Fern Mc Costigan: June 2015

Monday, June 29, 2015

A Belligerent Timbers Cant Stop Playing as a Dominant Entity!

A match considered vital as well important for a couple of squads, that always these play in matches with the essence of a much contested and bitter rivalry since both of these squad’s existence and playing time in whatever league these two have taken part of.

With a hot and streaked Portland Timbers who in their midweek match at Los Angeles Stub Hub Center lost to a belligerent and pushy Galaxy squad- that saw a very uncomfortable score for the visiting Portlanders.

The Rose City chaps had something to settle as well not let their followers down in this edition of the Cascadia Derby- played once again between these two titans, after a couple of weeks Open Cup that saw many negatives for the Emerald City Boys.

Providence Park saw in its stands a very raucous and high decibel supporter crew’s in their Green Army, something that the Portland Timbers had a certain influence in putting a one sided show and stop their I-5 rivals cold in their tracks for another back to back win, something not seen since 2013.

As well giving the visiting Rave Greens crew a doubt for their absences in their initial eleven, that wasn’t a reason or excuse for the visitors to make claims of a certain advantage or superiority, as the Seattle squad regardless who’s in the field their competitiveness is always there.

Still they just faced a very motivated and dominant entity in the Timbers, who never stopped looking to infiltrate into the goalposts defended by Seattle’s star keeper Stefan Frei.

That for his misfortunes didn’t saw the fury of the Timbers Darlington Nagbe, Faneando Adi who hit the double once again and Rodney Wallace as a substitute scored the final one.

Once again Cheesmaster or Timbers Boss Caleb Porter did another check mate into the visiting Emerald City squad that didn’t show any organization in the field as well fouling the living daylights of its hosts all afternoon long.

Indeed is what many will state in how the thrill of victory and the agony of another defeat from their southern neighbors that did the dame to them in the Open Cup and were defeated in what many dubbed this as a very ugly match as the 3-1 score and today's 4-1.

isn’t something to be proud but worried for the Sounders Manager Sigi Schmidt, seeing how all of his efforts and moves didn’t paid off once again for the final and humiliating result we all known.

for now nothing is loss for the Sounders have two opportunities as the next match played at Century Link will one revenge filled one as well their upcoming second Leg of the US Open Cup wee a loss once again and elimination will be considered as unacceptable.

Today the best squad in the field won with their unique game and extra efforts seen all around an afternoon of pure football that saw the locals win with fight and conviction that at the end saw one overall winner in a weekend filled Derbies.

Keep up Rose City; with this kind of playing maybe we can see a couple of shield’s adorning at the end of this campaign the halls of Providence Park as well an award to your Manager merits this 2015.

After overcoming oddities and adversities at the beginning, suddenly he stated certain dominance and so far is looking that he can turn things around for his Boys in Green as a mean and contentious squad.

Crest Credit and Property of Portland Timbers Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit and Property of © Portland Timbers and Craig Mitchelldyer 2015

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Hopes are Dwindling for O Neill’s Republic of Ireland

Martin O ‘Neill is a believer of miracles that hopefully may happen in his favor, this after seeing his squad netting a draw at home courtesy of the Tartar Army.

All of a sudden the Republic of Ireland Boss is in need of many things coming in their favor as well deliver good results in their quest of making it into the next stage of the Euro qualifiers and join the other Celtic squads.

After a seeing a sold out Aviva venue and many of the Green Army followers awaiting a positive result that would put his squad in contention, suddenly all of that hoopla turned into a fallen disgrace.

Not every day you have opportunities like the one this squad didn’t took seriously, by having the privilege and the edge with a home field advantage in its overall favor, unfortunately that hope turned into despair.

A draw with not so modest Scotland was a feat for the Tartars; after all they are seeded within a good spot in group D as well in much command of third place with eleven points and within four behind powerhouse Germany in first place and two behind second place Poland.

With a match dubbed as the Celtic Derby, whenever these two squads play, the Republic of Ireland initial eleven became a dominant force in the entire match until that erroneous move by its backfield john O’ Shea that allowed the infamous score.

Very well seeing how the Boys in Green couldn’t capitalize on the scoreboard after John Walters score on the 38^th at the end the Irish strikers became missing in action throughout out the whole match, leaving a sense of no finishers in this squad.

Leaving Ireland’s Boss O’ Neill a bit shaken but still hopeful that his Boys can make something happen in the upcoming matches that can define their future and possibly their pass to this European tourney.

For the Tartars Boss Gordon Strachan the feat and result obtained by his squad at Lansdowne Road was a shoot in the arm for his chaps going into their next compromises against the likes of Germany and Poland.

In the opposite side of the page, the Republic of Ireland Boss Martin O’ Neill has pinned his hopes in his next matches seen a bit easy and with a certain degree of positive’s in favor of his squad looking ahead for a chance to advance.

Something that the Green Army is preparing with such urgency into their upcoming matches one away at Faro Stadium and face off a weak Gibraltar and returning home on September 7^th to face off a Republic of Georgia.

Giving the Green Army a certain advantage coming on their not so easy matches on October to close the elimination phase with a German squad already qualified and seeking the last position on their group against a hardened Polish national squad.

