FAI Junior Cup 2005/06

**Galla** · 31/03/2006, 2:08 PM

Ozier must be doubtful for Sunday - Crystal won't want to lose 'home' advantage. Any other pitches suitable / playable?

**clean sheet** · 31/03/2006, 4:14 PM

ozier is all but out.tramore fc pitch is on stand by and if that is
out they re on to dungarvan,s pitch but if i was crystal id
play on the street rather than lose home advantage to killester
or any dublin team cause refs are a bit one sided when they go to the capital

**Thunderblaster** · 31/03/2006, 9:31 PM

Originally Posted by clean sheet

refs are a bit one sided when they go to the capital

That is a common problem experienced by teams all over the country. The ref for the semi final should not be a Dublin based ref; pluck someone from Carlow or Laois, which is halfway house. Referees should referee the games fairly, and not get influenced.

**lim abroad** · 31/03/2006, 11:29 PM

indeed they should but how often are they fair?

**oldtimer** · 01/04/2006, 12:14 PM

The waterford Crystal V Killester match will be played at graun park in tramore at 2.30 on sunday 2nd april

**tipp man** · 02/04/2006, 4:15 PM

Waterford Crystal 2-0 Killester. Poor game by all accounts but I wasn't there.

**C.T.F.C** · 02/04/2006, 7:23 PM

Was at the game today and the wind certainly wasn't conducive to good football. Killester probably played the better football but Crystal adapted better to the conditions and this won the match for them. Crystal are a strong , physical side with a couple of decent forwards. It will take a good side to deny them compensation for last year.

**renovater** · 02/04/2006, 8:44 PM

Originally Posted by C.T.F.C

Was at the game today and the wind certainly wasn't conducive to good football. Killester probably played the better football but Crystal adapted better to the conditions and this won the match for them. Crystal are a strong , physical side with a couple of decent forwards. It will take a good side to deny them compensation for last year.

Everything is becoming Crystal Clear, just goes to showits all on the day!
well done

**clean sheet** · 03/04/2006, 7:15 AM

i was at crystal game yesterday i was expecting alot more from kilester
they were poor how they beat westport in beyond me .hopefully
this is crystal year if any team are due to win it its them after last year
mess,i cant remember a kilester shot on goal yesterday,up the glass

**nedder** · 03/04/2006, 8:42 AM

Originally Posted by renovater

now thunder the foot was on the other shoe last year it was your club who was perpared to go through fire and brim stone to get justice and rightly so
remember we had M.L Call for the head of cruise because he got it wrong and we can't say you did not agree

surely you mean the shoe was on the other foot????
classic

**Bad Bob** · 03/04/2006, 3:21 PM

I was at the Crystal versus Killester game yesterday and was amazed at how poor the Dublin team performed. Crystal were better all over the pitch.

The occasion seemed to affect the Dublin lads and they were lucky not to be more than a goal down at half time.

The second goal shortly after half time finished them off. They should very little character when they went behind and had had enough long before the final whistle was blown.

The Killester manager summed his team up when he shouted "they (Crystal) want it more than you!�.

Crystal were excellent throughout and controlled the game towards the end. After last years shambles, with regards the Carew Park Westport fiasco, I think its fair to say no other team in the country deserves another crack at it more than Crystal.

While a third final appears in 8 years still guarantees nothing, I hope it third time lucky for the lads.

Up the Glass!

**headerball** · 04/04/2006, 9:01 AM

Originally Posted by Bad Bob

I was at the Crystal versus Killester game yesterday and was amazed at how poor the Dublin team performed. Crystal were better all over the pitch.

The occasion seemed to affect the Dublin lads and they were lucky not to be more than a goal down at half time.

The second goal shortly after half time finished them off. They should very little character when they went behind and had had enough long before the final whistle was blown.

The Killester manager summed his team up when he shouted "they (Crystal) want it more than you!”.

Crystal were excellent throughout and controlled the game towards the end. After last years shambles, with regards the Carew Park Westport fiasco, I think its fair to say no other team in the country deserves another crack at it more than Crystal.

