Fern Mc Costigan: June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

City off to a another amazing start in the Europa League

A new adventure in the Europa League for Cork City started with the right foot against Levadia Tallin at Kradiorg Stadium in Estonia’s capital.

With a final score of 2-0 and goals from Garry Buckley 43 and Steven Beattie 82, were enough for the Rebel Army to open up their new European adventure in the right foot.

Very well drawing a positive result back home at Turners Cross Stadium, where the Leesiders are a force not to mess with, as well coming with the labels of all-around favorites.

As AEK Larnaca from Cypress or Gibraltar Lincoln, the City crew can have it easy with any of these foes as well make another important step in their quest of making it into group stage.

For John Caulfield bunch after venturing into foreign lands and playing a tough pitch, their positive outcome and feat is worth applauding, as this score assures them of a comfortable second leg.

After all, the Rebel Army is playing a one of a kind campaign at home and with a perfect record, now they have transferred into their European challenge.

Still this was a perfect afternoon in Estonia for the Leesiders who saw their luck for the plus and coming ready to face off an unknown rival that they played with a lot of familiarity and master all ninety minutes of this match.

The first break of the match came when the first goal came via Garry Buckley shoes as the dependence on their top striker Sean Maguire was not given any liberties to develop his game all evening long.

Here the genius of Caulfield came afloat and with his varied arsenal, the dominance of this match became obvious for the visitors, when the locals saw one of their own, netting a red card for defender Luc Manga after this got his second yellow in the 42.

With the second half under way, once again the mastery of the Rebel Army continue on its hosts and these with an inferior disadvantage of ten men, the City crew continue their pressure until their second score came.

At the end, three moves were enough for City manager, who once again proved valuable when Shane Griffin staring the break the ball went to Achille Campion to pass into Steven Beattie for the second and final score.

Despite the moves by Levadia’s Boss Igor Prins, and the efforts made by his eleven in the field, these were not sufficient for a comeback and now his squad is on the brink of elimination with a match away at Turners Field.

For Cork City, next step is to put away this match at home with half a foot into the next round, the City squad is poised to close this series in style and win it the way they have been doing it throughout this campaign.

First in the Airtricity League of Ireland, utmost power in this campaign not seeing any adversity against them and now their next feat will be in the Europa League, as they are paving their way into the stage group.

The odds are in favor of Cork City, as time will be their best ally.

Photos Credit and Property of © Independent.IE and REI 2017

The Shamrock Rovers European adventure starts on a positive

With a milestone, win over their Iceland foes Stjarnan at Reykjavik Stjörnuvöllur, the Shamrock Rovers opened up with a meritorious win as well reaching 100 victories in European competitions for Irish league squads.

The Hoops via a lone goal from Gary Shaw on the 38 minute, was enough to seal a first win on the road in these types of competitions as well assuring their pass into the next round.

In the second leg to play back in Dublin’s colossus of Tallaght, the Rovers can deliver their pass into the next round against a not so easy foe in Czech side Mlada Bileslav that awaits a winner and for sure the Ireland Boys have the upper hand.

Not only the whole Hoops eleven was responsible for the win but an heroic keeper Tomer Chencinski who came all around inspired and making some notable stops to preserve the win as well assure half of his squad pass into the next round.

As the afternoon in Iceland colossus with their Prime Minister on hand and 1000 in attendance to see a very tight and at the end contested affair between both squads and despite Stjarnan efforts.

Starting with a dangerous Josef Joseffson in the 70^th minute and after that the pressure held by the locals, became evident in their quest of at least to tie the match and go with a goal in favor to Dublin.

This win did not came easy for the Hoops and despite their sheer perseverance they came home to wrap this up with that away goal in their favor and now resist the push from the Icelanders when they pay them a visit at home.

Still one thing the Shamrock Rovers display was a team effort and discipline that these are showing off in every match played lately with a goalie in Chencinski playing a one of a kind game and making valuable saves.

All the way to the Hoops, center backs in Dave Webster and Roberto Lopes alongside with Simon Madden and Luke Byrne showed off their might as a top rated defensive backfield.

That showed off a lot of confidence in their drive of not allowing any liberties to the locals in their effort of trying to start a comeback, it is here, when the Rovers backfield stepped up.

A nice win and night for the Dublin Boys and now looking forward to their return match and with the advantages of playing at home, where the Hoops can wrap it up and start their Czech adventure.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

The Cincinnati FC underdogs moving on in the US Open Cup

Can history repeat itself with the Boys from the USL Cincinnati FC, looking forward to repeat history in this legendary competition, with the tale of David versus Goliath?

Anything is possible, as you may recall when then USL Rochester Rhinos defeated then MLS Colorado Rapids back in this competition final back in 1996, recorded as an all-around upset.

Since then all of Major League Soccer squads have won this major event in a consecutive way without any opposition from the United Soccer League and the North American Soccer League.

This time we may have another underdog in a squad that since its inception in the annals of professional soccer in the United States formative league, that has become an overnight sensation.

Very well capturing all sorts of headlines for what many call a small club.

By capturing attention even from tabloids in jolly old England, where this game is king and these, so far have become an instant sensation after playing to a record setting crowd of 30,000 in a friendly exhibition match against Premiership side Crystal Palace.

So far, the FC Cincy has become an overnight sensation with its record settings crowds after their inception in professional ball, and Nippert Stadium a place they call home temporarily.

Once again, the Queen City squad is capturing all sorts of attention.

As their adventure in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup, staring in the third round with a faceoff against their USL foes and bitter rivals Louisville City FC by 1-0 win to start their USOC adventure if not fairy tale.

Whatever you want to call it!

