Shared points today in absolute awful conditions. Both teams were well matched and it was end to end stuff. We started off the strongest making a few chances that we should have taken. We were knocking on the door until an own goal by a St. Paul’s defender gave us the lead. Some really good performances on the day. Sam Hartwell as the lone striker didn’t get as much chances as he would like but gave it his all. Adam Conway is making the right wing his own. Stephen Foran started on the left hand side and almost broke though on two occasions. The midfield three of Alex Bailey, Lee Freyne and Diego Blanco Ibanez were constantly on the hunt for goals and were involved in everything. Ciara O’Keeffe was excellent at right back and Denis Kinsella had a really steady game at left back. Our central defence was on Top it it’s game with Tom Conway getting involved in everything. Conor Dermody’s first game at Centre back earned him Man of the Match today. He broke down two certain goals with his quick pace. Jonah O’Toole is really progressing in the goal. Mikey Cronin came on and added freshness to heavy legs. Second half we introduced Matthew Morahan who was unlucky not a get on to a loose ball. Dylan Conway came on in midfield and played well giving another option to there. A game we probably should have taken but we can’t argue with the point and sharing the spoils with a very good St. Paul’s team. Many thanks to the lads in St. Paul’s for great sport and the teams showing great respect to each other. Well done everyone.

Our first home game of the season welcomed Sttadbally. Conditions were terrible for a game .We started slow but got on top midway through the first half. We conceeded on stroke of half time against the run of play. We started the second half brightly and were level after a rasping Jamie Croke shot was only pushed into partied into the path of Anil Ramaswamey who slotted home. We went behind again after confusion in our defence . The lads rallied and a fantastic 20 yard effort from Canice Kinsella found the net. We pushed hard for the winner but as we tired we conceded 3 late goals . This was a dramatic improvement on our first outing and our first win shouldnt be too far away. Up next is a visit to Waterford Crystal on Sat 19th
Mom Jamie Croke

We couldn’t have asked for a better start as the game was only a few minutes old when Aidan Carroll (wearing runners) contested and won a header that seen Jason Ryan bring the ball into the box before slotting past the Crystal keeper. Not long later Stephen Brennan extended the score and made it 2-0. Jason Ryan swung a dangerous corner in from the left side which the Crystal defence couldn’t deal with and put it in their own goal to make it 3-0. Jasons corners were proven to be an issue for Crystal and he was unlucky not to get his second goal of the day as the ball rattled the crossbar direct from the corner. Crystal pulled one back before the break to make it 3-1. The second half seen Crystal put us under a lot of threat but the defence of Sherwan, Patrick, Liam and Mike held strong before a re-shuffle at the back as Liam had to leave the field after picking up an injury. Crystal got a second but this Mooncoin team held strong until the final whistle to take all 3 points. Need to mention our new goalkeeper Joe Delahunty who had another excellent game in his first season on the bigger goals, calm and collected from this young man in the goal.

Player of the Match goes to Jason Ryan with 1 goal and an assist.

Starting Team: Joe; Sherwan; Patrick; Liam; Mike O’K, Daniel; Ciara (Captain); Eoin Mc; Stephen; Jason; Aidan.

Subs: Anthony; Matthew; Will; Jamie; Mikey Cronin.

A second win for Mooncoin girls in just over two days. A final score of 9-6 was not looking likely when we went 2 down inside the first 5 minutes but a goal by Mollie Murphy on 10 minutes started a revival which left us 5-2 ahead at the break. Villa started well after halftime and pulled it back to 5-4 but we managed to keep our noses in front throughout, finishing strongly with Molly Quinn scoring a second half hat trick. Ella Brennan, Saoirse Drennan and a first half hat trick from Saoirse Dunphy all got on the scoresheet. The Villa star players were well marshalled by our defense and both goalkeepers (Aoibhinn and Hannah) pulled off a string of saves. This was an excellent squad performance with all of the subs getting game time. It is our policy to ensure that everyone gets to play as this is the only way that they will improve. This may mean that some of the results won’t go our way but the only way for the girls to develop the skills is in the heat of battle on the pitch. We have a big squad and players who couldn’t play tonight will get to play on Sunday against Bohs.

Our U12 Girls team who kicked off their league tonight with a 9-6 win away to the Villa under the lights in the splendid Connors Park.

Late report from the weekend in what was a cracking game. Ballyduff raced in to a two goal lead but the lads kept trying to play their way back into the game and they did just that when Conor Holohan and Eoghan Dermody pulled the two goals back but Ballyduff were the victors with a late winner. Coaches were very happy with the performance of all involved.