While a third final appears in 8 years still guarantees nothing, I hope it third time lucky for the lads.

Up the Glass!

have to agree with you regarding how deserving crystal are in regards to winning the cup.
a 3rd final in 8 years, only the view have a better record then that.
still as they know its only a final and you don't deserve to win a trophy until its actually in your hands and then you can say " we deserved that ".

**gnasher** · 04/04/2006, 9:54 AM

Originally Posted by Bad Bob

I was at the Crystal versus Killester game yesterday and was amazed at how poor the Dublin team performed. Crystal were better all over the pitch.

The occasion seemed to affect the Dublin lads and they were lucky not to be more than a goal down at half time.

The second goal shortly after half time finished them off. They should very little character when they went behind and had had enough long before the final whistle was blown.

The Killester manager summed his team up when he shouted "they (Crystal) want it more than you!�.

Crystal were excellent throughout and controlled the game towards the end. After last years shambles, with regards the Carew Park Westport fiasco, I think its fair to say no other team in the country deserves another crack at it more than Crystal.

While a third final appears in 8 years still guarantees nothing, I hope it third time lucky for the lads.

Up the Glass!

You might not be too bothered but Westport are firmly behind ye. I had Killester as favourites but it seems they played their best stuff in round 6 and the quarters. No team is more deserving of winning the cup than Crystal.

One point, how would the fiasco of last year affect them, they still were in the final? I hope i'm not speaking too soon as I'm not sure if this years longer running fiasco is even sorted yet.

Either way, best of luck in the final, and bring back the Free State challenge cup!

**Bad Bob** · 04/04/2006, 4:45 PM

Originally Posted by gnasher

You might not be too bothered but Westport are firmly behind ye. I had Killester as favourites but it seems they played their best stuff in round 6 and the quarters. No team is more deserving of winning the cup than Crystal.

One point, how would the fiasco of last year affect them, they still were in the final? I hope i'm not speaking too soon as I'm not sure if this years longer running fiasco is even sorted yet.

Either way, best of luck in the final, and bring back the Free State challenge cup!

I have no doubt Westport are behind Crystal now. We made many friends on the day and they were a lovely bunch of people.

To answer the question on how the delay affect Crystal well here are some answers.

Point 1. Crystal like most Junior League clubs play "winter" soccer. The pre-season began in late June 2004 and the league commenced in early August. By June the 19th 2005 the 21 players and staff had been training for a whole year. Premiership professional complain of burnout so imagine how hard it must have been on amateurs. Westport play "summer" soccer and were in peak condition come June.

Point 2. Seven Crystal players went on holidays, one on honeymoon in the three weeks preceding the final. These had been booked months in advance with the knowledge that the final was to be in May 2005.

Point 3. Crystal, unlike Westport, reached the 2nd round of the FAI Senior Cup and had to play Longford Town (the cup holders) only 7 days before a final that should have been over. Again, this was the last thing that was needed at the end of a twelve month campaign.

On the day Westport were by far the better team but I would be unfair to look at the game in isolation. Waterford Crystal were off the boil and Westport took full advantage. I'm not saying for a minute that the Mayo lads only won because of this, they were an excellent side and may have run out winners anyway. I just think a May 2005 final would have seen a much tighter affair.

**lim abroad** · 04/04/2006, 11:09 PM

some good points there,i'd like to see crystal win it just because they've lost 2 finals in recent years

**tralee_dynamo** · 05/04/2006, 7:24 AM

I would still put my money down on Clonmel - their record this season in all competitions is by far the most consistent in the country at the moment.

**renovater** · 05/04/2006, 9:32 PM

Originally Posted by nedder

surely you mean the shoe was on the other foot????
classic

yes, well spoted

**renovater** · 05/04/2006, 9:36 PM

Let's turn our attention to the next big game between Clonmel and Castlebar Celtic this one should be a classic as the two managers test there wits against one another on Sunday and the winner has a home tie against Athenry should find this game easier.