U-21 Futsal tournament

[DmanDmythDledge]

From FAI (http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1720&Itemid=9) website:


UCD (3) 6 - 5 St Patrick’s Athletic (2)

UCD had to show real discipline and spirit to hang on for the three points
in another classic eircom U21 Futsal clash at the National Basketball Arena.

Kieran Harte fired UCD into the lead in the third minute and Conan Byrne
slotted home from close range 60 seconds later to give the Students a solid
start.

After weathering the storm the Saints broke their deadlock in the tenth
minute when Joe Hayden made a cutting run to set up Adam Crowther for a neat
finish.

Ger Callaghan put UCD 3-1 up but then Crowther was the hero once more for
his side when he produced a crisp low drive that beat Students goalkeeper Declan
O’Donnell all ends up.

Hayden made it 3-3 with a neat close range finish four minutes into the
second half but UCD took just a matter of seconds to go back in front
through Greg Bolger.

Greg Bolger stretched the Students’ lead two minutes and Byrne nicked his
second of the game 60 seconds later as UCD moved 6-3 ahead.

Kevin Cornwall then really had the Saints back in the game with the next two
goals thanks to two clever finishes, the second coming with less than two
minutes left on the clock.

It just wasn’t enough as the Students held on to secure the three points.

UCD: Declan O’Donnell; Damien Kelly, Shane Flynn, David Last, Greg Bolger,
Fran Moran, Conan Byrne, Eoin O’Cinneide, John Brophy, Tim Purcell, Ger
Callaghan, Kieran Harte. Goals: Harte, Byrne 2, Callaghan, Bolger, Purcell.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Joe Hayden, Anto Costigan, Robbie
O’Neill, Darryl Moore, Adam El Fridah, Kevin Cornwall, Adam Crowther, Brian
Rooney. Goals: Crowther 2, Hayden, Cornwall 2.

Other results;

Bohemians 7–8 Bray Wanderers
Drogheda United 3-3 Dundalk
Monaghan United 4-9 Shamrock Rovers

[pineapple stu]

Good strong team. Sounds an interesting tournament actually. Must try and make a couple of the games.

Wonder if the team will be as strong once the season starts?

Shame it's an U-21 tournament - I'm sure my recent form in the astro could have had me a surprise call up otherwise. :p

[pineapple stu]

Lost 7-6 (http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1732) to Rovers. One player scored all seven for Rovers, including the winner with three seconds to go!

UCD: Declan O’Donnell; Ger O’Callaghan, David Last, Tim Purcell, Kieran Harte, Killian Gallagher, John Brophy, Damien Kelly, Greg Bolger, Eoin O’Cinneide. Goals: Harte 2, Brophy, Kelly 2, Purcell.

Other results -
Bohemians 12 -5 Dundalk
Bray Wanderers 6-6 Drogheda United
Monaghan United 4-8 St Patrick's Ath

Table -
Rovers......2...2...0...0...16...10...6
Bray.........2...1...1...0...14...13...4
Bohs.........2...1...0...1...19...13...3
St Pat's....2...1...0...1...13...10...3
UCD..........2...1...0...1...12...12...3
Drogheda...2...0...2...0...9.....9....2
Dundalk.....2...0...1...1...8...15.....1
Monaghan..2...0...0...2...8...17....0

[DmanDmythDledge]

UCD: Declan O’Donnell; Ger O’Callaghan, David Last, Tim Purcell, Kieran Harte, Killian Gallagher, John Brophy, Damien Kelly, Greg Bolger, Eoin O’Cinneide. Goals: Harte 2, Brophy, Kelly 2, Purcell.
The keeper in that squad, Declan O'Donnell, came on left mid against Kildare.:)

[pineapple stu]

3-0 walkover win against Monaghan, who forgot to turn up! :eek:

Other results -

Rovers 8-1 Pat's
Bray 8-7 Dundalk
Bohs 9-8 Drogheda

Table -
Rovers......3...3...0...0...24...11...9
Bray.........3...2...1...0...22...20...7
Bohs.........3...2...0...1...28...21...6
UCD..........3...2...0...1...15...12...6
St Pat's....3...1...0...2...14...18...3
Drogheda...3...0...2...1...17...18...2
Dundalk.....3...0...1...2...15...23...1
Monaghan..3...0...0...3...8...20....0

[Magicme]

Didnt forget, got the time wrong thats all!

