North Dublin Schools League

NDSL U-12E

6 April 2008

Swords Celtic   5    Castleknock Celtic   6        

What a game. Played in icy and very windy conditions in Swords the threatened blizzard of snow was replaced with a blizzard of goals. 

Castleknock went into the match as league leaders following the removal of Northway Rangers from the league for irregularities but Swords Celtic set out to show they meant business from the off. Playing with the wind Swords settled quickly and on two minutes following a long clearance their very talented no 11 cut through a sleepy Castleknock defence to score goal 1.  Jolted awake Niall O’Callaghan brought the teams level two minutes later with a shot from just inside the box.  Swords were not fazed by this and only Jack Jennings in goal for Castleknock kept them in the game with two superb saves one after the other on 10 minutes. That man Niall O’Callaghan went close again immediately after but the long wind assisted clearance went over the Celtic defence who had moved up allowing a fleet footed Swords forward in leaving Jack Jennings with no chance in goal.  But again Castleknock came back and almost straight from the tip off Darragh McCaffrey brought the sides level again.  2 – 2 after 15 minutes this was proving to be nerve racking stuff to watch.   

Swords continued to press but Celtic was getting the measure of their long ball game that was facilitated by the Swords goalie’s ability to kick the ball long from either the hand or off the ground. Aaron Connolly went close for Castleknock and Niall O’Callaghan’s searing shot forced the Swords goalie to a super long stretching save to finger the ball onto the bar and over for a corner on 17 minutes. Yet again from a long clearance Swords went through the Celtic defence to go ahead for the third time on 20 minutes.  Redoubling their determination and with Paul Burke and Jack Ryan finally getting the measure of that dreaded long ball Celtic struck twice in quick succession just before half time. On 27 minutes Aaron Connolly took the ball at the edge of the box and deftly stepped inside the defender and coolly put the ball out of reach of the Swords goalie.  Darragh McCaffrey got his second with a well-taken shot on the tip of half time. 

The second half was no let up.  Swords determination shone through and they equalised on 32 minutes.  The game ebbed and flowed but with the wind now working for Castleknock the Swords long ball game was proving less effective.  On 40 minutes Aaron Connolly was off on one of his jinky runs but was pulled back on the very edge of the box. Up stepped Ntinga Mtiko who very coolly tucked the free kick into the top right corner of the net.  On 50 minutes Aaron Connolly scored his second of the day and 12^th of the season. But Swords were not done and with one last attack they scored on 54 minutes to leave the score 6- 5 to Castleknock. This left a nail biting last 5 minutes but Castleknock finally ran out the winners.   

This was one of the 12E’s most demanding games of the season. The full squad played a part and it was a  “True Grit” performance.  John Wayne and Glen Campbell would themselves have been proud of such performances.  The 12E’s remaining four games will be equally challenging, as they will be against the other top four teams in the league. A busy April is in prospect but today’s display of character is a good sign.