wide of the post, this chance increased Brookfield’s jitters and with only a few minutes remaining they conceded a corner, Gary Revins put it into the six yard box and Brookfield’s centre half deflected it into the net. Suddenly there was a chance of an unlikely point and we tried to push on for another goal, but, in injury time, Brookfield broke away and coolly dispatched a third goal. Overall the lads couldn’t be faulted for the effort they put in, particularly in the first half to keep the game scoreless and even though heads dropped a little with the second goal they managed to lift themselves and put Brookfield under pressure towards the end. Despite not having much to play for ourselves in the league we still have a big role in the title race, we play leaders Siemens on Saturday and if we take any points from them it will go a long way to helping Brookfield to the title. I’ll probably be on the sidelines again myself, but hopefully I’ll make it back for a few games before the season is out.