So yet another win against the Queenstown Rejects, even if it is only a pre-season friendly. Having been scheduled to take place at Bishopstown, the frozen pitch out there forced a venue chance to the all-weather pitch at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa on the Tramore Road.
The club announced the change about 2 hours before kickoff on their facebook page and club website, which is fine if you happened to be online. But a good few fans were left stranded at Bishopstown, unaware of the kickoff change and unable to make it out to the new venue, bad planning CCFC!Other then that though it was a successful first outing for the Rebel Army. I got in the gate with about five minutes on the clock to see all the regular faces there, battle hardened, freezing in the strong breeze but optimistic none the less. A slightly changed City side was on display, with only 4 members of last years team lining out. The four much talked about trialists were out, as were signings Timmy Kiely, Vinny Sullivan and the Cockney Rebel, Danny Murphy!
City got off to a very hot start, some good build up play down the left hand side led to a corner kick; and from the resulting short set-piece, two new signings linked up, Kiely to Sullivan who powered a header down beyond the helpless Stephen Deasy in the Cobh net. The side seemed to have an excellent understanding of each other, and trialist Ryan Gyaki (A former Canadian u20 player of the year no less!) was bossing the midfield alongside Gearóid Morrissey.
The Leesiders had an excellent chance to double their lead soon after their first, but another trialist, 6'7 striker Patrick Deane headed badly over when it seemed easier to score. As a matter of fact Deane was the only player on trial who disappointed during the game, looking sluggish and short of match experience. Vinny Sullivan however was having a fine (second) début, and his driving run and shot allowed Davin O'Neill to tap the ball home from the rebound. City were well on top at this stage, and O'Neill's shot from the left flashed past the opposite upright.
My half was viewed from behind the City dugout; the bench a hive of activity in the cold conditions with 6 lads trying to stay warm, and a number of others (Including Tommy and new First Team Coach Billy Woods) taking in the performances of the potential new players.
Half time came with the score 2-0, and the changes were rolled in. Shane Duggan, Alan Carey and 19-year-old Simon Holland all in. The game died down after the interval and was played at a sedate pace. One player who did impress was Holland, forming an excellent partnership down the left with Danny Murphy in a position City have traditionally always struggled to fill. Trialist (yet another!) goalkeeper Sebastian Krawiec came in to replace Mark McNulty, who had a few nervy moments in the game; and Deane limped off to make way for Rory Morrissey up front. The ex-Arbroath man not impressing one bit.
The game, and City, got the kick they needed on the introduction of Kieran (Kiwi) Kenneally, the youngster turned heads last season for the U20's, showing great strength, technical ability and a fine footballing nouce. He came on at right wing and provided
the bright spark in the cold conditions. He set up Alan Carey, who crossed for Rory Morrissey; but the youngster couldn't get his header on target. City found their groove and had the ball in the back of the net for a third time. Wolfe ghosting into the box and meeting Danny Murphy's fine cross to head powerfully into the top left hand corner.City were lucky to hold onto the clean sheet in the end though, some suspect defending from Kovacsevics almost allowed Jason Abbott to score, but when he shot wide the Hungarian could breath a sigh of relief. Shane Duggan also landed himself in a spot of bother with a badly timed tackle on Cian van Wijnen, but referee Alan Kelly decided to give the Limerick native the benefit of the doubt, only showing him yellow.
Kelly blew his full time whistle and most of the 250+ crowd left happy, already speculating about chants for the new players (Hungry Like the Wolfe has to be my personal favourite) Next up Shamrock Rovers come down to face City at Musgrave Park, a venue we haven't played at since the mid 90's!
Until then, see ya!
Kev
No comments:
Post a Comment