A Good-Friday Goalfest

Pictures courtesy of Tony Tobin!

What's with all the goals?

Five in our first five, and now 17 from eight! 10 goals in our last two, and Graham Cummins jumping to the top of the goalscoring charts. The latest molesting was of Salthill Devon on Good Friday 5-1.

We set off from Cork at half 10, to make it up to the middle of fucking nowhere (Sorry, I mean the Drom field) on time. We'd been through the rigmarole of getting lost in Galway's network of roundabouts that are more complex then a DNA sample. So, this time, armed with a set of Google Maps directions, we set out on the road to nowhere, somewhere between Galway and Oughterard. On arrival in the Drom complex I got out of the car, eager to stretch my legs, and looking to busy myself to pass the hour before the game kicked off.

After a few minutes milling about, I found myself being asked to help out the pre-match preparations, and no sooner was I putting on my scarf then I was in the away dressing room, chatting to the referee, a few minutes before kick-off, glamorous!

Anywho, I took my rightful place back on the sideline, (Or balcony to be more exact) hoping to see City pick up another win in a ground where they had things by no mean their own way last season. The match started slowly, and with it City, who despite the lions share of possession were put under the kosh by a much-improved Devon side. As a guesstimation I'd say there was about 30 Salthill fans, who were dwarfed by the excellent traveling support.

City gradually got themselves back into the game, and Danny Murphy hit the crossbar from a free-kick as the momentum changed towards the home team. The game will still very much in the balance coming up to the half, before two quickfire away goals changed the game completely. First Greg O'Halloran was on hand at the back post to eventually bundle home a cross from the left five minutes before the interval, and then almost immediately after Shane Duggan was dragged down inside the area, and after a fight between Graham Cummins and Davin O'Neill as to who would take the penalty, the latter made no mistake from the spot, firing past Salthill's young 'keeper to leave an unexpected gap at the half-time break!

The wind whipped up on the commencement of the second half, and our isolated location exaggerated as we huddled over the warm tea from the clubhouse. Once again it was Salthill that started the better, Etanda Nkololo proving to be a handful down the left hand side for the Devon, who were now battling a stiffening wind, as well as the injustice of the two goal deficit. Despite their best efforts though, no clear cut chances were presenting themselves for a side that had only scored twice all season. The game was put out of reach just before the hour mark, when Cummins ran onto a through ball and expertly flicked it beyond the onrushing Bernard Power in the Salthill net, 3-0, and surely three points!

That didn't deter the Devon though, and after some poor defending Mark McNulty mistimed a tackle on Brian Gaffney, and despite there being two men on the line, the Ballincollig native was given his marching orders from Kevin O'Regan, who was showing all the signs of a ref on début. The fantastically named Ciprian Straut stuck the ball beyond sub 'keeper James McCarthy, and a glimmer of hope was opened for the home side; a glimmer that lasted all of about five minutes. Before O'Regan awarded the third penalty of the night, and Cummins this time got his opportunity to score from the spot and his 5th in two games. It wasn't quite over though, and just before the end Davin O'Neill ghosted in at the back post to tap in his 4th of the season thus far.

So it was back to the warm car as quickly as possible, and time to head home (in daylight!) following another successful away trip with the Rebel Army. With Monaghan and Shels winning, it means we top the league by a point going into our bye week. Next Monday we face a trip to Wexford; to take on the Youths for a place in the League Cup Quarter-Final, but sadly I won't be making the trip, so it won't be until Friday week I'll next have a post, where City take on Longford Town, who are having an impressive season so far!

Until then,
Adieu,
Kev

We Are Going Up!

Pictures courtesy of Mick Ring and Blink of An Eye Photography




What a bloody night!

Promotion, a 5-0 win, and an encounter with one of Ireland's most famous goalkeepers capping off a fantastic start to the Easter holidays. Before heading off to the Cross, there was the small matter of taking my own side one massive step closer in our premier promotion bid. A late winner saw us beat this years champions and means we only need one more point from our last game to go up.

Anywho, after the late dramatics I got back to the dressing room and immediately checked my phone to see four texts reliably informing me that Graham Cummins had already bagged himself a brace. Happy days! I talked one of the lads into giving me a lift and so made it out just before the half, and besides an uncomfortable save by Mark McNulty, I saw little action by the time half-time was called. The game commenced at a slow pace, Finn Harps had little to offer, and seriously lacked any sort of firepower up front, which goes a long way to explaining why they haven't managed to pick up a win thus far in the 2011 campaign, while City were cruizing in second gear, clearly saving their energy for the following week's trip to Salthill.