[pineapple stu]

We beat Drogheda 6-4 today.

2-1 up at half-time, we scored 2 goals in the first minute of the second half and could have had two more in the next 30 seconds. Drogheda came back to 4-3 and 5-4 before we sealed it with a penalty.

I have no idea how this game is so popular on the continent though. It's how indoor football would work if it were invented by Americans. There's time-outs, the clock stops when the ball's out of play (which is every throw and every goal kick, because there's no walls) and you get a long penalty (about ten yards out, compared to about 6 yards for a proper penalty) every time the opposition concedes a foul above a total of five in a half.

Pat's beat Dundalk 8-6 in a game of two awful keepers...

Bray v Rovers and Bohs v Monaghan were also on.

[Poor Student]

It's good developmental wise in that it enhances technique, control and sharpness. As you know yourself over the last few months conventional indoor football can sometimes resemble a mixture of pinball and ice hockey with wall charges and aimless richocheting. I don't know what it looks like played by the Irish but whenever I saw it on TV it reminded me of Arsenal playing at Highbury with a high energy quick tempo play with possession spread right to left at high speed with good accuracy and control. Didn't look the most interesting spectator wise but I think it could be good for the development of youngsters.

[pineapple stu]

As you know yourself over the last few months conventional indoor football can sometimes resemble a mixture of pinball and ice hockey with wall charges and aimless richocheting.
That's only because none of youz could pass for peanuts!

Indoor football would surely be a much faster game because you can play off the wall, and so first touch would be even more important.

I think it gets crowds of a few thousand on the continent for the bigger games. There were about 20 there today.

[Poor Student]

That's only because none of youz could pass for peanuts!

Indoor football would surely be a much faster game because you can play off the wall, and so first touch would be even more important.

I think it gets crowds of a few thousand on the continent for the bigger games. There were about 20 there today.

The general tempo of passing in Futsal is much speedier and more precise. I can't say what our version looks like but teams constantly spread it from left to right and back again hoping for a gap to open up like rugby. To play with that sort of tempo without giving the ball up requires very sharp technique and reactions. I'm not talking running speed, the speed at which the ball is moved in the higher level games I've seen on TV is very fast. With there being no walls you can just thunder the ball at the goal and then crash the goalie and mess along the walls or you'll be giving up possession.

[pineapple stu]

Thumping the ball off the walls doesn't necessarily mean losing posession though. Opens the game up to some intelligent passes on the rebound if you're good enough.

[Poor Student]

Thumping the ball off the walls doesn't necessarily mean losing posession though. Opens the game up to some intelligent passes on the rebound if you're good enough.

It doesn't bring the same developmental opportunities that Futsal would. You may play some intelligent wall passes but the consequences of the ball going out of play develop a better sharpness and reflect the eleven a side game better. Some of the best players in the world honed their techniques playing futsal at a young age.

[pineapple stu]

Maybe so.

Still can't understand how it draws such huge crowds on the continent though.

Maybe we'll get into the UEFA and host a game here. Biggest crowd ever in Belfield for a UCD FC game. :)

[pineapple stu]

Another thing, actually, is that you can't slide tackle a player on the ball, which caught out a lot of players. I think our penalty was awarded for a slide tackle. You can slide to reach a ball if the ball is loose though.

