Fern Mc Costigan

Monday, October 3, 2016

Luas a choimeád Cathair Chorcaí agus a súil beo

In ainneoin go léir an spraoi Dundalk FC dhéanamh, gach cineál de stair ar imirt idirnáisiúnta a bheith páirteach i Sraith na Europa, ach ar thaobh tosaigh sa bhaile ag na Buachaillí Contae Lú a lámha iomlán le Leesiders scuad stubborn.

Mar Bainisteoir Chathair Chorcaí John Caulfield, coinneáil céim ar chéim leis Dún Dealgan ar an tábla i gcoitinne agus a bheith taobh istigh de ceithre hairde an Seaimpíní chosaint, b'fhéidir a mianta féidir teacht fíor le blink de na Lilywhites.

Go dtí seo, tá a Arm Rebel ag imirt ar cheann de peile chineál, tar éis edging an tribesmen na Gaillimh Aontaithe i spraoi Sraith déanaí agus na Pats chun cinn sna cluichí ceannais FAI Cup, anois go bhfuil na hionchais ar deireadh bhuaigh cupán Sraith laistigh teacht den scuad.

Le sé lasáin fágtha sa bhfeachtas agus iomaitheoirí ar an maith leis na Youths Loch Garman, Gaillimh Aontaithe, St. Pats, Youths Loch Garman, Harps Finn ach an ceann is tábhachtaí díobh a bheith ar 11 Deireadh Fómhair i gcoinne a archrivals Dundalk FC feiceáil le teagmháil an deiridh.

B'fhéidir sa chluiche is féidir leis an Leesiders agus Lilywhites a bheith ag imirt ar chluiche a d'fhéadfadh a chinneadh an buaiteoir sa todhchaí na sraithe, dála an scéil, tá Cathair Chorcaí ag imirt chomh maith ag tarraingt ar Seaimpíní chosaint agus an brú a bhaineann le súgradh idirnáisiúnta, is féidir seo a bheith ina diúltach i gcoinne cluiche Dhún Dealgan.

Mar a ullmhaíonn an criú na Cathrach do epic eile de cathanna sa chluiche ceannais FAI Cup whoever an buaiteoir idir Cathair Dhoire agus Dún Dealgan, arb Lilywhites mar go léir ar fud an rogha chun teacht suas mar bhuaiteoirí, beidh sé seo a bheith ina cheann de chineál deiridh leis an ton mar a dúirt roimh, de decider mór.

Is Éachtaí rud éigin go bhfuil ag éirí ró-choitianta do na chaps Chathair mar a rinne siad cath a mbealach i bua thar an tribesmen na Gaillimh Aontaithe le fest sprioc a chonaic iad líontán an gáire anuas de 5-3 agus le déanaí sa FAI thar na Pats le bua 3-1.

Beidh an bóthar go dtí an barr a líonadh le go leor surprises agus constaicí nach mór an am seo an Leesiders shárú cinnte agus iarracht a leasa is fearr agus chun iarracht a dhéanamh agus a fháil ar an chuimhneacháin tráthúil a tóg ar bharr na craoibhe ar an tábla sraithe.

Sea, ag súil go mór glan a gcónaí sleamhain agus in aice leis an Sraith sciath Shéan leis an scuad le tamall maith, a n-aidhmeanna an uair seo tá dul chun an dúbailte sa Chorn an FAI agus Cups Airtricity League.

Go han-mhaith ag súil go mór a isteach ina compromises idirnáisiúnta a bhí sa am atá thart Europa babhtaí sraithe dhíchur, knocking chomh gar ar na doirse na ngrúpaí stáitse, mar a luaigh siad go bhfuil an chéad uair eile i gcónaí.

Gan olc nuair a imríonn club semiprofessional gcoinne clubanna i bhfad níos eagraithe agus sraitheanna i gcoinne cosúil leis an ceann in Éirinn nuair a juggle formhór a imreoirí ar an saol gairmiúil spóirt agus ghairm.

Mar an Sraith Phoblacht na hÉireann beagnach a toradh, lookout sna seachtainí romhainn ar conas a rachaidh an chomórtais agus sult a rás bratainn soiléir idir dhá titans i gCathair Chorcaí agus Dún Dealgan FC.

Dá haonáin chur Ainm peile Éireannach suas ard agus a thugann sé an t-aitheantas atá tuillte aige, ag an deireadh a bheidh sé a bheith má leanann na Buachaillí Cathrach gur ascent isteach sa Sraith barr nó a Dún Dealgan Tionólfar talún atop an Sraith agus lena tríú sciath a éileamh i ndiaidh a chéile.