The Boys in Green have to be ready for any of their upcoming challenge’s its thrown to them, nothing is impossible as the German and Poles already qualified can play in a more passive mode and here is when they can capitalize on their Euro aspirations.

Nothing is written until your write your side of the story as many say that hopes can dwindle for the Irish maybe the luck can be on their side and achieve the ultimate of surprises in this event by advancing into the next stages.

Crest Credit and Property of Football Association of Ireland and Wikipedia 2015

Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property of © Football Association of Ireland 2001- 2015

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

A Determined Boh’s Claim this Edition of the Dublin Derby

A meeting considered among the elite circles of Irish Football and dubbed as a Classic or Derby, whenever these two giants of the Airticity League of Ireland always meet.

Once again another much awaited edition of a match between two of this capital top initial elevens, that since their founding, these two have been always looking for the ultimate of glories and looking to become one of the most distinguished.

Dalymont Park showed off its best, when this edition of the Dublin Derby was to be played between these two Dublin titans’ in the Bohemians or Cumann Peile Bóithéamaigh seeking the much coveted and appreciated of victories over the Shamrock Rovers or Cumann Peile Ruagairí na Seamróige.

As the Bohs really are coming from a loss in another version of the Dublin Derby against the likes of Saint Patrick’s Athletic, as all of a sudden these two clubs are suddenly fighting their way on the league table for a better position among them the fourth position.

A very fought off Derby was seen on the field when these two clubs that since their inception in 1915, they been at it in every single match as well putting a very tense and disputed display on the field.

Many say that moves paid off, this time the Bohs skipper really took a gamble that paid off when one of his super substitutes in Dean Kelly didn’t let his Boss down with a double score to give the visiting Hoops the final blow.

And no one than the Bohs Manager Keith Long was so joyful of seeing his side net an important win as well move in the overall table within distance from its cross town rival’s the Pats and Rovers as well seven points away from the top position held currently by Dundalk.

Who the Bohs defeated the likes of the Lilywhites two weeks ago as visitors when they silenced a whole Oriel Park soundly.

For the Bohs getting back to league play after the break, this undoubtedly will become a force not to mess with and overcome their last campaign mediocre performance into an excellent one as well one that possibly can deliver some needed silverware to Dalymont Halls.

Those Bohemians are for real and although many state as it as a young club, still their motivation and ambitious to seek the ultimate in this campaign will be seen in the upcoming months.

A nice win indeed, was for the Phibsborough Boys over their arch-rivals that didn’t let their guard down all evening long by seeing an early goal by the visiting squad, that didn’t stop the Gypsies in their quest to turn things around for the final victory.

Wonderful match still the sad part was many of the empty seats around as well the lack of support many Irish we give our squad’s versus the ones from across the channel from the English premier League.

Our league is one to be proud of as well our squad’s regardless the one you call or support as your own, come on to the parks and support your boys, we shouldn’t see too many empty seats anywhere.

Crest Credit and Property of Bohemian Football Club and Wikipedia 2015

Friday, June 12, 2015

An Unstoppable TFC Making Everyone See Red!

Give credit to TFC’s Manager Greg Vanney who is making an all-around revolution with his Reds in this 2015 campaign that’s giving them a glimpse of many great things to come.

So far three wins against three notable squad’s has BMO Field looking a bit excited in their quest to make this campaign a fruitful one as well make it to the promised land, something that the TFC never has made it since its inception to MLS.

Their appearance in the CONCACHAMPIONS tournament in the 2011-12 campaign saw in the Canadian’s as a belligerent and fighting squad, by reaching the semifinal stages and being the first club from North of the Border to reach to this levels.

Another feat being one of the most celebrated for them was when they played a hardened Portland Timbers squad that under first year man Sebastian Giovinco, which thanks with his lone score and early goal the win was by a minimum difference.

The buck didn’t stop there as the TFC continued with its winning streak by beating a renewed San Jose Quakes squad by a convincing and meritorious score of 3-1.

DC United became one of its latest victims by receiving once again a dose of two goals from the Atomic Ant himself, Sebastian Giovinco that so far his performance s lately are making MLS play as a field day!

Although the TFC hasn’t used its full squad due to injuries from Jozi Altidore and Michael Bradley multiple international compromises with Team USA, still this squad is playing a very motivated and determined football.

Still for Toronto’s first Year Boss Greg Vanney, his multiple moves in his initial eleven have paid off wonders so far- as well delivered much needed victories as the summer is when many squads’ start making a lot of noise and paving its destiny towards the fall.

When the league is wrapping up its campaign and shaping in both of its conferences who will be attending the big fete in America’s top notch and professional league.

If this club maintains its mastery and continuum success in the upcoming months, maybe BMO Field will be witnessing its first ever playoffs since its club entered into league scene.

And with a 4-3-1-2 formation used by Manager Vanney and with several key absences in its initial elven, still his moves have paid off with style as well paving in what many are seeing a successful campaign.

the way this club is playing is making honor to its city nickname of the ”City That Works”, as its Manager and players alike are paving in what many are seeing a revitalized and prevailing club in MLS.

Maybe this is it, the year of the TFC and possibly lifting a couple of shields and delivering them to its halls at BMO Field, as well see a lasting run in its current Manager for many years to come as well develop a successful program.

Crest Credit and Property of Portland Timbers Football Club and Wikipedia 2015