Table after today (known results only) -
Table -
Rovers......3...3...0...0...24...11...9
UCD..........4...3...0...1...21...16...9
Bray.........3...2...1...0...22...20...7
Bohs.........3...2...0...1...28...21...6
St Pat's....4...2...0...2...22...24...6
Drogheda...4...0...2...2...21...24...2
Dundalk.....4...0...1...3...21...31...1
Monaghan..3...0...0...3...8...20....0

Report on the UCD website (http://www.ucdsoccer.com/news.php?id=3613)

[pineapple stu]

Report up on the FAI website now - Greg Bolger got a hat-trick, Eóin Ó Cinnéide and Darren Forsyth got one each and the final goal was an own goal off the keeper's head.

Bray beat Rovers 5-4, Pat's beat Dundalk 9-6, not 8-6 and Bohs beat Monaghan 10-4.

League table, so, is -
Bray.........4...3...1...0...27...24...10
Bohs.........4...3...0...1...38...25...9
Rovers......4...3...0...1...28...16...9
UCD..........4...3...0...1...21...16...9
St Pat's....4...2...0...2...23...24...6
Drogheda...4...0...2...2...21...24...2
Dundalk.....4...0...1...3...21...32...1
Monaghan..4...0...0...4...12...30...0

We play Dundalk next Sunday in the NBA at 1:15.

[Schumi]

Nine points from four games and we're only mid-table, very strange.
an own goal off the keeper's head.:eek:

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, Timmy Purcell (I think) had a shot; it hit the post and rebounded into the net off the keeper's head.

Monaghan seem to be getting hammered; wonder if their no-show against us will cost us?

[DmanDmythDledge]

Monaghan seem to be getting hammered; wonder if their no-show against us will cost us?
Seems to have alright. Could be second...

Last edited by Schumi : 10/03/2007 at 9:40 PM. Reason: Table incorrect
There's still a mistake...:rolleyes: ;)

[Schumi]

Last edited by Schumi : 10/03/2007 at 10:29 PM. Reason: Table incorrect
Now it's right. I think.:D

[pineapple stu]

What I do?

[Schumi]

You had Bohs with only 2 wins and behind Rovers despite their better goal difference.

[pineapple stu]

UCD beat Dundalk 11-4 yesterday. Purcell with 5, Declan O'Donnell with 2 and Shane Flynn, David Last, Ger O'Callaghan and Greg Bolger all scored. FAI report (http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1824).

Other results -
Drogheda 6-2 Pat's
Bohs 4-3 Rovers
Bray 6-4 Monaghan

Table -
P W D L F A Pts
Bray Wanderers 5 4 1 0 33 28 13
Bohemians 5 4 0 1 42 27 12
UCD 5 4 0 1 32 20 12
Shamrock Rvrs 5 3 0 2 30 20 9
St Patrick’s Ath 5 2 0 3 25 30 6
Drogheda Utd 5 1 2 2 27 26 5
Dundalk 5 0 1 4 25 44 1
Monaghan Utd 5 0 0 5 16 36 0

Big match in two weeks against Bohs (no match next week because of the international). Also Bray v Pat's, Drogs v Monaghan and Dundalk v Rovers. Bray is our last match.

Top scorers -
Ciaran Kilduff (Shamrock Rvrs) 17; David O’Sullivan (Bray Wanderers) 12; Adam Crowther (St Pats Ath) 10; Alan Lynch (Bohemians) 8; Tim Purcell (UCD) 8; Niall Merriman (Bray Wanderers) 7; Sean Trout (Bohemians) 7; Barry Woods (Dundalk) 7, Aaron Timmons (Drogheda Utd) 6; Monday Awoyimi (Drogheda Utd) 5, Greg Bolger (UCD) 5, Shane Grimes (Dundalk) 5.

[Poor Student]

Nice result. Helps to make up for the Mons no show and the missed opportunity to improve our goal difference.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Well even though the team score a lot of goals in the Futsal game we still don't have an out and out goalscorer. Rovers top scorer has scored more than twice what out top scorer has.

[pineapple stu]

Got a text from Harpo to say we beat Bohs 13-12 today. Should end CTID's comments about us not being able to score goals! 10-6 up at half-time.

There's one more game next week - against Bray - and then a top four showdown on 21 April for the UEFA Cup spot. We're now confirmed to be in that.