Still their next challenge became one called Columbus Crew from Major League Soccer in the fourth round and voila the unthinkable happened and all around upset was in the works with an upset of the Crew at home in what dubbed this match as the Ohio Derby.

With a 1-0 win over MLS most decorated of squads and MLS pioneer, the Crew was flabbergasted after its elimination by a club labeled as the small fry.

However, the buck does not stopped there, when they moved to the round of 16 and once again, they proved to be an almighty squad by facing a renovated Chicago Fire, another major challenge.

The FCC prevailed and overcome another MLS giant in the Fire Boys via penalty kicks and move on to quarterfinals of this event and now face NASL side Miami FC but this time they will be playing as an away team.

For the FC Cincy Boss Alan Koch its one match at a time and despite their achievements, these can prevail but the roads to the finals are meeting with a couple of more challenges.

Queen City so far in this bid for a MLS franchise and these are paving their way as well they are looking forward to win a major shield as well continue with their fairy tale that has captured the attention of many soccer oenophiles.

I must say, this squad is for real and well see how far they will reach, at the end this club is for real and looking forward to a major theater and perform its one of a kind game.

Now their next match scheduled on July 12 will be another major test, should they stay or go to the semifinals, until then.

Photos Credit and Property of © USA TODAY 2017

Photos Credit and Property of © Lamar Hunt US Open Cup 2017

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Another City win, highlights a Recap of the League of Ireland

What a weekend the league of Ireland had with Bray Wanderers, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians, Dundalk and with no surprise, Cork City, all these winning their respective matches.

Let us start at Galway’s Eamonn Deacy Park, where the troubled Tribesmen played host to a streaked Bray Wanderers squad looking forward to sit tight in third positon as well make start a chase for second place.

For Galway United Boss Shane Keegan, it is back to the drawing board with his Tribesmen to see if he can pull a rabbit out of the hat with a miraculous run at the end and facing a high riding Gulls, his hopes were riding a little low.

In the case of Harry Kenny Bunch, it was business as usual and playing their foes with all the respect and seriousness as if these were a contender, with goals from Anthony Flood and Mark Salmon in the 18 and 28 minutes, and later for Galway Stephen Folan 78.

For the Tribesmen this rally felt short at the end and surrendering to the push of the Gulls to a 2-1 loss.

Tallagh Stadium lived a one of a kind afternoon with its Shamrock Rovers facing a decimated Drogheda United, as the local Hoops it was field day and putting a goal fest with scores from Gary Shaw 46, Trevor Clarke 63, James Doona 81 and Aaron Bolger 90.

This win gives the Rovers perfect run so far in three games without seeing a loss as the squad of Stephen Bradley is making a dash towards the league top spots and getting his squad ready for their upcoming European compromise.

In the case of the Drogheda United squad in seven matches they just accumulated three points and their position in the general table does not look promising with two point advantage over Galway United situated in the bottom of the table.

Another surprise in this campaign are the Dublin Boys from Phibsborough the Bohemians FC, so far in a winning streak and not seeing a loss after six matches, the Gypsies are looking forward to catapult towards the European spots in the league.

Very well, make a decorous stand in this campaign, which is one of Keith Long the Bohs Boss, utmost of goals to see his squads in the top three spots if not atop the league table, ambitious, why not.

This time their foes the Sligo Rovers another struggling squad fighting for its survival in the abyss of relegation, the Bit O’ Red suffered another match with a clean sheet, as the Bohs Keith Ward 9’ and Daniel Corcoran 81’ delivered for the win.

The colossus of Buncrana hosted the league newest sensation and undefeated so far in the campaign, the Boys of the Rebel Army Cork City, for Kenny Shiels and his Candystripes were ready to play the role of spoilers.

With a much-disputed match, Shiels squad came ready to front a dynamic Leesiders attack and with success, the Derry Boys opened the score in the boots of Barry McNamee in the 17, but a furious reaction from the visiting City Boys.

Took a turn for the worst got for surprise the Candystripes 11.

Despite City, saw the dismissal of Jimmy Keohanne due to two yellow cards; the Rebel Army played a hell of match and persevered for the win with scores from Karl Sheppard 30 and Geraoid Morrisey 36.

So far perfection reins for Cork City.

For the league defending champions, Dundalk FC this was a very busy weekend for Stephen Kenny and his Lilywhites, playing at home and putting a hell of a show at home on both matches scheduled on Friday and Monday.

With a win on Friday over a hapless Finn Harps with a score of 4-0 and scores from Robert Benson 51, David McMillan 55, Patrick McEleney 63 and Jamie McGrath 80 to seal the deal with a rout and D’Town returning to its old winning ways.

Very well, to its old dynamic game and showing off why this is why they are the three time league champions, as their Monday night match at home and with just two days’ rest, the Lilywhites had to face a troubled Galway United squad.

As another rout and a clean sheet for the Lilywhites keeper Gary Rogers, highlighted a one of a kind home stand for the defending champions and with this win over the Tribesmen, so far he has accumulated 270 minutes without seeing a goal.

Back to back wins for the Lilywhites closes the gap in the race for first with Cork City that leads them by fifteen points and these closing in, by far we have a race to the top.

In the last match scheduled on Saturday between Limerick Blues and the Saint Patrick Athletic Saints at Markets Filed were the locals almost savored a win with early goal from Chiedozie Ogbene in the 17 and Antonio Tosi in the 60.

It looked like the Blues were almost cruising to an easy win but the Saints reaction became clear with goals from Ian Bermingham 63’ and Conan Byrne 75’ for the draw and the end both squads share of the points.

At the end, the benefited from these matches were Cork City, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers getting a tune up for their upcoming European matches in the knockout rounds of the Europa League as for Derry City losing streak looks for them like an easy exit.