Fern Mc Costigan: March 2017

Friday, March 31, 2017

Clean sheets for both Seattle and Atlanta Friday matchup

Nothing for nobody and for a surprising expansion side Atlanta United coming to Emerald City and play last campaign defending champions, it was not going to be a walk in the park for the United Boys.

Still the outcome of the match marred by both sides coming with several of its players sidelined to injuries and rest , time for both squad managers to create in their staring elevens.

That did not stopped the quality of a match seen in all of entirety for both squads fighting their way to break the spell and get into the scoreboard by beating the keepers who had an amazing match and not allowed any freedom to both sides strikers.

For Seattle with a slow start this campaign suddenly being above the red line and making a comeback in a slow but sure pace in every match played- with today’s result, a valuable point became a positive note for Schmetzer bunch.

Despite him not putting in the lineup Clint Dempsey, Roman Torres and Chad Marshall this latter one out due to an illness, this lineup proved a good one for Manager Brian Schmetzer.

Very well resting some of his international players, opened the opportunity to others.

Especially showing off many opportune and valuable defensive plays that at the end made an all-around difference and stopping the visitor’s offensive attack considered as one lethal ones in league circles.

With the tale of the tape favoring Seattle in the overall stats of the night, the United folks did cause concern for Seattle keeper Stefan Frei battling some shoots that for luck did not made their target or an opportune Roldan body that prevented what could been a goal.

As Atlanta shooting to goal eleven times but just 3 were on target versus 4 off target and 4 blocked, that was enough for the Red and Black 11 to cause sort of havoc on the Sounders posts.

Brian Schmetzer Seattle’s Boss sent a 4-2-3-1 formation to counter a dynamic 4-3-3 sent by the Southern Boys man at their helm Tata Martino, with no success.

For the Rave Green showing off some of its mettle that made this squad league champions, their persistence started when Deuce Dempsey came in as a substitute in the 57^th minute, but for their misfortunes the rally came short for the home squad.

Very well the substitution by Tata Martino in getting his top notch striker Miguel Almiron in the 64^th minute alongside Carlos Carmona in the 73 and Kenwyne Jones in the 82, the visitors couldn’t spark anything, despite the moves by the Andean.

Atlanta could not show off its game that so far has put this squad atop the Eastern Conference.

Instead, Atlanta came ahead in the fouls department with 18 and a couple of yellow cards for lack of sportsmanship behavior to Julian Gressel and Yamil Assad and showing a more aggressive than clean game overall in the match.

At the end this scoreless match complete a dull and scoreless Friday night soccer in Century Link Stadium, that showed off a one of a kind attendance once again, no goals but just a point for each squad.

Crest Credit and Property of Dean Rutz- Seattle Times 2017

Finally, a Derby for Dundalk

They are back on the plus side, after a horrible loss in their last match at Turners Cross, the Lilywhites of Dundalk FC finally took a valuable win and better at the always-celebrated Louth Derby.

After last week loss to City and posting a couple of losses in this campaign, for Stephen Kenny and company it was business as usual and start making a comeback in this edition of the SSE League of Ireland.

With a three goals to one of the Drogs, a sold out Oriel Park enjoy a full evening of pure and top of the line football courtesy of its Boys, playing like in their old days.

As David McMillan, Michael Duffy and Brian Gartland became the heroes of this match and returned the defending champions to the winning columns once again, the aims of this club is to win and keep a close pace on the league leaders Cork City.

Still for Stephen Kenny and company his work at this club has been always notable and dealing an odd campaign from the start of this edition of the League of Ireland, he has been able to overcome the oddities of his club has encounter in this campaign.

What a difference makes playing at home and with a sold out match, those in attendance exposed to a one of a kind match filled with lots of great plays and brilliant moves that at the end paid off for the home squad.

To aim for the Dundalk squad was to net a win, deliver points in their favor as their cross-country foes once again posted a win, and continue their mastery of all its league foes, the need to get three points became vital for the home squad.

By trailing the league leaders by six points, anything can happen in the course of this campaign, as this match became the last one in this busy month of March and now seeing April in the horizon, the league will be entering into its best stages.

By netting an important win over a sudden failing cross county rivals the Drogs, Manager Stephen Kenny is hard at work in getting his squad leveled into the remaining of the tournament and put on a fight and seek their fourth shield if possible.

As injuries, errors and lack of focus have been central to this club sudden downfall, but nothing to worry as the campaign is in its early stages and the revival can come anytime for this Louth County club looking forward to another stellar run.

This win gives the Lilywhites three points of gold, claim bragging rights since this club came back to Irelands Premiership, and so far the Boynesiders all of a sudden are struggling in the overall table and again occupying the relegation spots.

Today’s win sees how the wisdom of the Dundalk main man Stephen Kenny came up and thanks to his improvisations after missing three main elements in Cyaran Kilduff suspension and injuries to both Robbie Benson and Patrick McEleney.

At the end of this match, the moves by Dundalk boss paid off and his bunch came away with a valuable win that uplifted his squad spirits towards their next away compromise at Finn Park in Ballybofey, to play a hardened Harps.

