Fern Mc Costigan

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Cork City showing off its mettle

The Rebel Army started its defense of its title with a valuable away win at Inchicore. As the Airtricity League of Ireland is off to a grand start, and among one of its main events being the match between Cork City and Saint Patrick’s Athletic.

With the match scheduled at Richmond Park, the Leesiders showed off its new armada on the eve of what seems to be a much-contested campaign. That for sure the defending champions can see a repeat of their title.

Still the road for success will be paved with many obstacles and for manager John Caulfield for sure he will have his hands full in juggling his squad in Cup, league and international play in this campaign.

After being the league champions in 2017, they earned a right to be in the UEFA Champions League and competing in its knockout stages, where they will have their hands full competing with the best of Europe.

So far, in this 2018 Cork City has shown its resolve and by winning the Presidents Cup for third year in a row over their archrivals Dundalk FC and after the league wins on Friday, after the league of Ireland officially launched.

This sends a message to the Aitricity pack that this squad is for real and not those sorry one coming second behind the Lilywhites of Dundalk and now seeing the tables turn for the better for City.

In addition, of winning the league shield after a magnificent campaign, that Cork City finally lifted the league shield, despite the celebrations and joy of their achievement. The directives instead of celebrating they went to work in building a contender on the eve of another disputed campaign and reinforcing it with notable players.

By luring the likes of Goalkeeper Peter Cherrie, defenders Colm Horgan, Tori Adebayo- Rowling, Aaron Barry and Danny Kane, midfielders Barry Mcnamee and strikers Graham Cummins and Josh O’ Hanlon, City covered every single detail and position.

However, the Leesiders in the eyes of many bookies are the favorites to repeat, still they do not count out the likes of Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City to be in the bunch to challenge City towards the league top.

After that close win at Inchicore, Cork City looks forward to their next match against Waterford FC.

For Cork City being the overall favorites to win it all in this campaign, but with many squads arming themselves to prove a challenge to the defending champions, the aims of its manager is to take every match seriously and not underestimate their foes.

One thing for sure this campaign will not be easy for the Leesiders to be the team to beat in this edition of the SSE League of Ireland, as confidence for the defending champion’s manager and his players is in full swing.

For sure, this campaign will be one of those interesting for the Rebel Army after bulking up their squad with new players and setting up many goals to reaffirm this squad mettle and character that has brought them to the top.

Photos Credit and Property of © Cork City Football Club 2018

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Welcome back to Airtricity Waterford FC

With a grand win over Derry City, Waterford marked its 2018 debut in the SSE Aitricity league of Ireland. With a one of kind win with one of its player’s last minute heroics, the Blues delivered a one of a kind win.

After their promotion to the Republic of Ireland Premiership, today the Waterford Blues were officially welcomed to the top circuit and these did it with an all-around style.

For the Blues manager Alan Reynolds this is opening of the campaign success sets the tone on their squad upcoming series of challenges and campaign that looks like one contested one in this 2018.

In spite of the wet evening in the southeast parts of the Emerald Island, the crew of the colossus of Waterford Regional Sports Centre. All of these chaps by performing wonders in the pitch, soon as expected the game was possible thanks to these dedicated men.

Still this was a night for many heroes as the man in charge of keeping the field of the Regional Sports Centre was miraculous and kudos to all of them, the other was the debut in Premiership and the Blues did it with style.

However, this will not be an easy endeavor for the Waterford Boys after today’s match as their next match of the campaign their first away will be in what many see in Turners Cross when they play the league defending champions Cork City.

This considered as another test of fire for these edition newcomers when they play the Rebel Army in their second match of the campaign.

Getting back to opening day in all the fronts in the league of Ireland, it looks like the Waterford, Derry City match became was one of the most exciting of matches, and by the way this affair was decided.

With the Candystripes showing off a certain advantage of being the top seeded and possibly coming as the overall favorites, today they were upset with a rally staged by their hosts that never stopped fighting until the edn to the joy of their followers.

Despite the Derry Boys opening the scoreboard in the 19 minute via Darren Cole volley over the cross bar when an opportune and well placed Armin Aganovic push the ball beating the Blues keeper Niall Corbet.

As the locals supported by their enthusiastic crowd that after 10 years in waiting for their Boys to return to the top circuit, the fight and motivation alongside the hunger these squad put in the field seeing their efforts crowned before the end of the first half.

As a play started before two minutes before halftime, it was in the 43 minute when Blues midfielder Gavan Holohan tied the score at one goal apiece, thanks to a play from defender Rory Freely and French midfielder Bastian Hery.

Beating the visitors’ goalkeeper Ger Doherty, who little could do to prevent the shoot.

As the second half started with a notable for the locals pressuring and making all sorts of efforts to break the deadlock and in the 77 minute it’s when the miracle happened when Dean O’ Halloran score the game winner and becoming the match hero.

Photos Credit and Property of © Diarmud Greene/ Sportsfile 2018

Orlando SC ready to shake MLS foundations

In Jason Kreis we believe, is the outcry of the Orland SC fan base, looking to see a one of a kind contender in their Lions. Ever since this club inception to Major League Soccer, three years ago, this squad has failed to make it to the postseason.

