A Lovely Day at the Seaside

We're still top of the league!! With an absolutetly huge match this Friday that is sure to draw the crowds this was a very important, if subdued win.

We headed off up the M8 at about a quarter past four. After more dire traffic at Mahon it was a breeze all the way up to Culahill. I must say, this is one thing that the government has actually got right, it's hugely reduced journey times and made away games so much more accessable.
The usual problem of Abbeyleix ensured we hit the M50 at about ten to 5, the worst time possible. An almost endless wave of traffic was being slowed by the inevitable roadworks that now dominate the ring road. We joined the long line of commuters heading from the capital back to the dormatory town, but thankfully at around 6 we had a chance to escape the car and take a look at the thriving metropolis that is the town of Bray.

Food was needed and at an un-named Italian chipper opposite the train station I forced down the worst 'fish and chips' I ever had. To be honest I couldn't tell the difference between the fish and the chips. Seaside food, pah! Although much entertainment was found in the antics of the taxi drivers in the station, who needs fancy pre match entertainment, all you need is a taxi rank overfilled!

Anyway, putting the fast food and taxi drivers behind us we entered the ground about an hour before kickoff. Upon arrival the ground was virtually empty but bit by bit the away end filled and once referee Tom Connolly blew for the start of the match we had the stand filled. After a bit of banter with Rico a minutes applause was held for Alan Kelly Sr. A fitting gesture to an excellent netminder and an honorary president of the Wanderers no less.

And so the game started, City have never gome out blazing this season and the trend was continued, most of the first 20 minutes were spent in the middle of the park. Denis Behan is much improved this season, fitter, faster and smarter then seasons gone by and he was the first to have a meaningful chance, his shot flashing past Chris O'Connor's post.

The Abbeyfeale native then drew first blood on 35 mins. His shot from all of 25 yards took a deflection off a Wanderers player and took one hop before nestling in the right hand corner of the net, 1-0 City, still top of the league and havin' a laugh!

Cillian Lordan tried an opportunist strike with O'Connor of his line but couldn't hit the target, Behan was again challenging the Australian native but he was upto the challenge. After the interval City were once again on top, Greg O'Halloran really have doubled the lead but his weak effort on the back post was the only blip in yet another fine display at centre back. Faz Kuduzovic drifted in and out of the game but did create two half chances, neither converted.

Colin Healy made it two, after a string of passes Guntars Siligalis did the only thing of note for the night with an excellently weighted through ball, that left the ex-Celtic man one on one with O'Connor. He showed composure in abundance when cooly rounding the Bray 'keeper and sliding the ball into the empty net. 2-0 and game over. Meanwhile reports were coming in of two scoreless games between Bohs and Drogs, and Derry and Rovers. We were cautiously celebrating a 5 point lead, then the news of Drogs going down to 10 men made us more nervous. The announcement of 4 minutes injury time didn't improve the mood and the inevitable happened in the last minute of the game. Mark Hughes giving the Gypsies the last gasp winner. While in the Brandywell the score didn't change up until the final whistle

So the trip home was the little bit faster with the 3 points in hand and please the holy sweet Jesus Christ above if we have a club (Which is most unlikely according to sources) there is the mouthwatering prospect of Bohs at home, a sell out perhaps?

Salut

Top of the League and We're Having A Laugh!!

What a night! From red cards to red faces and some red mist for good measure. This game had absolutely everything!

A poor morning turned into a beautiful evening as the sun broke out over Turners Cross for the crucial top of the table clash. With the thoughts of the Revenue in the back of our minds we found our spots in the shed for what was sure to be a low scoring game. We needed at least a point to go top, albeit temporarily and with a good few of our big players injured it was a lot more complicated then it seemed.

Pre match preparation included getting the flags together, reading the programme and being beaten to a pulp by a 7 year old (Which is now on youtube, thank you John Pittaway!)
Anyway, back to more pressing matters and we started on the back foot. A cross in from Kevin Deery found Sammy Morrow unmarked just inside the box but Connor got down well to make a good save. His former Drogheda team-mate Faz Kuduzovic almost scored in the 15^th min, Denis Behan was pulled down in the box (Which was a penalty I may add) and from the loose ball the Bosnian just shot wide.

Derry then had a golden opportunity and their best of the night by a long way. Morrow put in a good ball for Mark Farren in the six yard box and his powerful header was exquisitely tipped over the bar by the diving Dan Connor, soon winning his way back into the good books of City supporters.

They were made to pay for their miss as with 5 minutes to go in the half, a free kick from the right was headed across goal by Greg O’Halloran, and with an open goal beckoning Dan Murray headed it into the net. That sparked wild celebration in the shed. ‘WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE’ rang out in the chilly May air. Half time came and went and it seemed like the buzz was back in a club that could be gone by the end of the week. Things went from good to better as Mark McChrystal was sent off. Taking down Colin Healy late after a City break earned the Derry native his second yellow and a dressing down from the City faithful.