Ar an láimh eile, na táblaí cas agus beidh an chathair feachtas Chorcaí a leataobh an Sraith sciath agus a chur ar a chás anois sna céimeanna deireadh a chur leis an Sraith na Seaimpíní i gcónaí le rá, beidh tú geall ar Chathair an am seo?

Iar Ábhair agus Maoin na Raithneach Mc Costigan © Cóipcheart Gach Ceart ar Cosaint

Grianghrafanna creidmheasa agus Maoin de © Chorcaí Chathair Club Peile 2016

Grianghrafanna creidmheasa agus Maoin © SSE Airtricity Sraith na hÉireann 2016

Cork City keeping pace and its hopes alive

Despite all the excitement of Dundalk FC making, all sorts of history on international play in its participation in the Europa League, but on the home front the Louth County Boys have their hands full with a stubborn Leesiders squad.

For Cork City Manager John Caulfield, keeping pace with Dundalk on the general table and being within four points of the defending champions, maybe his wishes can come true with a blink of the Lilywhites.

So far, his Rebel Army has been playing a one of a kind football, after edging the Tribesmen of Galway United in league play recently and the Pats to advance in the FAI Cup finals, now the prospects of finally winning a league cup are within reach of this squad.

With six matches left in the campaign and rivals of the likes of Wexford Youths, Galway United, St. Pats, Wexford Youths, Finn Harps but the most important of these will be on October 11 against their archrivals Dundalk FC seen with a touch of a final.

Maybe in this match the Leesiders and Lilywhites can be playing a match that could decide the future winner of the league, by the way, Cork City is playing as well nearing the defending champions and the strain of international play, this can be a negative against Dundalk’s game.

As the City crew prepares for another epic of battles in the FAI Cup final whoever is the winner between Derry City and Dundalk, being the Lilywhites as all around favorites to come up as winners, this will be a one of a kind final with the tone as said before, of a major decider.

Achievements is something that is becoming too common for the City chaps as they did battle their way in a win over the Tribesmen of Galway United with a goal fest that saw them netting the last laugh of 5-3 and recently in the FAI over the Pats to a 3-1 win.

The road to the top will be filled with many surprises and obstacles that this time the Leesiders must definitely overcome and try their best and advantage to try and gain the opportune moments to climb atop the league table.

Yes, looking forward to net that always slippery and near the league shield denied to this squad for quite some time, their aims this time is to go for the double in the FAI Cup and Airtricity League Cups.

Very well looking forward to make into their international compromises were in this past Europa league elimination rounds, knocking so close on the doors of the stage groups, as they state there is always a next time.

Not bad when a semiprofessional club plays against far more organized clubs and leagues versus like the one in Ireland when the majority of its players juggle a professional life of sport and a profession.

As the league of the Republic of Ireland is nearing its culmination, lookout in the next weeks of how the competition and thrill of a pennant race will be evident between two titans in Cork City and Dundalk FC.

Both of these entities putting Irish football name up high and giving it the recognition it deserves, at the end who will it be if the City Boys continue their ascent into the league top or will Dundalk hold its ground atop the league and claim its third shield consecutively.

On the other hand, the tables are turn and this campaign Cork city will be lifting the league shield and make its case now in the elimination stages of the always prestigious Champions League, will you bet on City this time?

Photos Credit and Property of © Cork City Football Club 2016

Photos Credit and Property of © Airtricity League of Ireland 2016

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Is White Hart Lane molding a possible champion squad?

Too premature to state how a squad campaign can end in Premiership early stages, still the way this Spurs club, so far is playing and displaying a one of a kind football, with a contentious look.

If I stated that, many heads are starting to turn in amaze and looking towards this club based in North London Town.

You might think how exaggerated I am, but with a promising and full of praise campaign performed so far, I believe we might have an early race for the league pennant.

The key for this match was the momentum infringed from the Spurs Manager to his players who played with an all-around passion in their football and pressure towards a hot streaked City squad that became its latest victim.

As the London based squad not even against modest Boro and Sunderland did put on a show and showed such easiness and dominance like the way they did over the Boys from Etihad.

Many campaigns have passed at this part of London town, after seeing the fracas and failures from their Lilywhites disappointing campaigns past, the outlook under their Argentine boss looks very promising.

With an important match in week 7, when the Spurs received the perfect Manchester City of Pep Guardiola considered a top brass among modern day squad managers, an impressive record and initial eleven were something to concern the Boys of Mauricio Pochettino.

In the background, the majestic grand stands of White Hart Lane filled to its capacity to witness an epic battle were their amazing and spectacular club was on the verge of facing a serious and dangerous foe in the Sky Blues.

As Manchester City labeled as unbeatable and hard to knock down flat, were a thing in the past by the way this Spurs squad did to this club once touted as invincible in league circles.

The all-around passion and adrenaline the Spurs initial eleven had with them, became to evident in the course of the match as these chaps really came inspired and determined to make Guardiola and his City Boys life in the field, as miserable as ever!