The game re-woke in the 65th minute though, through a goal from an unexpected source. Davin O'Neill had been absolutely annonymous in the game up to that point, but scored an absolute peach, when he cut in from the left hand side and curled an Henry-esque shot across the helpless Ciarán Gallagher and into the far corner of the net. From there City forgot about saving themselves, and put the sword to a completely out-of-sorts Harps. Vinny Sullivan had a rasping shot blocked, and Gearóid Morrissey saw his effort go wide. But it was third time lucky for City, and it was Vincent Escudé-Canadu's turn to score his first goal for City.

Morrissey turned provider and played a sublime ball through the Harps backline to an onrushing Canadu, and the Frenchman showed composure in abundance, slotting the ball though Gallagher's legs and into the Harps net for the fourth time. Then it was five! Davin O'Neill felt agrieved after having been brought down in the box and given nothing in return, but ref John Grimes relented a few seconds later after Cummins had his legs taken away from him. The man himself converted to complete his hat-trick, the first one by a man in City colours since Roy O'Donovan! (Or so I'm told, I can't remember it's been that long!)

A nasty collision between Timmy Kiely and 'keeper Gallagher saw the Harps netminder with a nasty headache, but a free-out by the compassionate Grimes. And on his full time whistle the Shed sung proudly in City's biggest competitive win since June 2008 against Cobh Ramblers! As previously mentioned (if you were paying attention) we're all off to Salthill on Good Friday, and that's where the next post will be set (but not from, can't afford a laptop, recession like!)

Le semaine prochain,
Kev

We're Gonna Win 2-1!

Best away trip since we left the Premier!

Good travelling crowd, fantastic atmosphere, and a combeack win against our table and local rivals! Some fantastic performances (Morrissey) coupled with some more poor ones (Davin and Greg) but we got the win, and we're top of the table! We left for what's probably the closest away trip of the season at about half four, but it wasn't until five we had cleared the traffic at Cork's biggest traffic jam (Mahon Point + the Jack Lynch Tunnell) and were on our way to Munster's smallest city (Just thought I'd get that dig in there) A short stop in Dungarvan, and an hour and a half later we reached the RSC.

Having escaped the frisking I endured last season I made my way inside the ground, and felt suitably dressed in my shorts as the early April sun was starting to set over the 'sunny South-East'. I, along with about 300 fellow City fans geared ourselves up for City's third match against promotion rivals in four, and warmed up our vocal chords as the teams came out. A loss would've seen the side possibly drop to 6th, while a win could see us go top, albeit temporarily. While the stand opposite that housed the home contingent was barely half empty. Needless to say our compempt was left to be known. The game started slowly, neither side wanting to give anything away early, and chances were limited to a few speculative free-kicks.

But City lost Derek O'Brien early in the game again, with what seemed to be a re-occurance of his hamstring injury that's plagued his time here so far. Despite the lack of on-the-pitch action, the City end was rocking, not a moment of silence from the best fans in the division by a long long way. Both sides swapped chances, but the majority of the opening 30 minutes saw posession spurned on a pitch that hand more ruts than a country road.

The City fans were temporarily silenced five minutes from the half though, when Paul Murphy's free-kick from outside the box took a deflection off a City wall that split badly, and flew into a stranded McNulty's right hand corner. The 20 or so Waterford 'Ultras' in the corner reminded us they still existed with a bit of jumping and a hyperactive drummer. 'We're gonna win 2-1' we sung out, and they went back to being quiet.

And they were even quieter than usual just before the half, when once again Tommy Dunne's men showed their resiliance by killing a half-time lead United thought they had. Cummins played a perfect through ball to Greg, and he scored one of his best goals by smashing an unstoppable drive underneath Kevin Burns' helpless right arm. 'We're gonna win 2-1'

Half time.

City held onto the late momentum and started the second half the better. Kalen Spillane headed wide, followed by an impressive Gearóid Morrissey who shot his free-kick just to the right of the Waterford upright. But the Blues regained the upperhand after, and were very unlucky not to regain the lead, Willie John Kiely's shot smashing off the underside of the crossbar with McNulty (Donned in purple this time) well beaten. Cross after cross rained into the City box, and Gavin Kavanagh's woeful backpass almost saw Murphy double his tally, but McNulty was alert to the danger and smothered the Wexford native's attempted flick.

This time it was City's time to score against the run of play. Some clever work by Davin O'Neill (Probably the only time he didn't lose the ball or pass it backwards) down the left hand side saw the ball at Greg's feet, and he slid in an excellent ball for Shane Duggan to smash into the net, capping off what was probably the game's best move. 'We know you don't believe us, we're gonna win 2-1!'

