Game 11: FC Balaga Tongo 3-2 Sevin Sinners

A drop in attendance appeared to suggest that Balaga's free flowing Brazilian style football at the beginging of the season had all but dried up, and last night’s match proved to be another tough encounter. All eight members had turned up for the 2nd match against Sevin Sinners. Damo was again in goals with a back three of Deano, Kevin B and John D. Webz again filled the watershed roll behind Phil with Rory up front. Tom O’C and Steve P began on the bench.

As with prior matches, the cucumbers failed to get going early on and a high ball out the right withing the first 5 minutes, which seemed to be a fore gone conclusion for Kevin to clear, was miss kicked, allowing Sevins striker to score passed Damo to go 1-0 up. The former captain tried to make amens for this with a few runs up front and a couple of misguided shots, but eventually he left the attackers get on with the goal scoring side of things.

Balaga's equalizer came from Rory, who is quickly becoming a free kick specialist for Tongo. A dodgy free kick was awarded outside the box on the left. Sevin appeared to have all angles covered but a clinically struck right foot shot nestled in the left corner of Sevin's net, to the joy of John D who gets special mention for his acrobatic skills of getting out of the way! 1-1 it stayed till half time.

The second half saw both Deano and Kevin hit the bench so Phil, Rory and captain Tom O'C made up the back three with Webz, John and Parker the attacking force. Balaga had ended the first half with the more opportunities and this half was no different, but again it was Sevin who took the lead from a corner kick which wasn’t dealt with properly.

Minutes later however Balaga were awarded another free kick in a similar position to the first half and once again Sevin failed to learn from their mistakes. Another super finish by Rory from a dead ball made it 2-2. The breakthrough for Tongo came from another dead ball, this time a corner squared to Tom O’C who rifled it past the Sevin keeper to make it 3-2 to Balaga with around 5 minutes remaining. Surprisingly Balaga’s defence held and a valuable 3 points secured.

Tougher opponents await Balaga, who face top side Seven next week, followed by the 6 pointer match against Upsetters, and finally seconded placed Manning Park Rovers, all potential championship deciders for Tongo. An improvement in opening half performances need to be addressed but thankfully Balaga are right back in the hunt.


With both Manning Park and Seven winning last night, its all still very tight at the top. The fact that Balaga will play 1 match worth 6 points, wont help their goal difference, but at least they still have an oppertunity to win the title.

CL Quarter Finals Sweepstakes Preview

DugganVillarreal - ArsenalBrowne

ParkerMan Utd - PortoNagle

McCarthyLiverpool - ChelseaKennedy

ShineBarcelona - BayernMcGarry

The champions league quarter final draw as drawwwwwwwwwn up some interesting (not for me) ties. The first game see's John Duggans Villarreal go up against Rory Brownes Arsenal in an all Balaga Tongo player match. The second sees good friends Stephen Parker and Fred "Re-Re-Draw" Nagle paired. The third is Ian McCarthy's in form Liverpool against Damo Kennedys Chelsea, a battle of experience and youth. The final tie is Blake "ShinShin" Shines Barcelona playing George "the OX" McGarry's Bayern Munich in a no one cares cause theya re both away and wont get paid if they win match although Georgie might be home in time actually... crap...

Best of luck to all!

Game 10: Balaga 4 - Rosies 3

Second half fight-back sees Balaga get all 3 points

FC Balaga Tongo v Rosies from KevinB on Vimeo.

After last weeks joyous victory over World Class FC, FC Balaga Tongo looked to be back to playing the kind of ball the fans come to see, and with a full squad for the first time in over a month the Cucumbers fortunes were definitely looking more promising then in recent weeks.

Keeper Damo Kennedy now settled back between the posts, Kevin Broderick finding his feet at centre back in the past few games, John Duggan taking his place back in the lineup at left back and with Deano Deane coming off the back of a full game against World Class at right back, the defence seemed solid. Webz was again to start in his unique hovering defensive attacking role behind Phillie O' Driscoll and Rory Browne. Young but old guns Thomas O' Callaghan and Stefan Parkier were on the bench to begin with.

A clear case of Paddys weekend hangover was in effect as the Tongolese players were very quiet and subdued at the start of the first half and this was no clearer than when possession was lost in Balagas half and the back line was a bit all over the shop, leaving a Rosies striker clean through on Damo who had no chance. Not too long later Rosies made it 2-0 and Balaga heads needed to be picked up. It was a Parkier nick from a Webz attacking throw in that got Balaga Tongo back in the game and coming 5 or so minutes before half time, it was well needed as potential was definitely not being reached and some belief was needed across the team.

2-1 at Half time, and it was not a pretty sight on the Balaga side line as they talked in depth tactics and psychological barriers amongst other things. Red Bull was also hawked. This seemed to work as the team came out more determined in the second half than in the first.

Browne, Parkier and O'Driscoll were getting hold of possession in Rosies half more, with the wing backs O' Callaghan and J.D. trying to support them and defend as much as possible with Webz. Kevin and Deano also found their footing more so than in the first half and players were getting stuck in a bit more all over the park.

The pressure payed off as Phil got the goal to make it 2-2, i think a touch from a quick Parkier corner. But then there was a slight HOWLer from the Rock Deane as he scuffed a crucial clearance and left Damo one-on-one at the back. A mistake from Deano but better positioning from the other defenders would of probably helped him out there. Ahem, anyway 3-2 Rosies.

