Fern Mc Costigan

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Cork City making a swift move to the Airtricity top

City did the ultimate of feats in its goals, by defeating one of the league invincible and premier squads, the two times League of Ireland champions the Dundalk Lilywhites. For the Rebel Army Boss John Caulfield, with this win over the defending champions, it was a step in the right direction as well for his club aspirations.

Suddenly the tables are turning in favor of the City Boys after this win on the weekend over the Lilywhites, by moving within one point of the league leaders and their latest victims, as the Loth County chaps considered as one of the most difficult squads to beat in league play.

Still the Rebel Army has managed to beat Stephen Kenny squad in a couple of times in this edition of the Airtricity League of Ireland and both by one goal, showoff tier mastery over the champion’s strikers.

So far, the Leesiders in the Euro break are enjoying comfortably their second place spot, with thirty-five points and an impressive record of eleven wins one loss and three draws. With a continuance of this squad superb performance all campaign, the prospects of Caulfield delivering the league shield at Turners Cross are enormous!

With the league far from over and a very challenging calendar, after the break playing against another squad looking to show off its mettle and return to their old glories, the Shamrock Rovers will be one tough challenge as well match for the Leesiders.

Three matches playing away will really put on the pressure for the City chaps looking once in for all in displacing the Lilywhites from the league top and be in the top of the league overall table. Still the prospects of mounting a perfect stand will be up for to them.

Very well making a stand with their upcoming challenges in league play, when they have a not so easy schedule with squads that are suddenly surging in the league table and Cork City will have to face to get a positive result in each of its compromises.

After playing the Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght, the return to Turners Cross and face a belligerent Sligo Rovers, after that Wexford Youths, Galway United and Finn Harps, putting the Leesiders in a tough test to see their readiness to be the league monarchs.

At the end we must state that there is quite some time for this league to be over and with many challenges ahead in league and tournaments ahead, Manager John Caufield will have his hands full to deliver to his followers that desired and covered piece of silverware.

As they state third time is the charm and for two years in a row the Rebel Army has seen their hopes done the drain after seeing a perseverant Dundalk squad winning it at the end, still persistence has its ways.

As many see in Cork City potential to become the league new champions and dethrone the existing top rated Dundalk looking for its third league shield in a consecutive manner, but in the case of the Airtricity league is very far from over.

For now the Leesiders will mount on a one of a kind challenge and set their goals in their efforts of delivering in this campaign the most coveted piece into the halls of Turners Cross Stadium, is this the their time? There is one way to find out for John Caulfield and his pumped up Boys!

Photos Credit and Property of © Cork City Football Club 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright SSE Airtricity League 2016

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Dublin Derbies exposing a slumping St. Pats

With two back-to-back losses, suddenly the Boys managed by Liam Buckley, are in a deep hole and their pride suddenly shattered- after losing in both editions of the much-celebrated Dublin Derbies. Yes, two defeats in league play and against their not so amicable cross-town rivals!

The So-called Super Saints are not making honor to their moniker.

After the FAI break suddenly the league activity was off and running and the Pats matched up with their neighboring rival’s venue of Dalymont in Phibsborough, paired to face the always-dangerous Cumann Peile Bóithéamaigh or Bohemians FC.

The Gypsies Cumann Peile Bóithéamaigh touted as all-around underdogs coming to this match, their struggles to win in seven matches by carrying a very annoying slump since the beginning of the campaign.

For the Saints followers, they thought that their squad was going to net an easy win, before coming to this match, having all the elements to take the three points over their rivals. At the end, what we saw in this match is how the tables turned against the Pats- as a local home squad came very inspired and with the backing of their supporters, created a very raucous goal fest.

The visiting Inchicore Saints could not decipher the superb game and magic displayed by a Bohs furious initial eleven, playing as they play or staged on a final or a shield match. That afternoon the Pats Boss saw how the Bohs came out of their miserable run and gave his backfield a nightmare no wished on his opponents, as his keeper did not see the end of this fest after the last whistle in a 5-1 rout.

Putting in evidence how a laid-back squad was or underestimated its rivals, as I always state that there is no such thing than an easy foe, the Gypsies were one of those and the St. Pats took a well-earned lesson from their hosts.

This loss enable the Bohs to return to the winning side as well putting in display a weak side in the Saints backfield and putting Manager Liam Buckley in a sort of a Crisis. With this overwhelming loss, the Pats where scheduled against another neighboring foe in the Tallaght Boys known as the Shamrock Rovers for another edition of the Metropolitan Derby.

