Men’s 2s defeated in Irish Junior Cup
The Men’s 2s hosted Rathgar 2s in what promised to be an exciting Irish Junior Cup clash. With no league game for the 2s and Rathgar already six matches into their season, it was set to be an interesting game.
From the start, the 2s took control of possession, pressing hard for an early breakthrough. Gareth McKeown found himself one-on-one with the Rathgar keeper but was unable to find the angle to score. The pressure continued, with McKeown once again testing the defence, this time with a reverse shot that looped just over the bar.
Dominating the first quarter, the 2s kept Rathgar pinned in their own half. However, in the final minute of the quarter, a defensive mix-up on a short corner left the 2s without a first runner. Rathgar captain Stephen Dalzell capitalised on the opportunity, expertly dragging his flick into the roof of the net.
The second quarter saw Rathgar grow into the game, finding their passing rhythm. Despite this, the 2s found an equaliser through brilliant work from McKeown, who dribbled along the byline before squaring the ball for Scotty Moore to tap in. Unfortunately, Rathgar responded quickly, regaining the lead to make it 2-1 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Rathgar hit their stride, dominating possession with sharp movement and exploiting space effectively. They extended their lead to 4-1, putting the 2s under serious pressure.
The 2s kept battling in the final quarter. A penalty flick gave them a glimmer of hope, with McKeown calmly converting to bring the score to 4-2. However, Rathgar sealed the match with a fifth goal, ending the game at 5-2.
It was a disappointing result, especially after such a strong start from the 2s. With plenty of chances through open play and short corners, there were opportunities to win the game. Some valuable lessons were learned, another 70 minutes under the belt and the team moves forward.
A huge thank you to Richard Bruce and Andy Walls for stepping up to umpire, and to Peter Gray for his fantastic support with admin, food and match cards. Volunteers like these are the backbone of the club!