Waterford huffed and puffed to get the equaliser, and had a number of spurned corners. But City held on, and recorded a huge win before what could be considered an easy run of games. The next big obstacle for the Rebel Army is Shelbourne away in the last game of the first series, and if they can beat the Dubs they should have gone the entire first series without losing a game. Still though, there's plenty to improve on. Morrissey is badly wasted out on the right, while Davin hasn't put down a good compepetitive game in a City jersey since the opening day of the 2010 season. Greg is playing poorly (Despite two game changing moments) and we still have this horrible habit of trying to ping 40 yard through balls, that either go out for goal kicks or get mopped up by the keeper.

Having said that, we've managed to take seven points from nine of title rivals so far and are still nowhere near hitting our full stride. We should get promoted at a canter if we can really click. Next week City host Finn Harps in a game we should really be winning if we want to be playing Premier football in 2012.

Until then,
Arrividerci!
Kev

That's Entertainment!

Pictures courtesy of Mick Ring and Blink of an Eye Photogaphy

Well finally some fecking goals!

After two goals in three games thus far with City, it's been a real snore fest! 1-0 wins over Wexford and Limerick, and a 0-0 draw away to Athlone (A game where watching paint dry would've been more entertaining) we had four last Friday at the Cross, even if the spoils were shared!

After Shoddy Roddy basically asked Tommy to shtep out, we were looking forward to a right humdinger between two teams gunning for promotion this season, and it didn't disappoint. The club's spotlight on RTÉ programme 'Nationwide' on Monday previous seemed to attract the Shed's biggest crowd since Waterford in the opening game of the 2010 season. The section packed with (mainly teenyboppers to be honest) dedicated new fans who to be fair to them, got into the swing of things and gave the CRS it's best sound so far this season.

City did their best to silence the swelling numbers early on, going behind to a soft soft Declan O'Brien header. (I refuse to call him Fabio) The former Athlone Town man left completely unmarked in the box to nonchantally nod it home and give the Mons the lead within five minutes.

Shane Duggan had a fantastic chance to even things up, put through one-on-one with Mons 'keeper Gabriel Sava; but the Limerick native kept up his poor form so far this season, blasting his shot off the netminder's right leg when scoring seemed easier. City did however restore parity before the half hour mark, when Gearóid Morrissey (Largely wasted out on the right hand flank) swung a perfect cross in for Graham Cummins to squeeze past Sava and his right-hand post. Game on!

The teams swapped chances, and ends, either side of the half-time whistle, with both keepers having to stay sharp and keep their team in it. Then it was once again time for First Division referee's to show how bloody inept and incompatant they are at their jobs. This time, it was Jim McKell's turn. A long ball upfield towards Cummins, proved that bit too fast for the striker, and also for Phil Byrne, who crashed into his 'keeper Sava in trying to shield the ex-Waterford man from the ball. For McKell, that was reason enough to award City a penalty, which at first confused, and then delighted us, a shocking descision going our way for once, fantastic stuff!

Or maybe not, as the Tipp native strode across to his linesman, who was actually watching the game, and reversed his decision, giving a hop-ball and inscencing the home native. To be fair to the referee, the ability to account for mistakes is a rarity amongst those in the middle, and in the end the right decision was made. Though Gabriel Sava must still be wondering what he did to deserve his yellow card, and also dis-spirited a high-flying City side.

Having seen a penalty snatched away from them, City fans then had to endure going behind only two minutes later. Once again it was a cross (this time from a corner), once again City left O'Brien unmarked, and once again he hit the back of the net on his Monaghan début. 2-1 Mons, and surely it was to be one of those nights.

Not to be though, as once again a run down the left hand side provided a crucial goal, and more points for the Rebel Army. This week it was Davin O'Neill's turn, aided by some much deserved good luck! The Cobh native shot was deflected and looped over an impressive Sava and into the net, sparking delirium in the City end, and an interesting ending. It seems to be a trait of City home games, with a mercyless crowd baying for a late goal by the Leesiders, but once again their efforts proved fruitless.

To be fair to City though, having gone behind twice, and having had a penalty taken away from them, they showed great steel, grit, and determination to earn a point from the game. That being said it seems that there are a number of players on the team who are either not performing up to standard, or even worse, just not interested at all.

Next week it's a quick spin up the road to Waterford, where we'll be hoping to win at the RSC for the second time this year.

Until then,

Seeya later!

Kev