A depleted 3rd division side made the short trip to Kilmacow on a windy Friday evening and the squad was further effected with Sean cashin injured in the warmup and Joey after 5 minutes.
Further misery with a penalty conceded after 10 minutes.
After a terrible start we managed to get a hold on the game and we’re helped with some great goal keeping from Jamie Cody making his first appearance in goal since U11.😃
1-0 at half time and the lads were very positive at the break and rightfully so as we were well in the game.
We started very well against the wind and played some great football with the two Adams creating great openings in the middle. Mid way through we were caught with a long ball in the wind and an error at the back allowed Kilmacow in for an easy second goal.
The lads kept going at Kilmacow and Adam Croke forced a foul with some brilliant individual play which Moore tucked away cleverly into the bottom corner.
2-1 and the lads came back to life.
Chances came and went for us and could have left with all 3 points but instead were caught for a third goal to seal the win for our neighbors.
Even with 12 players missing this evening the team played very well against a Kilmacow side made up of 1A and 3rd division players.

The squad are chomping at the bit for the next fixture and with a trip to Carrick next Sunday it’s the perfect game to pick up our first win and get the season up and running.
HON THE COIN 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

Team
Cody
Gallie
Dunlea
Joey
Kipper
Blackmore
Croke
Cunningham
Ryan
Collins
Scholsey

Subs
Wallis
Knox
Moore

Portlaw provided opposition for the first home game of the season in glorious sunshine.
The first half was bit of a slow burner as both sides struggled to find any rhythm to their play .
With few chances being created from open play set pieces turned out to be the avenue for all five goals on the night.
Portlaw opened the scoring when a free kick into box failed to be cleared and when it was flicked on an opposition player found the touch to get it over the line.
We responded well and forced several corners and frees and the equaliser arrived after the half hour mark when Seanie Blanchfield whipped a great ball in and the ball fell to Daniel Synnott who tapped home .
On the stroke of half time a long throw into the box was misjudged and resulted in an og off the head of someone who should’ve dealt with it better 🙈.
The tempo of the game improved in the second half and we pressed the visitors deep in their own half but they looked dangerous when they broke quickly upfield.
We conceded the third goal from another set piece when a corner dropped in the middle of the box and was headed home by the Portlaw striker.
Three substitutions followed over the next few minutes and this had a positive effect on the whole team as the pace of the game was played on our terms.
We got back in the game when Jason Sauvage whipped a super ball towards the back post and Kevin Dowley was in the right place to nod home.
The remainder of the game was played out with us pressing hard for the equaliser but a few unlucky bounces and good defending kept us from grabbing a point from the game .
Decent second half performance from this young side and they can see for themselves that when the game is played with pace and determination results will go their way .
Final score 2.3

A disappointing result and a well deserved three points for the home side. We never got going in the baking heat in Stucco Lane. Abbeyside took a deserved lead after sloppy defending and were well on top in the first half and went in 1 up at half time.
The second half saw a little improvement in the lads and they created several chances but didn’t have that killer instinct when it came to finishing. We did equalise with 20 minutes left when a peach of a ball from Paraic Murphy put Adam Croke clear and his square ball was put away by a home defender. Another couple of chances came their way but Abbeyside were the team that was finishing stronger and deservedly got a winner when a snap shot from 20 yards nestled in the roof of the net. A day to forget for this young squad and the Club must take full responsibility for this defeat in the baking sun in Abbeyside.

The first game of the season today for our 3rd division . A few late withdrawals didn’t help matters with a lot of changes having to be made but it was a very exciting game that we could and should have won. We went 1-0 up on 15mins through adam cunningham who buried a strike after a lovely cross field ball from mikey Ryan. On 20mins we got pegged back after a soft free was given an we didn’t get it away quick enough. On the half hour we missed an open goal somehow when scholsey put it over the bar . We had a few more chances in the first half through scholsey and evan but we couldnt convert so 1-1 at the half. Big mention the 3 youths evan Cleary, mikey ryan and adam croke who were taken off 10 mins into the 2nd half to go play a youths match and all 3 played brilliantly. James blackmore , Derek tebay and kevin knox came into the game as our only 3 subs and all did very well 2nd half. Just after the substitutions we conceded when the ball was spilled from a corner an stradbally tucked it away. This spurred on a very exciting 15mins of play where we really upped our game an took it to the opposition . On 65mins knox played the ball out to Derek, who put a lovely ball across for scholsey to finish at the back post. We looked like goin on to win but a lack of concentration from the kick off saw stradbally cross in to put us 3-2 down. On 70mins great work from scholsey to run into the box , the ball broke an Derek had a shot that was hand balled, kipper stepped up to tuck away the peno 3-3 . We had a couple more chances but it wasnt to be and the game ran out a draw. A lot of positives to take from the first game. With everyone from 1 to 11 plus all 3 subs playing their part .

Team – moore , n.gallagher , kipper , j.o.hanlon , s.cashin , m.ryan , a.croke , j.cody , a.cunningham , e.walsh , e.cleary subs – d.tebay, k.knox , j.blackmore

Next fixture – friday 30th august away to kilmacow

A trip into the unknown for Saturday night lights in Dungarvan to open the 2nd division season .
A few late withdrawals from the squad left us with possibly the youngest Mooncoin team ever to represent the club , with the squad made up of 9 of the 15 players being 18 yrs old or younger .
Despite the perceived lack of experience we took the game to the home team and played some great football in the opening half hour.
To be fair to Dungarvan they weathered a few storms and troubled us on the counter attack with their speedy striker but the chaps at the back were resolute and unforgiving in their defending.
The game was allowed to flow by some brilliant refereeing and chances were missed by both sides over the course of the second 45 mins.
I might be biased , but given the chances created we were unfortunate not to take the 3pts
A no score draw sent us away up the N25 with mixed feelings on the outcome.
We’ll go again Wednesday evening against close neighbours Portlaw , where your sure too see an even younger team on view !!!!
Well done to all involved good point 👏👏
Special thanks to Michael Murphy for his sponsorship of a fantastic new set of gear , much appreciated by all involved 👍🏻