Not in this campaign, despite losing Clyde Larin to Turkish side Besitkas FC. The SC started early last campaign with the arrival of megastar Dom Dwyer and forming a competitive squad for the 2018 campaign.

So far in the transfers market and with the league Targeted Allocation Money the league awarded to all of its squads, the Orlando SC took advantage and its directives went on the arduous task of reinforcing this squad.

With twelve new players coming to Orlando City Stadium, manager Kreis is looking forward to a productive if not successful campaign, but first he needs to have his newcomers and returning players get in the grove to win altogether.

As newcomers in its majority being midfielders to reinforce this area, with Spaniard Oriol Rossell from Portuguese side Portominenses, Peruvian DP Yoshimar Yotun- Malmo FC, Sasha Kljestan- New York Red Bulls, Paraguayan DP Josue Colman- Cerro Porteño.

In addition, the arrivals of promising midfielders in HGP Cam Lindley and Jose Villarreal will join a legion of returning veterans to add more depth and dynamic to the Orlando attack.

Moreover with other newcomers in forwards Justin Meram from Columbus, Stefano Pinho from the Miami FC in the NASL, adding to their defensive core in keeper Adam Grinwis defenders RJ Allen-NYCFC, Mohamed El Munir- Partizan Belgrade and Amro Tarek- Adi Degla FC.

By the way, these club directives have built this club with intricate detail and every position especially its midfield an area considered important and that can give a boost to this club offensive and defensive game.

With experience and youth, mixed together in the preseason, Orlando’s manager has been actively looking at new players from its affiliate Orlando II, as the competition in the SC camp we may have a few surprises in this club roster come opening day.

Orlando SC is up and ready for the competition this upcoming 2018, after many of the league squads reinforce themselves to front a campaign that promises to be a heated one.

Everyone will have a regard to its competitors as good these are, but in the mind of Orlando SC manager Jason Kreis in this upcoming campaign this is it!

At the end the new look and new players to bolster the Orlando City squad into league primetime will be within this club grasps as the way it has been reinforced from head to toe and looking forward to reach new heights in this campaign.

However, first things first and among one of them is to reach the playoffs in the always contested Eastern Conference and foes to beat in the NYCFC, NY Red Bulls, Atlanta United and the league champions Toronto.

Orlando SC has an all-around series of challenges in this upcoming campaign and among one of them to maintain themselves among the top six spots that will guarantee them a spot to the grand fete of the playoffs.

Ready or not the stage is set for the new Orlando City SC to make all sorts of headlines.

Photos Credit and Property of Orlando City Soccer Club 2018

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Greg Berthalter and his Crew looking for success this 2018

After last campaign slow start suddenly the Crew got back in track and made it all the way to the postseason. With the usual character, this club possesses as they almost made it to the conference finals, before losing to the TFC.

Finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference, the Black and Gold started the postseason in the so-called knockout rounds and against newcomers Atlanta United coming with the label of all around favorites.

Moving on to eliminate another favorite with the NYCFC, the stage was set for them for the Eastern Conference and against the Toronto FC, but at the end succumbed to a brilliant and defensive game the Canadian side showed.

Despite the squad success in a revival staged in the final months of the campaign, the Crew had some problems of its own especially with its ownership threatening to relocate the squad to another city after seeing some feeble attendances.

If you recall this squad considered as one of the pioneers since the inception of Major League Soccer in 1996, the removal of this squad to a new location will be a total desecration and a total disrespect to its numerous fan base that has been since day one supporting its Crew.

Still this squad for now is preparing for what seems and what I have been talking about in what looks like a one of kind contested campaign after many of the squads of this association have been arming themselves with heavy-duty players.

For Greg Berhalter entering in its sixth year at the helm of Columbus, after losing the grand finale in 2015 against the Portland Timbers and in 2016 not making the postseason, in 2017 the Crew recovered its game.

So far, the Crew has been active in this preseason with participations in a couple of tournaments in the Pacific Rim Cup and later competing in the Carolina Cup. Not only in the field but also in its front office by making all sorts deals to land the best players to front this 2018.

With new acquisitions in free agent midfielder Ricardo Clark, defender on loan from Newell Old Boys Milton Valenzuela as a DP, Venezuelan midfielder Eduardo Sosa from Venezuelan side Zamora.

Another notable arrivals are former LA Galaxy forward Gyazi Zardes, Brazilian midfielder from Sao Paulo Artur, NY Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella and goalkeeper Jon Kempin.

Also by getting defender Gaston Sauro and goalkeeper Logan Ketterer to new contracts, this club is ready to front his campaign and with many possibilities of making a total impact and by making a return to the league postseason.

With a successful draft and in the preseason wheeling and dealing with other squads has netted the club more Targeted Allocation Monies and future drafts, this club is looking to build its future base with young guns that one day will capture many headlines.

To conclude the Columbus Crew once again will be one of the leagues squads that will highlight its 2018 campaign with a competitive and all around fighting squad that at the end can repeat their last campaign run to the conference semifinals.

Photos Credit and Property of Columbus Crew Football Club 2018