UMBRO Cup wins for FAI and Valerenga
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The FAI Emerging Talent team got their Umbro Galway Cup campaign off to a winning start when they defeated defending champions Aberdeen by a goal to nil in Salthill today. This victory came in the 1996 Elite section of the tournament, a group which comprises, as well as the FAI Development side and Aberdeen, Glasgow Celtic and Norwegian outfit Valerenga.
The Irish team bested their Scottish opponents in a close game that neither side really dominated. Both teams adopted quite a direct style in the growing winds at Drom, the home of Salthill Devon and the venue for this tournament, now in its seventh year. Aberdeen, who have won the Cup twice in the last six years, thought they had fallen behind to a Luke Coates goal in the first-half, but the impressive striker was ajudged to have fouled his man while attempting to work space to send his header beyond Leonard Wilson in the Aberdeen goal.
Midway through the second-half however, the Scots did find themselves trailing the Development Squad courtesy of a goal from Liam Flatley. The striker chested down an under-hit clearance on the edge of the box before firing a fine finish across Wilson. The Irish side's lead was looking a comfortable one until goalkeeper Eoghan Daly was called upon to produce a stunning save, throwing himself to his left to touch a goalbound effort away from the top corner. Aberdeen were briefly resurgant following this close-call but struggled, as both sides had for long periods of this game, to create a clear-cut opening in front of goal.
In the other game played in this group this afternoon, Valerenga of Norway defeated Glasgow Celtic by a single goal to nil. This was an excellent spectacle for the large crowd in attendance as both teams competed evenly for the duration of the 50-minute game.
Celtic's excellent technical ability was impressive throughout this game, with Conor Shaughnessy acting as the team's midfield playmaker in the first-half. The star of the show however was undoubtedly the Hoops' diminuitive forward Paul McMullen. McMullen showed incredible feet to constantly wrong-foot his opposition and went on multiple slaloming runs straight through the heart of the Valerenga back-line.
The Norwegians looked vulnerable almost every single time Celtic's numbr 10 was on the ball. Despite the Scots' strong early showing, the teams went in at the break all-square. The age-old cliche of 'a game of two halves' certainly proved applicable to this game as Valerenga came out looking much-improved for the second-half.
They were visibly the more physically developed side and sought to make it count, using their considerable pace and power to dominate the Glasgow outfit. The only goal of the game came deep into the second-half through a nice strike from outside the box by Valerenga's left-winger (the number 10 was not listed in the tournament programme and one could speculate that the Oslo club are seeking to keep this talent under wraps for the time being) who showed touches of class regularly throughout the game and was a thorn in the side for an otherwise solid Celtic defence.
With time running out, Celtic threw wave after wave of attacks at their opponents and it so nearly paid dividends. The Scots hit the post twice, saw Nima Danai save brilliantly from McMullen and even had an effort headed off the line, all in the final ten minutes. Ultimately though, Valerenga held on to valuable win in a game which their opponents will feel they should have scored at least once.
Aberdeen will face Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa later this evening in the same group before the FAI Development Squad face Valerenga in the opening day's final game. I will be bringing you a round-up of all the day's action, from all groups, later on as well as reaction from Day One of the tournament.
Stay tuned to Extratime.ie for regular updates from the Umbro Galway Cup throughout the next four days.
The Irish team bested their Scottish opponents in a close game that neither side really dominated. Both teams adopted quite a direct style in the growing winds at Drom, the home of Salthill Devon and the venue for this tournament, now in its seventh year. Aberdeen, who have won the Cup twice in the last six years, thought they had fallen behind to a Luke Coates goal in the first-half, but the impressive striker was ajudged to have fouled his man while attempting to work space to send his header beyond Leonard Wilson in the Aberdeen goal.
Midway through the second-half however, the Scots did find themselves trailing the Development Squad courtesy of a goal from Liam Flatley. The striker chested down an under-hit clearance on the edge of the box before firing a fine finish across Wilson. The Irish side's lead was looking a comfortable one until goalkeeper Eoghan Daly was called upon to produce a stunning save, throwing himself to his left to touch a goalbound effort away from the top corner. Aberdeen were briefly resurgant following this close-call but struggled, as both sides had for long periods of this game, to create a clear-cut opening in front of goal.
In the other game played in this group this afternoon, Valerenga of Norway defeated Glasgow Celtic by a single goal to nil. This was an excellent spectacle for the large crowd in attendance as both teams competed evenly for the duration of the 50-minute game.
Celtic's excellent technical ability was impressive throughout this game, with Conor Shaughnessy acting as the team's midfield playmaker in the first-half. The star of the show however was undoubtedly the Hoops' diminuitive forward Paul McMullen. McMullen showed incredible feet to constantly wrong-foot his opposition and went on multiple slaloming runs straight through the heart of the Valerenga back-line.
The Norwegians looked vulnerable almost every single time Celtic's numbr 10 was on the ball. Despite the Scots' strong early showing, the teams went in at the break all-square. The age-old cliche of 'a game of two halves' certainly proved applicable to this game as Valerenga came out looking much-improved for the second-half.
They were visibly the more physically developed side and sought to make it count, using their considerable pace and power to dominate the Glasgow outfit. The only goal of the game came deep into the second-half through a nice strike from outside the box by Valerenga's left-winger (the number 10 was not listed in the tournament programme and one could speculate that the Oslo club are seeking to keep this talent under wraps for the time being) who showed touches of class regularly throughout the game and was a thorn in the side for an otherwise solid Celtic defence.
With time running out, Celtic threw wave after wave of attacks at their opponents and it so nearly paid dividends. The Scots hit the post twice, saw Nima Danai save brilliantly from McMullen and even had an effort headed off the line, all in the final ten minutes. Ultimately though, Valerenga held on to valuable win in a game which their opponents will feel they should have scored at least once.
Aberdeen will face Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa later this evening in the same group before the FAI Development Squad face Valerenga in the opening day's final game. I will be bringing you a round-up of all the day's action, from all groups, later on as well as reaction from Day One of the tournament.
Stay tuned to Extratime.ie for regular updates from the Umbro Galway Cup throughout the next four days.
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile