UMBRO GALWAY CUP DIARY
WEDNESDAY 6th DAY OF AUGUST 2008
Why do all these trips and tournaments have to start at such an ungodly early hour?
The bus left at 8.00am for Galway picking up the Ballinasloe lads en route. There had to be a last minute panic with a few of the lads forgetting the copy birth certs but all was eventually sorted and we were on our way.
It poured rain most of the way down which did not argur well. However the nearer we got to Galway the weather seemed to improve. Tommy decided that we should tog out on the bus so as to be ready but we had loads of time.
Tommy explained what was expected of us from the competition. This is all about learning what playing in a tournament is about and seeing where we stand. It is all about preparation for next year’s Kennedy Cup.
So to the first match. Some of the lads seemed overawaed by all around them. There was loads of games and loads of players and the likes of Newcastle,Leeds and such were turning a few heads.
We had our own game to worry about.
ADSL 0 : Derry City 1
This was a disappointing result. We probably deserved at least a draw out of it but if this is about learning lessons then we learned a hard one here/
We were slow to settle and paid an early price. In just the 4th minute from a throw in down beside our corner flag they got in behind us. Their first effort came back off the crossbar. Jack made a good point blank save but they bundled home the rebound to put us one down.
We battled back. Eoin was narrowly wide with a good shot and Ian R was proving a real handful. We started to pass the ball and had our chances. The best fell to Terry who was put in by Ian R but his low shot was well saved. It needed a good save.
Into the second half we again started badly and took a while to get out of our half and into our stride. But again we settled and forced a succession of corner kicks and came close a few times but could not force an equaliser. We might have had a penalty also for a handball but it was not given. The exact same incident out the field gave them a free kick but no peno for us.
We might have got an equaliser at the end. Ian R had a great chance and did everything right but his shot scrapped past the post.
So our first game ended in narrow defeat. We did however play well by times and there is much we can take from the game. Shocks was only immense.
We then togged in and then went to watch the game between the FAI Emerging Talent team and Leeds United. Robbie Murray came on as a second half sub and did very well on the right side of midfield. He scored a great goal in the 2-1 win last night against Ipswich Town and it was great to see him doing so well.
We then headed into the University for grub. Everyone was hungry and the food was good. Then back out to Drom for our second game.
ADSL 0 : Donegal Schoolboy League 2
This was awful. At least this morning we played well. This afternoon we just did not do ourselves justice.
We actually started well and were the better side. We were well on top. Mark had a good shot well saved while Clive also saw his shot saved at the expense of a corner.
But then it all went wrong. They broke away down the right and their No.6 cut in and unleashed an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net. There was nothing that Aaron could do.
However we did not panic and kept trying to pass the ball. Maybe we were not as sharp as we might have been but we kept trying to do the right thing. We were almost rewarded when Ian R hit the side netting after a good move. But that was as good as it really got.
Eight minutes into the second half they doubled their lead from the same player. A ball over the top caught us out and his pace and a good finish did the rest. 0-2!
We huffed and puffed after that but could not blow the house down. Clive had a shot well saved at the near post and Eoin tried hard and had a chance but it would not go in.
A second defeat but this was worse because we did not play well. There were some hard words after and well deserved. We know we are better than that.
After that it was back on the bus. Spirits soon lifted. At least we were lucky with the weather! But we have taken a lot out of today and hopefully we will do better on Friday in our next two games.
Tomorrow we go to the Athlone –v- Sunderland match. Com’on the Town!