Midseason Report Card - Cabinteely

Club: Cabinteely

Manager: Pat Devlin

Stadium: Stradbrook.

Highest attendance this season: 662 (v. UCD, SSE Airtricity League First Division, February 24th).

Highest league goalscorer: Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, 8.

Mid-season position: 4th

How we thought they would do

Back in February, we said “With a number of stronger looking squads in the First Division, it looks like it will be tough for Cabinteely and 6th place may be a realistic objective.”

How they really have done

We’re pleased to be proved wrong. At the beginning of April, Cabo faced Shels at Stradbrook and a win could have sent the South Co. Dublin team to the top of the table. Now, Cabo sit in a comfortable fourth place in the division, the product of many battling performances, particularly away from home. Cabinteely have picked-up nine of their 21 points total on their travels. They have been pretty solid at home, conceding just six times in their eight league matches at Stradbrook. Pat Devlin’s men are unbeaten against Athlone, Longford and Wexford, while they’ve mined memorable wins against Shelbourne and Cobh Ramblers. Cabo’s 21 points tally at the mid-season break equals the club’s total points earned in their debut campaign of 2015. It completely eclipses the paltry final 2016 tally of 16.

Bohemians eliminated Cabinteely from the EA Sports Cup in the opening round while Cabo bowed-out to UCD in the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-finals.

Cabinteely’s 2017 performances have caught the public imagination. Attendances are up and away support, in particular, has been encouraging. As part of their preparations for the FIFA Confederations Cup, the New Zealand international team will face Cabinteely at Stradbrook on Tuesday June 6^th.

Moment of the season so far

When Christian Lotefa slid an injury-time shot into Dean Delany’s net at Tolka Park on 26^th May, Cabo could celebrate a 4-1 win over Shelbourne, the club’s biggest ever away victory in the league. And that on a night that their hosts were commemorating the 25^th anniversary of their 1992 championship success.

Star Player: Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters

The attacking midfielder has contributed eight goals, the second highest in the entire division. The former Bray, Shamrock Rovers and UCD player has played every minute of Cabo’s 15 league matches, without picking-up a single caution. Waters has turned-in a number of “Man of the Match” performances, most notably in the 2-0 home win over Athlone in which he scored twice. He also contributed a brace in Cabo’s 2-2 draw away to UCD.

Surprise star player: Christian Lotefa

Christian joined Cabinteely in June 2016 and made his league debut against Limerick at Stradbrook on 24 June. He made eight league appearances over the remaining months of the 2016 season. However, the 22-year-old DIT student has really blossomed in the Cabinteely engine room during the 2017 campaign to date. Lotefa has started every one of Cabinteely’s 15 league games and has produced many impressive performances in the No. 6 shirt. His goal against Shelbourne was a fitting reward for a superb individual performance on the night.

Young player: Joe Doyle

The 19-year-old striker has led the line with confidence and aplomb. Doyle has been ever-present thus far this season and has fired five league goals, including the breakaway opener in the big win at Shelbourne. The former Dundalk Under 19 player was also on the mark in another outstanding Cabinteely victory, the 4-1 home drubbing of Cobh Ramblers on March 25^th. Doyle plundered a double in the 2-0 home win against Wexford.

Star signing: Conor Keeley

The tall central defender has added steel to the Cabinteely rearguard, which has yielded just eighteen goals in fifteen league games. He has also popped-up with some vital headed goals from set-pieces. The 19-year-old ex-Shels player returned to haunt his old club with Cabo’s second goal in the recent 4-1 win at Tolka Park. Keeley also netted the vital third goal in Cabinteely’s 4-1 home win over promotion-challenging Cobh Ramblers.

What they need to do in the transfer market

Cabo’s options will probably be limited and having introduced seven new players when appointed manager, Pat Devlin is probably largely happy with his squad. He may need cover though for experienced striker Jason Byrne, who was injured against Athlone Town.