17 May, 2008
Bray under-elevens, had their second football
match in a week against another strong Cuala squad and it was a
tale of two games, with the Green team losing their match by a
large margin due to a poor start and the White team unluckily going
down at the end of their match to a late score after dominating for
most of the game.
The Green team were very slow to settle at the opening of their
match, and with quick-passing opponents, and playing against a very
strong breeze, were constantly under pressure for all of the first
half. The very sharp Cuala outfit rained points over, and also cut
through for three goals.
In the second half it was a different story, with the
strong running and tackling Dylan Terry and Liam Benville
dominating midfield for Bray, tigerish Daire McEnteggart tackling
and linking well and the three Conors (Prendergast, McNally &
O Doherty) in the forward line cutting up the Cuala defence
to score great goals and points. Centre back Padraig
Doyle played well coming forward and also scored a great
point from a 45. Michael Pirkl and Conor Byrne stepped up the
defensive pressure very well to protect the alert
and agile goalie, Patrick Michel and ensured that Bray were the
better team in the second half, though by then the damage was
done.
The White team gave a starring performance against their opponents
in a thrilling game. Keelan Gleeson was a sound goalkeeper,
and the strong-tackling Thomas Emms and Mark Davenport anchoring a
resolute defence. The midfield partnership of 'fast' Jack
Fitzgerald and nerveless Niall Martin led the way throughout
the match and both cut through for scores as well as providing the
passes for fine-finishing forwards Billy Ray and Marcus Gleeson to
lead the scoring. In a nip-and tuck struggle , Bray were ahead for
most of the game, and it was only as they tired towards the end,
with Cuala subs coming on to provide fresh legs, that they lost the
advantage to a late goal and point to go down by three points in
what was a heroic performance.
