A Mixed Bag of Emotions
Credit:
It has been an eventful past week for the Airtricity League, from European games to
domestic league games, to the announcement of Damian Richardson’s Airtricity squad to face
Manchester United in the Aviva stadium. Various emotions have been felt by many, from the
demolition of Dundalk at the hands of Levski Sofia to the shock and surprise of Bohemians
defeat and elimination by Welsh champions TNS.
Disappointment was felt by all at Sporting Fingal whilst there was jubilation at Shamrock Rovers upon securing a massive tie with Juventus. There were 18 happy players on Friday on hearing that their names on the Airtricity panel, while at the same time, there was probably more than 18 dejected and unhappy players as the squad was announced.
Last week proved an eventful week for Sporting Fingal but ultimately disappointing. After our game against CS Maritimo last Thursday night, someone suggested to me that it had being a satisfying and good week for me, scoring three goals in a week they meant. They could not be more wrong. Disappointment and dissatisfaction is how I felt the past week.
From a European perspective, the week began with hope as we welcomed CS Maritimo to Dalymount last Thursday night for the return leg of our second qualifying round Europa fixture. After our narrow and unlucky 3-2 loss away to Maritimo, we still held a glimmer of hope in overturning the deficit in the return leg.
However, it was not the case as Maritimo started like a house on fire and after conceding a goal in the 19th minute, it was very difficult for us to get back in the game. Maritimo actually played a lot better in Dalymount than they had in Portugal. Maybe it was because we had earned their respect in the first leg and they therefore took the away leg more seriously.
Although the game ended in defeat, we didn’t disgrace ourselves against a very, very good Portuguese side and a 3-2 score line on the night left us with some dignity. Sometimes, in football, you have to put your hand up and say that the better team won deservedly so, and in this case, it was true.
CS Maritimo played some wonderful football and they really gave us something to aim for. Their passing, their movement, their fitness, hard work both on and off the ball and their technique, it is something that we can use as a point on where we want to be in the future.
Back to league matters, the last week again has being disappointing. There goes that word I hate, disappointing but it’s true. After scoring and taking the lead against Drogheda in a game we needed to win last week, it was extremely unsatisfactory to end up losing 2-1.
Following the European game, we had a fixture against St.Pats who are riding high in the league at the moment. We knew this game was always going to be hard but after managing to take the lead, we threw it away with a sloppy goal in the 87th minute or so. Again, that word, disappointment, is how we felt.
All I can say is that with the European focus off the agenda for the rest of the season, domestic matters will have to be concentrated on and we will need an almighty push from now if we are to succeed in achieving success this season. We know what we have to do and where we want to be and we will work tooth and nail to achieve that from now till the end of the season.
Moving on to other matters that occurred last week, I would like to start by congratulating the three lads off my team, Ger O’Brien, Shaun Williams and Alan Kirby for being selected to the Airtricity representative squad to face Manchester United on August 4th. All three have performed admirably over the recent few months and rightfully deserve their place in the squad.
It will no doubt be a great occasion and all 18 players can duly claim that they were involved in the first ever match at the Aviva Stadium. I won’t comment or give my opinion on who should or shouldn’t have been in the squad as I am sure every-one will have different opinions and at the end of the day it is only Damian Richardson’s opinion that matters.
However, I have to say that if I was Padraig Amond, I would be devastated and justifiably angry at not being picked. How a squad that is meant to represent our league does not include the league’s top goal scorer is beyond me.
Before I conclude this week, I just want to say that I was delighted last week when I heard that Shamrock Rovers got through their second qualifying round over in Israel. The opportunity to line out against Juventus is historic for everyone involved in Shamrock Rovers, so well done to them.
I can only imagine the emotions that the Rovers fans were feeling at the final whistle and it is emotions and moments like that, that makes supporting your team so special and worthwhile. I wish everyone associated at Shamrock Rovers the best of luck against Juventus, enjoy every minute of it!
Disappointment was felt by all at Sporting Fingal whilst there was jubilation at Shamrock Rovers upon securing a massive tie with Juventus. There were 18 happy players on Friday on hearing that their names on the Airtricity panel, while at the same time, there was probably more than 18 dejected and unhappy players as the squad was announced.
Last week proved an eventful week for Sporting Fingal but ultimately disappointing. After our game against CS Maritimo last Thursday night, someone suggested to me that it had being a satisfying and good week for me, scoring three goals in a week they meant. They could not be more wrong. Disappointment and dissatisfaction is how I felt the past week.
From a European perspective, the week began with hope as we welcomed CS Maritimo to Dalymount last Thursday night for the return leg of our second qualifying round Europa fixture. After our narrow and unlucky 3-2 loss away to Maritimo, we still held a glimmer of hope in overturning the deficit in the return leg.
However, it was not the case as Maritimo started like a house on fire and after conceding a goal in the 19th minute, it was very difficult for us to get back in the game. Maritimo actually played a lot better in Dalymount than they had in Portugal. Maybe it was because we had earned their respect in the first leg and they therefore took the away leg more seriously.
Although the game ended in defeat, we didn’t disgrace ourselves against a very, very good Portuguese side and a 3-2 score line on the night left us with some dignity. Sometimes, in football, you have to put your hand up and say that the better team won deservedly so, and in this case, it was true.
CS Maritimo played some wonderful football and they really gave us something to aim for. Their passing, their movement, their fitness, hard work both on and off the ball and their technique, it is something that we can use as a point on where we want to be in the future.
Back to league matters, the last week again has being disappointing. There goes that word I hate, disappointing but it’s true. After scoring and taking the lead against Drogheda in a game we needed to win last week, it was extremely unsatisfactory to end up losing 2-1.
Following the European game, we had a fixture against St.Pats who are riding high in the league at the moment. We knew this game was always going to be hard but after managing to take the lead, we threw it away with a sloppy goal in the 87th minute or so. Again, that word, disappointment, is how we felt.
All I can say is that with the European focus off the agenda for the rest of the season, domestic matters will have to be concentrated on and we will need an almighty push from now if we are to succeed in achieving success this season. We know what we have to do and where we want to be and we will work tooth and nail to achieve that from now till the end of the season.
Moving on to other matters that occurred last week, I would like to start by congratulating the three lads off my team, Ger O’Brien, Shaun Williams and Alan Kirby for being selected to the Airtricity representative squad to face Manchester United on August 4th. All three have performed admirably over the recent few months and rightfully deserve their place in the squad.
It will no doubt be a great occasion and all 18 players can duly claim that they were involved in the first ever match at the Aviva Stadium. I won’t comment or give my opinion on who should or shouldn’t have been in the squad as I am sure every-one will have different opinions and at the end of the day it is only Damian Richardson’s opinion that matters.
However, I have to say that if I was Padraig Amond, I would be devastated and justifiably angry at not being picked. How a squad that is meant to represent our league does not include the league’s top goal scorer is beyond me.
Before I conclude this week, I just want to say that I was delighted last week when I heard that Shamrock Rovers got through their second qualifying round over in Israel. The opportunity to line out against Juventus is historic for everyone involved in Shamrock Rovers, so well done to them.
I can only imagine the emotions that the Rovers fans were feeling at the final whistle and it is emotions and moments like that, that makes supporting your team so special and worthwhile. I wish everyone associated at Shamrock Rovers the best of luck against Juventus, enjoy every minute of it!
