League Play-Off

Strand
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tomás McCready took the kick off in the first half of the match. After 5 minutes of play, Strand's Oliver McBrand made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Coran McJohnny was left in no man's land by his defense there! Coran McJohnny made a fantastic save in the 7th minute, when Donlan Jameson sent off a good shot on target. After 19 played minutes Strand got a freekick which was hit by Louie McLaughlin. Coran McJohnny took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Barram Robinson, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Tomás McCready received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 25th minute. Rorry Mulvihill tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Strand getting a freekick after 31 minutes play. Louie McLaughlin hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Beamard Mulvihill in the 32nd minute of play forced Strand's goalkeeper Rorry Mulvihill to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Laurencetown's Tomás McCready in the 37th minute got a chance for a shot 37th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Strand's goalie prevented a goal. In the 39th match minute, Strand was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gearard McTommy to maneuver through the defense. In the 41st minute Saoirse McLian shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rorry Mulvihill saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Af the end of the first half the score was 3-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Barram Robinson to make the kick off. When Cormac McAlphie came up free with the goalie in the 51st minute, the Laurencetown fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Cormac McAlphie couldn't finish the play. Strand's Rorke Barrett got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Rorke Barrett charged in rather forcefully in the 54th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Rorke Barrett the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 54th match minute, Strand was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rorke Barrett to maneuver through the defense. Saoirse McLian sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A hard shot 59 in the game by Tomás McCready from a close distance when the talented Rorry Mulvihill managed to make a qualified save. Strand's players were relieved. Barram Robinson blasted a shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Coran McJohnny having to make a save. Rorry Mulvihill showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tomás McCready in the 74th minute of the match. Rorry Mulvihill made a fantastic save in the 80th minute, when Tomás McCready sent off a good shot on target. Coran McJohnny showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Barram Robinson, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. 86 minutes into the match, Laurencetown's Saoirse Ramsey sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Rorry Mulvihill narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 86th match minute, Laurencetown was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Saoirse McLian to maneuver through the defense. Tomás McCready struck a weak shot in the 92nd minute. Rorry Mulvihill didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Laurencetown. After a defensive mix-up in Laurencetown's zone, Oliver McBrand stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Coran McJohnny came out of the goal and Oliver McBrand tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 95th minute, Laurencetown's Donavin McLaughlin seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Donavin McLaughlin the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Laurencetown protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Donavin McLaughlin had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Strand fans cheered their team off the field, for while Laurencetown had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.