[CollegeTillIDie]

The first team still can't score , we have 1 point out of 9 :rolleyes:

[DmanDmythDledge]

Only need a draw with Bray to top the table.

[pineapple stu]

Other results from last weekend -

Dundalk 2-11 Rovers
Drogs 6-2 Monaghan
Bray 5-8 Pat's.

Table is as follows -

P W D L F A Pts
UCD 6 5 0 1 45 32 15
Bray Wanderers 6 4 1 1 38 36 13
Shamrock Rvrs 6 4 0 2 41 22 12
Bohemians 6 4 0 2 54 40 12
St Patrick’s Ath 6 3 0 3 33 33 9
Drogheda Utd 6 2 2 2 33 28 8
Dundalk 6 0 1 5 27 55 1
Monaghan Utd 6 0 0 6 18 42 0

Timmy Purcell (5), David Last (3), Eóin Ó Cinnéide (3) and Ian Bermingham (2) scored for us against Bohs. Top scorers are here (http://www.eircomloi.ie/news_item_29.htm). Will work out our scorers later (or someone can do that for me instead!)

We're qualified for the top four play-offs now, with only Bray to play. Presumably winning the league means we face fourth in a semi-final as opposed to third, but I'm only guessing there.

Here (http://www.uefa.com/competitions/futsalcup/index.html) - and I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself here! - is the homepage of the UEFA Futsal Cup. The format appears to be a preliminary round of four-team groups in the one venue. Preliminary rounds last year were played in the second week in September, which is the same week I'm in Czechoslovakia for the two games, so hopefully if it's anywhere nearby, I can ditch whatever plans I have and head to that instead! Groups were held in Verona, Andorra, Perth and Kaunas last year. Doesn't mean anything against this year, obviously. Worth noting that Doncaster Rovers were England's representatives and finished bottom of a group with teams from Moldova, Andorra and Switzerland, so we (or whichever Irish team gets through) will get hammered. But still, a bit of craic!

[Poor Student]

Worth noting that Doncaster Rovers were England's representatives and finished bottom of a group with teams from Moldova, Andorra and Switzerland, so we (or whichever Irish team gets through) will get hammered. But still, a bit of craic!

That and we'll get €10k prize money. Not sure if that's from the FAI for winning the thing or from UEFA for getting into the European tournament.

[pineapple stu]

Ten grand? Excellent! Would pay for the trip, I suppose.

Preliminary round venue was Sofia, not Verona, incidentally. Verona was a Main Round venue.

[Poor Student]

Ten grand? Excellent! Would pay for the trip, I suppose.


Perhaps there's more from UEFA but you know how the FAI present these prize funds as bumper figures when they're made up of several things.

[Schumi]

Top scorers are here (http://www.eircomloi.ie/news_item_29.htm). Will work out our scorers later (or someone can do that for me instead!)I make it:
Purcell 12
Bolger 5
Last 4
Ó Cinnéide 4
Harte 3
O'Donnell 2
O'Callaghan 2
Bermingham 2
Kelly 2
Byrne 2
Flynn 1
Forsyth 1
Brophy 1
going on the posts here but the FAI have Purcell on 13, maybe they credited him with the own goal v Drogheda.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Drew 4-4 with Bray last week to secure top spot.

http://www.eircomloi.ie/news_item_38.htm



Bray Wanderers (3) 4 UCD (2) 4

UCD secured the top seed spot in the final four of the eircom FAI Under-21 Futsal League with a hard-earned point against Bray Wanderers at the Basketball Arena.

The Students were down to the bare five players due to the inclusion of two players in the Republic of Ireland under-19 side this week and a number of injuries.

Sean Fitzgerald put Bray in front after less than a minute but UCD soon carved out an equaliser when Declan O’Donnell crashed home from the edge of the penalty area.

Bray finally went back in front with nine minutes remaining in the half when colleges international David O’Sullivan fired home.