Once again, they were prey of their mistakes and became the step stool for the Cumann Peile Ruagairí na Seamróige Hoops of Pat Fenlon, these latter ones, taking all sorts of advantages of the rearguard of the Pats and these seeing in dismay the opportunities created by the visitors. The 2-0 rout once again puts in evidence how the backfield of the Saints is suddenly crumbling and allowing all sorts of liberties to their foes.

Very well, its offensive spark in this and their previous match has been missing in action as well its strikers seen a little absent of their duties and lacking ambition to mount an all-around display of power.

The same one that netted them the league shield and other back-to-back trophies in the past, this squad is not playing like their old days, despite losing both of their matches’ considered important for pride and bragging rights in this so-called Dublin Derbies.

This time the Cumann Peile Lúthchleas Phádraig Naofa or Pats faithful had to swallow their pride and endure their squad losses in these competitions.

So far, the St. Pats situated in the SSE table in fifth place, but with the above-mentioned losses, it is back to the drawing board for their Boss Liam Buckley in trying to solve the crisis within his squad and recover some lost ground. The Pats with twenty-three points, their positing in this spot pressured as squads of the likes of Cumann Peile Ghaillimh Aontaithe Galway United behind one point, streaked Cumann Peile Ruagairí Shligigh Sligo Rovers within four points.

The Saints can lose their hold of their current position in the general table if their bad streak continues as well become distant from the European spots, despite the league being quite a ways of being over, still for this squad manager he has a lot of work to do.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright SSE Airtricity League 2016

Thursday, June 2, 2016

All the right move for the PTFC, accompanied by clean sheet and a win!

What a ways to go into the Copa America break by netting a one of a kind win over a bellicose and hard-hitting San Jose squad, determined to net the win at whatever cost over the Rose City Boys. Still this squad showed up its mettle of all around champions with an opportune play, alongside of extending their positive run without seeing a loss in three matches.

At the end, this win gain them three points of gold as well stopping cold in its tracks an aggressive push by the Silicone Valley chaps, by showing off a determined and inspired defensive backfield from the PTFC playing like old times.

As the Cheesmaster made some changes in his defensive side with Zarek Valentin playing in the left and with Taylor Peay who finally saw some playing time and did not disappointed his Manager call. 0ne by showing off his resolve of making all the right moves in his ninety minutes of play as well try to get another starting call.

I hope after this match his Boss Caleb Porter gets the message, Taylor Peay is the lost piece in his defensive side that will deliver a stingy defense. So far, in this match he kept the Quake strikers at bay and their offense- seeing in his side no liberties in their game.

Another plus on the Timbers defensive side was their goalie Jake Gleeson earning his first clean sheet of the campaign for him and the Timbers, with his cat like skills and three game saving stops. With his usual spectacular style and one of a kind saves, Gleeson did not allowed any breaks in his posts, despite the Tremors constantly being a menace.

I mean this was a match for the Portland defenders, being at the end a wondrous match for them, being the author of the only score in the match, was Captain Liam Ridgewell on a stopped play and a direct shoot by Diego Valeri, scoring the lone goal and game winner in the 10^th minute.

Still on a night where the Timbers had many highs, one low was the red card given to Dairon Aspirilla on injury time on the first half, leaving the PTFC with ten men on the field and suddenly their offensive game became null and turned into a defending one all night. Especially with the San Jose Boys, dominance in the game and controlling the ball as well was outshooting the Portland squad.

Despite the aggressiveness of the visitor’s game and constant arrivals at the PTFC area, this squad never doubted of their will of making a stand to the Bay area squad and delivering the win with such an authority. Still this is not over as the Timbers and Quakes will play again on Tuesday on a match of the US Open Cup at Providence.

At the end it looks like the skid may be over for the Rose City squad, in three matches they have netted seven points out of nine in play. Those moves proved accurate and fruitful for Manager Porter once again showing off his magic and wisdom.

Very well hopefully this lineup can be seen repeatedly in future matches, the way Peay played with an immaculately as well Valentin in the left, shows off that Caleb porter has a new defensive core.

If both Peay and Valentin continue exhibiting a wonderful, game as well the latter one already adapting to Porter system, for Peay it will not be a problem doing the same and delivering the way he did in yesterday match.

Closing on a high note was among Manager Caleb Porter’s wishes in this first break, as his next goal is to continue with the positive streak until the All Star break and after make a top run into the end of this campaign on the spots above the red line.

Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property of Diego Diaz.com 2016