Kingswood v Railway Union 2:7
O’Gorman’s Guys chop down Kingswood!
I had a pre-match conversation with Railway’s under 8s manager, Tom O’Gorman, in which he told me that today’s opponents, Kingswood, were his troops’ toughest test to date.

Railway are currently playing in a league cup where every team get to play each other, home and away. So far Railway have had four matches in which they gained maximum results in all. The confidence was there and the togetherness also, as that could be seen in the pre-match warm-up as each player looked out for each other.

So the game commenced and within 20 seconds Rory McGovern’s cross was headed into the Kingswood net by their own defender, 0:1 Railway. O’Gorman couldn’t have wished for a better start as Kingswood defence looked nervous. David Pugh nearly made it 0:2 from a McGovern cross but his effort sliced wide.

As early as the 2 minutes, Railway made sure this time as McGovern slotted into the bottom corner from close range, 0:2. Kingswood from the restart went close but Railway’s keeper, James Aiken, did enough to put Kingswood striker No. 7 off. Aiken’s monster kick-out contributed to Railway’s third as Pugh linked up with McGovern for the third after only 7 minutes on the clock. Even at this stage the writing was on the wall for the Tallaght team.

Midway through the first half, Killian McCarthy was getting plenty of possession and laying it off well. Sean Collins was in full control and he was unlucky with his 30-yard strike as it blasted just wide. The fourth goal came from Christian Farrell, a player who has the same style as Manchester United’s Ronaldo, 0:4.

Kingswood pulled one back before the break but it could have been more if it wasn’t for the clever defending by Jack Mulligan and Collins. Looking at Manager O’Gorman as the half-time whistle blew, his expression of a massive smile summed up Railway’s excellent first-half performance.

As the second half started, O’Gorman made several changes, most noticeably putting Collins in goal (a player who can play in any position) said O’Gorman. Caelan Kelleher, Richard O’Connor and Sean Tighearnigh made valuable contributions.

McGovern got his second goal to make it 1:5 from an O’Connor corner. Kingswood star player No. 7 made it 2:5 midway through the second half. From the re-start Kingswood attacked again but were denied by a double save by gifted Collins. Pugh made it 2:6 as the Kingswood keeper failed to hang on to the ball from a Ronaldo Farrell belter.

As the game entered the final minute, McCarthy was unlucky as his long-distance shot thundered past the top corner.

But the last laugh went to McGovern to give him his hat trick and make it 2:7. Overall Manager and supporters were thrilled with the performance.