NDSL 13D/League Cup

19 October 2008 

Castleknock Celtic 2    Ratoath Harps 2   

The 13D’d continued their League Cup campaign on a wind swept Laurel Lodge against Ratoath Harps. The 13D’s were looking to reverse their poor start to the season and went out determined to get the right result. 

Ratoath scored on 3 minutes, which is a worrying repeat pattern for the 13D’d who were slow to pick up the attackers and close the gaps allowing Ratoath a free shot from the edge of the box which went in to the top right of the net. Shocked alert by the goal the 13D’s settled into the game and on 10 minutes after a good build up from midfield allowed Paul Burke through to shoot just wide.  The game played out with both sides mounting attacks from midfield. With both sets of defenders taking no prisoners when it came to tackling the game was to stay a physical hard fought encounter to the end. On occasion the tackles were too spirited and the match was littered with a good few free kicks and three yellow cards (only one to the 13D’s). On 20 minutes the 13D’s got a deserved equaliser when Stephen Byrne’s shot from the edge of the box went pass the Ratoath keeper to level the score. Ian Coughlan went close 4 minutes later when his shot just went wide following a good pass from Craig Smyth on the right. Ratoath were not out of it and they in turn shot just wide almost on the interval.

The 13D’s now settled and were working hard for each other. They gave no space to Ratoath to play the ball and continued to mount attacks down the wings. On 37 minutes following a corner on the right Tom Byrne won the ball and volleyed beautifully into the roof of the net. Ratoath were not out of it and only skilful defence by Declan King and Adam Prior and Amir Kasapovic in goal kept the 13d’s ahead. On 22 minutes the 13D’s had a major let off when a Ratoath shot rebounded off the post. However the 13D’d pressed on and Paul Burke’s shot following a pass from Ciarán Byrne forced the Ratoath keeper in to a stretching save.  At this point it looked as if the 13D’s had done enough. But inexplicably the ref played 3 minutes of time added on and on 63 minutes following a last gasp attack by Ratoath a goalmouth melee allowed Ratoath poke in the equaliser. The final whistle went as the ball hit the net.

Despite the score this was a much better display by the 13D’s. They were faced with a well organised and a very physical side. On the run of play they deserved a win. They played well as a team and every player competed for the ball and held their ground when challenged. This was a performance to take heart from. Roll on the next match. 

Squad.  Amir Kasapovic, Ntinga Mtiko,  Graham Chan, Aaron Connolly, Declan King, Thomas Byrne, Jackie Chan, Ciarán Byrne, Craig Smyth, Adam McCabe, Iain Coughlan, Paul Burke, Adam Prior, Stephen Byrne