Penalty!

In a gripping playoff for the runners up spot in the Sunday U11 Div1, Dalkey, who lay at the bottom of the table during the Christmas break with just a single point to their name, came out deserving winners in two action packed halves.  Dalkey came out strong to begin but lost their momentum after a simple communication error in defence gifted Cabinteely a simple goal.  Cabinteely then capitalised on the slightly shaken team by scoring a second after a strong tackle enabled another break through on the Dalkey net.  Under the strong leadership of Captain Jonah Byrne and exemplary play by Zola Henry and Conor Curley,  the Dalkey team reached into the well and arose with unstoppable determination.  Attack after attack was reigned down on the Cabinteely goal end.  Weaving and twisting, Johnny Bryne struck a cracker just right of goal.  Nathan Johns on the turn was unlucky not to find the net.  Conor Curley headed just millimetres left of the post. Zola Henry was denied a great attempt.  The Dalkey defence and midfield would not let the ball escape. Sam Cheesmore intercepted, Morgan Moore tackled, Cian Ryan cleared. When the whistle blew halftime a confident Dalkey side took a drink and seemed unconcerned by the 2-0 scoreline they had to climb in the next 30 minutes.

Within minutes of the second half  start Michael Hughes cleared a Cabinteely long ball out to left back Sean Ballance and Sean cleverly placed the ball far into the wide open space of the top left corner of the Cabo end.  By the time Cabo could reach the ball, Sean and Johnny Bryne were on it and fed it across the goalmouth.  Top goal scorer, Joe McIntyre, fought the final struggle to plant it in the back of the net.  1 goal back!  The next ball followed a similar path; Sean into space in the top left and Johnny fed across to Declan Norton outside the penalty box, with Morgan Moore shielding momentarily, Declan delivered a package from the sky that dropped behind the goalkeeper and under the bar.  2 goals a piece!  Minutes later Dalkey, in form goalkeeper, Liam Keaney sent the ball out to Naoise O’Chonluain who cleared to space for Zola to put the ball through the Cabo defence; Declan, running fron the half way, beat the outcoming keeper by a toe and found net striking the ball as he fell parallel to the ground.  Dalkey 1 goal ahead, but no let up in pressure!  Centre defender, Michael Hughes, first to a Cabo clearance,  cut up through the middle of the field passing all in his way and drilled a cannon straight at goal which the keeper had to drop to secure with body and hands – Great save! Great shot! Dalkey then created scramble after scramble in the Cabo goal mouth. The keeper and defenders incredibly stopped rapid fire shots off the line time and again.  However when the next wave arrived just moments later the last Cabo defender standing  on the line was forced to handle the ball as he blocked a close range shot  – Penalty!  Conor Curley stepped up calmly and placed the ball firmly to the left of the keeper; the keeper dived the right way fully outstretched and almost, but not quite, reached a finger to the powerful ball. Dalkey 4 – Cabinteely 2.

The game ended with an exuberant celebration by the Dalkey boys who had won every one one of their league matches since getting that first league point stuck at he bottom of the table in December; that is they had won every league match with just one exception – that was this Cabinteely team at Easter; a great side to beat -  well done Cabinteely, truly great opponents!   Well done Dalkey – great resolve, true grit, and great skills!

Celebrations

Playoff Team