Templeogue Utd's. 8A’s Liverpool Trip Report
                                                               
Saturday, 27th March 2010

After a 7.45am breakfast it’s on to the coach to travel to The Hollies, South Liverpool  to meet Kingsthorne FC & Rec Roby Youth FC.

Templeogue Utd. & Rec Roby FC

First up was a 9.30am kick off against Rec Roby Youth’s 2nd team. The starting line up was Cian Maher in goal, Darren Flanagan & Eoin O’Neill, defenders, Mark Soper, defensive midfield, Ryan O’Neill, Darragh Nugent and Zach Kavanagh making up the midfield and Craig McMahon up front.  Substitutes were Mark Morley & Matthew Harper.

Templeogue Utd. started well keeping possession and trying to pass the ball on a difficult pitch.  After a nervous few minutes the game settled down. A lose ball from the opposition was won in midfield by Mark Soper who then played to Darragh Nugent’s feet. Darragh drove forward at pace leaving 2 Roby players behind. An attempted cross from right side of 18 yard line came of a Roby player for a corner. A perfectly worked corner from Ryan O’Neill to Darren Flanagan, who was unmarked at the edge of the box, game him the chance to shoot first time. Roby blocked the shot only for Darren to continue his run and blast the ball into the far corner.
Roby pressed for the equaliser and after several corners Templeogue began to control the game again.  Matthew Harper now on right side of midfield picked up almost every kick out from Roby keeper and created several chances for Craig McMahon & Darragh Nugent that went just wide. However, just on the 20 minute mark it was a Roby throw in on the left side that Ryan O’Neill pressed on and played a pass to Craig McMahon who turned and squared to the oncoming Eoin O’Neill to finish well.

The second half started with Zach Kavanagh moving from midfield to goal, Cian Maher going into defence and Darren Flanagan into midfield. Within minutes of the restart Templeogue won a throw in just at the 18 yard line in their own half. Mark Soper took the throw to the feet of Darren Flanagan who played a first time pass to Ryan O’Neill. Ryan played a diagonal ball to Craig McMahon who fed Eoin O’Neill at the 6 yard line. Eoin turned and from a very tight angle netted his second of the game. On the half hour mark Templeogue Utd. failed to deal with a ball in defence and it broke for an unmarked player to finish well.  Roby had a few more chances but were denied by the solid defence of Mark Soper & Cian Maher and some great saves by keeper Zach Zavanagh. Templeogue Utd. scored their fourth goal when the energetic Darragh Nugent won the ball inside his own half drive forward and played a ball to the striker Mark Morley. Mark battled with the defender who kicked it long. Matthew Harper attacked the ball and passed it forward again. The defender under constant pressure from Mark Morley cleared only to be met by the head of Eoin O’Neill to play in the on rushing Darragh to coolly slot home Templeogue’s 4th.

Roby pressed forward again and won a throw in which was excellently defended by Cian Maher. Cian relaxed on the ball and played a pass to Darragh Nugent in midfield. Darragh played a cross field pass to Eoin O’Neill on the left. Eoin looked up and saw Darragh coming in from centre midfield and Darren Flanagan on the right. He took a touch and passed it to Darren who had a shot which hit the keeper and fell to Eoin to score the rebound and complete his hat trick.

The final score ended 5-1 to Templeogue Utd.

Templeogue Utd. & Kingsthorne FC

Time for a short break and it’s onto the 2nd opponents, Kingsthorne FC who are unbeaten this year. The starting line up was Zach Kavanagh in goal, Craig McMahon and Cian Maher, defenders, Mark Soper, defensive midfield, Matthew Harper, Mark Morley and Eoin O’Neill making up the midfield and Darragh Nugent  up front.  Substitutes were Ryan O’Neill & Darren Flanagan.

Kingsthorne started well closing down Templeogue quickly trying to stop them playing. A good save by Zach Kavanagh 10 minutes into the first half sparked life into Templeogue. A quick throw out by Zach Kavanagh to defender Cian Maher who passed direct to forward Darragh Nugent.  Darragh laid the ball off to Mark Soper who shot first time to score Templeogue’s 1st goal.
The next 10 minutes was all about Templeogue’s touch, passing and the Mark Soper show! Ryan O’Neill & Darren Flanagan replaced Matthew Harper & Mark Morley in midfield and their freshness had an immediate impact. Cian Maher, who was a thorn in the opposition’s side, played a direct pass, splitting the two Kingsthorne players, to Darren Flanagan who took a touch, turned and had a shot on goal. A great save by the keeper saw the ball land at the feet of the incoming Mark Soper to score his second.
Templeogue Utd. continued to dominant the game when Mark Morley, now back on in midfield, played the ball to Darren Flanagan who played it direct to Mark Soper in the box who slotted the ball home, nutmeging the keeper in the process to complete his hat trick.

The second half started with many changes. Zach Kavanagh started left side midfield with Darren Flanagan going in goal. Eoin O’Neill, now tired after his hat trick in the first game, came off along with Mark Soper and Matthew Harper & Ryan O’Neill going into midfield. The team were tiring quickly after playing over an hour’s football and Kingsthorne started coming into the game.  An in swinging cross from left side of midfield with 5 minutes to go was headed goal wards by the striker. An attempt by Craig McMahon to clear the ball saw if spin off his foot into the net.

This was the last chance Kingsthorne had and Templeogue finished 3-1.