This rallied Derry, and City lacked the momentum they had in the first period. But the Foylesiders couldn’t get past a resilient City defence (Patrick Sullivan take a bow). City lost two more players to injury, Latvian international Robert Mežeckis and Kerryman Denis Behan the latest to join the waiting list for the treatment table. In their place came Tim Kiely and winter signing Stephen O’Donnell. Kiely was poor on the left but following the switch of sides performed brilliantly, working his socks off and helping out all over the pitch. O’Donnell also played well before he had a nighmare incident, sent off on his City début for dissent towards the linesman. Declan Hanney take a bow, typical for an LOI referee to ruin a special moment for a nonchalant moment.
Poor referee’s aside it was a huge win and one my personal favourites, next for the Leesiders is an away trip to ‘south Dublin’ outfit Bray Wanderers. Top of the League and we’re havin’ a laugh!!

The night wasn’t over though, it was onto the Evergreen pub to contest the first ever FORAS quiz. A huge turnout, a generous donation*, and some great sponsorship ensure over €3,000 was collected for safe keeping in the ongoing fight to keep our club alive. A great night was had and well done to all involved in organising, we didn’t win but on the plus side a top 10 finish was nothing to laugh at!

*Many thanks to the members of the Queens University Derry City Supporters Club who were unable to make the quiz but still donated the money for a few teams, sometimes love-ins are good things!!

Catch Up

What an apt title!

The week started with an important win over Galway United. United have find going tough after losing manager Jeff Kenna and to be honest offered very little. A typical cagey opening, Doolin trying to figure the other team out. We had a few half chances with Billy Dennehy first setting up Denis Behan to head over, and then shooting wide himself. Galway really didn't look like they had much and a man i had worried about pre match, Jay O'Shea, proved to be very dissapointing.

We took the lead after around 20 minutes. A brilliant Colin Healy ball out to Fahuran Kudozovic saw the Bosnian native charge into the box and play a ball across the box that Billy Dennehy ran into the net. It was great play by Kudozovic, who started in place of Guntars Silligallis, Dennehy ending in the back of the net with the ball. As the sun set and left a beautiful flaming red sky, we sat back as per usual and just soaked up the pressure. Half time came and went and it was only after an hour or so did the next chance come along, Denis Behan getting himself one-on-one with ex-Pats netminder Barry Ryan, but from a tight angle the Abbeyfeale native could only hit it straight at Ryan.

Galway were the absolute pits and apart from a few passes their attacking threat was non-existent. We had a few pot shots before the end but the second half was a terrible spectacle. The neutral's mightn't be best pleased but us hardcore fans will be delighted with the 3 points. After a poor start we were moving up the table slowly but surely. And the girls I brought liked it! Always very important!!

Next up was Sligo and a good crowd turned up on a bright sping evening to see the first game in the second round of matches. With one quarter of the season gone there was a small bit of reflection, but with 36 games gone this season there is plenty more to come. As regards the match I could easily say read above, but being the dedicated and hardworking amateur journo that I am I'll continue. The only chance in the first 10 minutes was a flashing Billy Dennehy cross that managed to avoid all the limbs in the box and go out for a goal kick. Faz Kudozovic continued on from his good performance against Galway with a header that narrowly cleared the Sligo crossbar. Behan then shot past the post in an unusally bright period, reflecting the weather I suppose.

But then we, and the game in question were dealt a blow after Dennehy akwardly dealt with a challenge and had to be replaced, perhaps his studs catching on the baked Cross surface? Brian Cash then gave Sligo their first chance of the game when his shot whistled past Dan Connor's post. The inconsistancy of League of Ireland referee's was shown when Pat Sullivan got booked for dissent after he was victim to an awful tackle by Tribesman Owen Thorpey, Torpey was also booked for the rash tackle that ended the half. City came out for the second half a new team. Karaoke King Richard Brush was forced into action by a Behan header, then young rebel Shane Duggan missed a guilt edge chance after he fluffed his shot into Brush's hands. Colin Healy then had his shot blocked out for a corner as the pressure was bulilding up to boiling point.

With the City faithful baying for Sligo blood it was delivered 67 minutes in, a cross form Duggan found the head of a rising Kudozovic and looped into the top corner. A fantastic goal by a player that seems to be improving every time he steps onto a football pitch. The decibles being created the Shed were off the scale for the first time this season, we had finally found our voice. We were silenced 10 minutes later when Sligo had the ball in the back of the net courtesy of a Brian Cash shot into an empty net. But thankfully referee Neil Doyle was back, this time to blow for a foul on keeper Dan Connor. Phew!

Sexy football was seen at the cross for the first time at Turners Cross, when after a ball was hoofed into the crowd, one skilfull supporter showed his skills, first heading the ball up high into the air, and then powerfully heading back onto the pitch. In the words of football 'commentator' Andy Gray TAKE A BOW SON!, and so he did, to the applause of the 2,489 in attendance. Manager Paul Doolin had seen enough attacking football for one night and decided to take off a striker (Kudozovic) for a defender (Cillian Lordan) 'Killer' making his first appearence of the season.

From there the game fizzled out and with Sligo looking like a defeated team it was left for Doyle to call an end to proceedings. 8 unbeaten games on the bounce now for City and they face Wexford Youths at home in the 'EA Sports Cup' (League Cup) next Monday to try and pave their way to the Quarter Finals

Until then
Au revoir.