O’Sullivan then added his second when he dispossessed Ger O’Callaghan before slotting past Killian Gallagher with three minutes left in the half.

UCD got one back just before the break when Eoin O’Cinneide shot home from close range after a clever corner by the Students.

Scott Weir drew the sides level five minutes into the second half with a close range finish.

The Students completed a fantastic turnaround when O’Donnell bagged his second of the afternoon with ten minutes left.

Niall Merriman responded for the Seagulls two minutes later after keeper Gallagher couldn’t hold a low strike by Robbie Manley. That wrapped up the scoring in an impressive draw.

Bray Wanderers – 1 Gavin Snodgrass; 2 Sean Fitzgerald, 3 John Meagher, 4 Niall Merriman, 5 Jack Douglas, 6 David O’Sullivan, 7 Gary McCabe, 8 Robbie Manley. Goals: Fitzgerald, O’Sullivan 2, Merriman.

UCD – 1 Killian Gallagher; 2 Eoin O’Cinneide, 3 Declan O’Donnell, 6 Scott Weir, 7 Gerard O’Callaghan. Goals: O’Donnell 2, O’Cinneide, Weir.

We now have Bray (again) in the semis. The other semi is Bohs vs Rovers. Both game are on 24th April in the NBA Arena.

[Schumi]

Killian Gallagher in goal?

[pineapple stu]

We seem to be taking the mickey completely now! Only five players - so no subs at all - and no keeper and second place in the league (as they were then) still can't beat us. :)

Other results -
Drogheda 2-4 Rovers
Bohs 6-2 Pat's
Dundalk 5-3 Monaghan

Final table -
P W D L F A Pts
UCD 7 5 1 1 49 36 16
Shamrock Rvrs 7 5 0 2 45 24 15
Bohemians 7 5 0 2 60 42 15
Bray Wanderers 7 4 2 1 42 40 14
St Patrick’s Ath 7 3 0 4 35 39 9
Drogheda Utd 7 2 2 3 35 32 8
Dundalk 7 1 1 5 32 58 4
Monaghan Utd 7 0 0 7 21 47 0

Semi-finals - bold v bold and bold italic v bold italic.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Killian Gallagher in goal?
We've never had a recognised keeper in goal.

And the semis are on the 22nd. FAI gobshítes...

[pineapple stu]

Wasn't Declan O'Donnell playing in nets most of the season? Scored twice against Bray, of course, so I hope he wasn't in nets! :eek:

[DmanDmythDledge]

Wasn't Declan O'Donnell playing in nets most of the season? Scored twice against Bray, of course, so I hope he wasn't in nets! :eek:
Yeah, but he's actually a midfielder.:D

[pineapple stu]

They could have asked me sure; I'd have sorted a fake ID to play. :)

[Aberdonian Stu]

Yes but they wanted to win.

[pineapple stu]

I can keep them out when I'm not playing behind the likes of youse lot. ;)

[John83]

There was many a long range shot got past you that we had no responsibility for. :P

I assume you'd be better than a random midfielder though. Seems odd that we're not bringing a keeper to this, unless the keepers are coming outfield a lot for some reason.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Johh judging by the number of goals scored in these games they are playing ''fly'' goalies :D

[pineapple stu]

They're not.

[pineapple stu]

Semis and final this Sunday. Can't remember where; games start at 12.

[DmanDmythDledge]

NBA Arena. Anybody going?

[Aberdonian Stu]

The A stands for Arena, what sort of institution would have the same word represented twice...oh sorry what was I thinking.

[Poor Student]

According to Bray Wanderers' website tickets are limited and must be bought in advance.

[Schumi]

Tickets are free but you have to have one to get in as I understand it. It might be an idea to get a list of people who want tickets here so we can make sure we get them.

[pineapple stu]

Colin Forde has tickets.

I think the NBA holds 800 - heard someone say it once. Given that the league game between us last week got 450, there's no way this is going to be anywhere near a sell-out, even with Bohs and Rovers in as well, so you'll get a ticket.