League

Caherlane Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Caherlane's Dillon Scully started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After 5 minutes of play, Strand's Harley McPaul made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Leonard Lester was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the last second Boyne McSteven throw himself and got hold of the ball when Rorry Perth in the 13thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Boyne McSteven made a fantastic save in the 17th minute, when Dillon Scully sent off a good shot on target. If Breck Mulvihill had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Dillon Scully came up free with the goalie in the 22nd minute, the Caherlane 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 Dillon Scully couldn't finish the play. Dillon Scully might have been able to make a better finish in the 26th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Boyne McSteven. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dillon Scully ran back to his position shaking his head. With a little luck, Strand's Boyne McSteven got control of the ball when Dillon Scully tried to sneak it across the goal line. Boyne McSteven took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rorry Perth, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Dillon Scully got free with Boyne McSteven in the 31st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When Bracken Gillmour fell near the penalty area in the 32nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Strand's protests and gave Bracken Gillmour a yellow card for diving instead. In the 32nd match minute, Strand was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bracken Gillmour to maneuver through the defense. Leonard Lester took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dane Deery, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 36th match minute, Strand was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tiarnan Taylor to maneuver through the defense. Strand's Boyne McSteven played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rorry Perth in the 38th minute of play. In the 39th minute Harley McPaul shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leonard Lester saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 46th minute, Strand's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Rorry Perth fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. After the first half Strand were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Harley McPaul was the one to do the kick off. Boyne McSteven stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Rorry Perth's shot from short distance in the 53rd minute. Strand's Dane Deery got a good chance for a goal in the 55th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The referee felt a red card was in order, 57 minutes into the game, when Antaine Dunne put in a rough tackle. Donn Gillmour placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out! In the 63rd minute, Rorry Perth got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Dane Deery fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Leonard Lester having to interfere. Bracken Gillmour was shown his second yellow card after 73 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. After a rather tough play, Strand's Bracken Gillmour got a free kick in the 74th minute. The audience was convinced that Dillon Scully's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Boyne McSteven was relentless in the 78th minute of the game. After 79 minutes, Tiarnan Taylor mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Strand and the Caherlane players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Strand getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Tiarnan Taylor hit a great ball. 80 minutes into the game, Dane Deery was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Strand's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Caherlane the free kick. After 80 played minutes Strand got a freekick which was hit by Dane Deery. The audience was convinced that Dillon Scully's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Boyne McSteven was relentless in the 82nd minute of the game. Rorry Perth fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Boyne McSteven having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Rorry Perth in the 91st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Boyne McSteven prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When Bhrighde McLaughlin fell near the penalty area in the 94th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Caherlane's protests and gave Bhrighde McLaughlin a yellow card for diving instead. Bhrighde McLaughlin hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match. After 95 minutes of play, Strand's Harley McPaul made it 0-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Leonard Lester was left in no man's land by his defense there! When the final whistle went the supporters of Strand were delighted that their team had defeated the much more dominant Caherlane side.