League

Rathkip Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Donal Morrison started the match with the kick off. Through an outstanding action, after 9 minutes, Finian Branson successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. 10 minutes into the game, Rathkip's Daithi Murphy nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Finian Branson made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Finian Branson made a fantastic save in the 13th minute, when Rowan Walker sent off a good shot on target. With his leg Finian Branson managed to avoid a goal in the 14thth minute, when Rathkip's Daithi Murphy fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Daithi Murphy sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Donal Morrison's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Conaill Coyle was relentless in the 21st minute of the game. Conaill Coyle made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Donal Morrison in the 22nd minute of play. Through an outstanding action, after 26 minutes, Finian Branson successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Daithi Murphy who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 28thth minute tested the skills of Finian Branson when he managed to save the team from getting behind. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Daithi Murphy in the 38th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Finian Branson saved Gortroe from getting behind. Finian Branson didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Daithi Murphy went, in the 39th minute, to the upper right corner, 4-0 was the resulting score. Donal Morrison sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Don Sheridan recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 48th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 4-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Rowan Walker to make the kick off. Rowan Walker hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Toren Gillmour during the 54th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Rathkip getting a freekick after 54 minutes play. Toren Gillmour hit a great ball. In the 57th minute, Toren Gillmour hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A nice corner shot did that Harold McTom got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Conaill Coyle quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Conaill Coyle was out of position in the 61 minute of play, and Donal Morrison capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Donal Morrison really showed his touch with that goal: 4-1. After 69 played minutes, Rathkip's Patton Tierney shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Finian Branson came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Rathkip reached it. In a very dangerous position, a player in Gortroe fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 73rd minute. Penalty! 78 minutes into the game, Rathkip's Toren Gillmour nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Finian Branson made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 7-1. Finian Branson showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rowan Walker, who was totally free with the ball in the 83rd minute. Donal Morrison fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Conaill Coyle having to interfere. Finian Branson took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rowan Walker, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cleary McWillie hit a great freekick 96 minutes into the match. Gortroe's Don Sheridan got a good chance for a goal in the 98th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Gortroe's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.