With a constant domination and very intimidating to the Sky Blues game that at the end became just a simple one and not showing any signs of being the new Manchester City who looked as bold and unbeatable as it looked in its previous matches.

As ninety minutes of pure mastery from a young squad, the Andean master was sculpting that so far been shape by hand the Argentine, as a future winner in the end.

What if the Spurs at the beginning of the campaign in their matches against Everton and Liverpool instead of a draw these would become wins; imagine the record and the mastery of the Londoners in the overall table with 22 points in the lead.

A club that last campaign with its young guns showed resilience and ambition that almost netted them the league from Leicester City, until the end when archrival Arsenal by miracle snatched them the second position.

Their unfortunate part was the fatigue and the experience many of the Tottenham players lacked that became crucial for this squad surrendering their successful drive until the end.

Still for Manager Mauricio Pochettino his vows were to rebuild a contender.

So far, the Londoners are looking good with a perfect record including any losses that accounts for two draws and five wins so far in the campaign, shaping to be as exciting as ever once again and maybe this campaign a London squad may win the league title.

For now, White Hart Lane lived and celebrated loudly and in unison, how their prodigal son’s recent feat and now to ready themselves for a new month of Premiership action, Champions League and FA competitions.

That is not the only challenge ahead for Mauricio Pochettino who has to keep a healthy roster ahead of international call for several of his players and these maintain themselves healthy until the end of the league if this squad is to aim for the League shield.

The need of injured front men Harry Kane not been missed all, but when he makes his comeback and his adaptability rapidly to the Spurs current state of surprisingly displayed top of the line football, the outlook for this Spurs squad is very bright.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Friday Night Football: No Miracle for Houston

The Houston Dynamo was enjoying a one of a kind winning streak and last week, they performed wonders with a notable win and upset at home over last campaign champions the Portland Timbers.

With the Boys of the NYCFC in town and playing once again at home, the Dynamo though, they had it easy and having the edge over a NYCFC squad, that so far the Big Apple Boys is enjoying a premier campaign.

For the Houston squad being at stake- was their winning streak and making a strong close of this campaign in the positive and not finishing in the infamous cellar of the Western Conference.

The NYCFC looking to gain once in for all the top spot in the Eastern Conference, as well keeping its hopes alive in their chase of their first ever trophy in the Supporter Shield as well winning the conference as a second year squad.

That could mean the world and a one of a kind accomplishment for first year man at the helm of the American version of the Citizens and former French international Patrick Vieira.

As BBVA Stadium as always saw a very low attendance and support to its men in orange, still those few souls in attendance did not left disappointed despite seeing their squad lose horribly and missing a number of shoots that could become the difference maker for Houston.

As the visiting, Manager Patrick Vieira sent a much ambitious 4-3-3 formation with David Villa, Khiry Shelton and Jack Harrison as the front men for the NYCFC, accompanied in the middle by Andrea Pirlo, Andoni Iraola and Tommy Mc Namara.

Despite the absence of Frank Lampard in the initial eleven of Vieira, the NYCFC Boss can manage a move or two as Iraola and Mc Namara have been making wonders alongside Pirlo in the Blues midfield.

Still the afternoon belonged for the one and only former Atletico Madrid man David Villa dispatching a double dose of goals, despite seeing a disputed first half, that saw a much defensive stance from both elevens battling it out and to cause havoc on each other’s goal posts.

The afternoon belonged to these hardened Boys from New York making play after play and putting all sorts of pressure on the Dynamo keeper Willis who despite his all around heroics at the end he succumbed to a much experienced and spectacular Villa.

I mean the European years and experience from the old continent and this career say a lot of the Spaniard who scored a couple of gems in his goals that at the end became sufficient to net his squad the win, considered a much valuable one!

Going back to Villa double, one of them in the 52^nd he made a half circle inside the area burning away his defender in Cristian Maidana and with a self-pass, he put the ball on left corner for the first goal, all alone with no mark.

Imagine a player of that importance and shaken off his mark and advancing the ball a few yards and still connected this for the first score in a spectacular way and silencing the few on hand on BBVA Compass Stadium.

The beat went on for the American Sky Blues forward as once again, opportunity knocked clearly with some close range shoots from the Dynamo front men and the NYCFC backfield emerging as the heroes of the match too along with the whole Big Apple squad.

Still the Villa show continue with a close shoot that barely missed the posts in the 57nd minute, but his insistence paid off in the 91^st minute with a combination of Pirlo and Taylor serving a nice pass for the Spaniard second goal of the match.

At the end the NYCFC are playing one amazing football and soon their man Frank Lampard returns, tis squad can be the all-around favorite to win the conference and league shield.