GREEN IN TOP GEAR

Irishtown V Cashel F.C. 4:1
Irishtown over 35s were playing with the possibility of a result, which would put them into the quarter finals of the Clifford Cup.

League-wise the Ringsend seniors are currently in second place and the visit of Cashel to Ringsend Park, a premier side should be trouble for home team manager Kevin Reynolds, but full credit to his pre-match attitude “We’re as good as anyone”.

The game started brightly for the home team and with only minutes on the clock they squandered quality chances through David Hughes and Peter Byrne.

Moments later, the worst happened, Cashel’s midfielder, with his run down the right flank delivered a perfect cross and yes 0:1 for the away team as the Cashel striker netted with a perfect header, and whatever happened after that, if it wasn’t for Damien Jenkins, Irishtown’s goalkeeper, Cashel could have put the game beyond the home team by half-time.

For the last half-hour of the first half, Irishtown players looked like they were on an O.A.P’s day out as they failed to realise where they were!

Thanks to the ref’s weird decision, the home team got a controversial penalty which Patrick Kavanagh finished with precision, 1:1.

Before half time, manager Reynolds had no option but to change tactics as off went Mark Merrigan and Peter Byrne for Joe Murray and Damien Byrne.

The second half was a completely different scenario as the home team sprang into life and played ball worthy of their current league position.

Right from the re-start, David Greer let the Cashel defence realise that himself and his squad mean business as his solo run gifted his team the possibility of an early second half lead but his effort was fractionally wide.

By now the team had exploded into life and on came Damien Duff, oh sorry, Damien Byrne, he may as well have been Damien Duff as he ran riot on the right side.

By now, there was shape in the team. Linking up well in defence was Steven Caulfield and Jason Floyd, the middle of the park was dominated by Greer, John Butler and electric legs, Charlie Byrne.

Irishtown took the lead from another penalty as Greer was dragged down in the box and back on came Kavanagh with the American-style rules to make no mistake, 2:1 and off he went straight after it (for the record these rules are allowed in the over 35s league).

At this stage, Cashel couldn’t find a way out of their own half and Damien Byrne made it 3:1 as he was fed through by Greer. Greer got his reward for his performance and ended the game as a contest with a breathtaking 35-yard volley which thundered in the top corner, 4:1.

Now Irishtown were into the quarter finals and manager Reynolds realised to advance further his lads must produce 90 minutes of football and not only 45 minutes!
Star Man: David Greer

From top left, clockwise: Irishtown FC Over 35s, David Greer in action and Team of the Month Cambridge Under 8s, recent 13:1 winners over Ballaly. Manager of the team is Liam Behan.