Despite the win and much better performance of the offensive attack by the Dundalk squad, Manager Kenny will be focusing of seeing his squad improve defensively and not allow any spaces or liberties to the opposing strikers and creating a much stingy backfield.

Hail to the Louth Derby winners the Cumann Peile Dhún Dealgan!

Photos Credit and Property of © Dundalk Football Club 2017

Thursday, March 30, 2017

There is no stopping those Cork City chaps

Cork City squad is playing with such hunger and passion, posting an unbeatable record so far in this nascent campaign of the league of Ireland.

This time City is very serious in making a stand and making all sorts of headlines in the League of Ireland and they cannot wait for the next edition of the Europa League of making another spectacular run as their cross-country foes of Dundalk FC.

With a perfect 6-0 record, after their notorious win in the league Derby against the three times league champions Dundalk, the Rebel Army did the feat with a wondrous win at home in Turners Cross.

This win makes it three in a row over Stephen Kenny squad considered a tough one in league circles for its tough game and last Europa League a first for the League of Ireland of having such a great run.

So far, a couple of cup wins and this past weekend in league play, the Leesiders are looking unbeatable and difficult for the Louth County squad.

The question is who will be the squad to stop the City squad momentum or winning streak.

For now this, is not important as the initial eleven sent in every weekend by City Manager John Caulfield is looking like a total winner with each player- displaying a one of a kind football and playing without any inhibitions.

Very well the mood in the squad overall are the elements this club needed to start aspiring for the league Cup, one that has been a bit elusive for three years consecutively after seeing their arch-rivals lift it three times.

Not this time, as this squad built to front much heavier challenges, in league and internal cup play alongside of trying to shadow Dundalk performance with a qualification in the Europa rounds and reach the always-difficult knockout rounds.

If this squad reaches this international competition with the current impetus they are showing in the past six matches, there will not be a foe in the SSE to stop them, still there is no perfection and one day they have to lose.

However, for now, this Rebel Army is playing with all the enthusiasm they have since day one, when the league fireworks started and with Dundalk and Derry City, as their closest chasers.

Still this squad with the way their new dynamic game displayed in the field, they will prevail against their league foes and seeing a continuance in their mastery.

Despite the commotion and success for Cork City- so far showing in this campaign, for its Manager only focus to play one match at a time and not let it go to his players head and letting them keep a cool attitude.

Very well for him and his squad its business as usual and not take any of its foes game lightly and take them seriously in their game and play with ambition and hunger, so far these ingredients have been crucial for this squad perfect run.

With upcoming matches at Limerick and returning later at home to play a hardened and resurgent Derry City, the Rebel Army is ready to continue its all-around success and positive run in league play.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

The Linfield Blues making a last effort in the NIFL

After their win over a belligerent Ballinamallard United, the Linfield Blues are closing the gap in the race of the North Ireland Premiership top.

As all of a sudden, we have a close contest between the Linfield Blues and current first placeholders the Crusader’s FC Crues.

So far are all smiles for this Belfast based squad, looking forward to end a league of Ireland trophy drought and showing an all-around display of might and will- to try to catch the first place Crues.

Their role for now is to play the role of spoilers by denying them a third consecutive shield.

Still the North Ireland Premiership is not over and with a few dates left to close this edition, the heat is on for both squads, especially for the Hachetmen who saw their luck change in their last match against a hardened Coleraine.

For Blues Manager David Healy improvisations in his lineup after a couple of his players, one in national duty with North Ireland keeper Roy Carroll and defender Cameron Steward sideline with an injury.

With Kirk Millar once again being in the starting eleven in defense and Gareth Deane defending the Blues posts, for Manager Healy his moves paid off at the end with both doing a one of a kind job and sending a message to the Blues Boss.

However for the Belfast squad seeing a determined Mallards eleven taking advantage as the local squad in Fenney Park, the outcome of the match became a one sided in the first half with a leading score from Ryan Curran in the 31^st minute.

In addition to seeing a Mallard squad pressing one time after another, it’s when the Blues keeper Deane stepped up and took care of business in defending over zealously his posts and denying the local’s a couple of go ahead goals.

The second half its when the visiting Linfield eleven started causing havoc and pressuring in Ballinamallard’s backfield until their first score came in via Aaron Burns, who came as a substitute in the 46^th minute and scored the equalizer.

The match is all tie up at one goal apiece in the 51 minute.

The persistence and constant arrivals of the Blues gave them a second score in the 86^th minute with a nice volley from Stephen Lowry that beat the local’s keeper Richard Brush for the go-ahead and what at the end prove to be the game winner.

This win sees an all-around effort by this Belfast club that after its persistence staring from February with an unstoppable four game winning streak and just a draw, the hunger displayed in every match played by this bunch.

At the end, the Linfield Blues is one squad to follow closely in the NIFL, with its last matches to play and close this edition seen as one contested one, the perseverance and stamina of the Blues or Crues to see in the end.

If the Blues make it that will be a great achievement if not give them an A for their efforts!