Reports
Sat 22 April 2006 - League Match
Palmerstown Rgs 3 (K Donegan (2), Holmes)
Finglas Celtic 1
Palmerstown Rgs Starting XI : O' Toole, Hartnett, Corbett, Magee, Byrne, K Donegan, Dunne, Connolly, Diver, Holmes, Fullam.
With the wedding of former player, Robert O'Regan, the nite before, some
of the players showed up looking the worst for wear on Saturday and others
just didnt show up (Messrs Richards, Gorey & Angulin to be name a
few). Playing against the bottom team in the league, with only 1 point
to their name, Manager Dunne was still fully expectant of a win. The match
started a few mins late but got off to a frantic start. Within the first
2 mins Rangers were awarded a penalty after Holmes was chopped down inside
the box. Breaking the managers golden rule of not taking a peno when you'd
just been fouled, Holmes took the ball and stepped up to take it, but
hit the right hand post and the ball went wide.
Not letting the heads go down Rangers kept pushing forward at the brittle Finglas defence and Holmes and Fullam both had good chances in the 1st 20 mins, holmes putting his 1 on 1 wide and the Finglas Keeper making a good stop from Fullam. Co Manager, Danny Quinn, remarked on the sideline to Sub McGill and Injured stiker Ed Walsh that it was a model for finglas to break away and score, and thats exactly what happened. After a couple of missed tackles on the right wing, the ball was swung into the Rangers box and unmarked at the back post was Finglas no 10. He tried his best to miss the open target but the ball went in off his shin and knee. Rangers let the heads go down for a mins after this goal and finglas had another couple of chances, but with stong words from Captain Byrne and Donegan they finally got back into their rhythm and were level by half time. A good link up between Corbett and Diver on the left wing saw the ball played into the feet of Donegan on the edge of the box, he twisted and turned and unleased a toe poke into the bottom corner, Game on....
Half time came and went with suprisingly no major arguments during the team talk and no changes made either. Rangers started the way they finished the 1st half and were in front after 5 mins of the half. Holmes made up for his earlier misses with a great finish from a thru ball by Connolly which left him 1 on 1 with the keeper. There was no looking back from here and Rangers piled on the pressure with Diver and Fullam again going close. Diver made way for McGill with 20 mins left and it was to prove crucial in the 3rd goal. McGill beat his man and played the ball to donegan whose shot took a wicked deflection and wrong footed the keeper.
The final 20 mins were played at a slower pace as Rangers knew the game
was in the bag and the energy was conserved for the upcoming midweek games.
Donegan was robbed of his chance of a hat trick by a very late and dubious
off side call by the ref, George Victory. It was a handy enough game for
Mr Victory but with about 25 offsides in the game he was bound to get
1 or 2 wrong. As the final whistle blew, another 3 points were on the
board and the focus turned to wednesdays game v River Valley. Holmes and
Diver are doubts due to College work and Manager Dunne faces a late fitness
test on an injured back but the return of the hungover 3 should mean a
fairly strong squad for the game.