Up step Parkier, who was influential throughout, making space on the right he fired an absolute rocket into the far corner, BAM 3-3, game on again. More and more Balaga pressure saw the goal come to put the Tongolese ahead, another corner (i think) and this time it was Duggan on hand with the touch into the net. 4-3 Balagaaa.

Seeing out the win was no easy feat though as the Rosies team were well able to put a few passes together and had a few chances not to mention a heart stopping shot in the last minute when Damo sliced his kick out to a Rosies attacker who's volley he saved with a flyyyying dive, touching the ball around the goal post and with it putting 3 points in the bag for FC Balaga Tongo.


Captain O' Callaghan had this to say in a post match interview in Cashel Thursday morning...
"Well we got away with playing poorly and thats always nice, but we have four big games coming up against the Sinners, Seven, Upsetters and Manning Park and we will have to be doing a lot better than last night if we want to win them. The lads did do well to fight back and get the win though so you have to give them credit for that."

The rest of Wednesday nights results were World Class 3 Ma Dulleas 3... Upsetters upsetting table toppers Sevden FC 4-1, and Manning Park getting a comprehensive victory over Balagas next opposition Sevin Sinners. This leaves Balaga on 17 points, with their game in hand/6pointer against ze Upsetters. , 6 points behind Seven FC and 4 behind Manning Park The Upsetters themselves are only a point behind Balaga on 16.

Game 9: Balaga 4 - World Class 1

After 2 defeats in a row Balaga really needed to get back to winning ways as they faced bottom side World Class for the second time this season. John Duggan was unavailable due to international duty with CIT up in Galway. Damo started in goals with Tom O’C and Deano playing left and right back. Center back saw Kevin B start for the second week with Webz sitting just in front of the back 3 in a Dechamps watershed roll. Ahead of Webz was Parker, in a familiar attacking midfield roll. Rory was given the job of breaking down the World Class defence up front on his own while Phil O’D was rotated to the sidelines for the beginning of this fixture.

Earlier on in the campaign when these 2 sides met Balaga dropped their first points of the season with a 3-3 draw. This time the cucumbers were not in a mood to drop points this time round and started well with a few chances early doors. The tactic of using a defensive midfielder seemed to steady the Balaga nerves after last week’s upset may have put doubts in players minds over its deployment. It appeared each player had a better understanding of the tactics and seemed more comfortable with the job in hand.

The game was set alight after a Rory rocket from 15-20 yards.. Early doors.. But this was soon cancelled out after a freak goal from the bottom side World Class saw a hopeless effort from their attacking midfielder sailing wide only for the lodging striker to tap the wayward shot into the Tongo net for 1-1. But this setback didn’t deter Balaga from their mission of collecting all 3 points. An on slot onto the Class goal followed with every outfield player trying his luck in an attempt to pull one ahead again. It eventually came from the boot of Rory again with a trademark volley from a corner to make it 2-1 Tongo at half-time.

The second half began as the first ended with attack after attack from the Tongoians athough WC had a couple of break aways which were smothered out by solid defending by the back 3 and confidence building saves from Damo. 3-1 was soon to follow as Phil O’D scored a rare tap in from a corner kick, and not much longer after that Parker got himself on the score sheet after some neat interplay between the Balaga attack saw him tap in a cool finish from a Rory squared ball.

4-1 the final score. Hopefully Balaga are back on the right track to success this season. There was no video footage of the match again this season as Tyrrell TV and broadcasting Network arrived late and didn’t bother.



A 9 point gap between Balaga and Seven FC may be a big one but its far from over yet. The Cucumbers can still pull off a very first championship winner title to their name.

Game 8: Balaga 5 – Ma Dulleas 6

Balaga Tongo Shocked by Resurgent Dulleas

After last weeks defeat to Manning Park expectations for Balaga to get back to winning ways were high as they went into a game that they won 9-3 at the start of the season. But it was not to be on the night as the team never really got firing on all cylinders.

With Webz thinking up some tactics to change it up before the game, Kevin Broderick moved into centre back with Duggan and O Callaghan flanking him and Webz Mascherano-ing like never before out of it infront of Broderick. Parker infront of Webz again with O' Driscoll starting upfront... front front front. Damo was back in goal after his knocking out incident a couple of weeks ago, cech u poof. ..Deano was on the substitute bench to start but was keen as could be to get on and make a difference. Browne as previosuly reported had an international game with Glasheen, but with drunken rumours on saturday in the Classic that he has quit International ball to concentrate on Balaga, everyone is happy, except glasheen i presume.

A shock deflected goal put Dulleas infront first, but it may have been somewhat undeserved with Broderick sweeping everythign up nice and tidy at the back. It wasn't too long until Balaga equalised though, Parker found the net with a calmly taken placed turn and shot that one could watch again and again if one had a decent camera man. ahem Ahl. O'Driscoll was workign like a rabid dogg, well a normal but hyper dog anyway, chasing down balls and turning defenders all over the place to create chances and soon afterwards Webz put the Tongo infront with what was probably a patented tap in but i can remember to be honest. Sorry bai. Dulleas did have some pressure but everyone seemed to be working hard to keep the lead and stop some talented Dulleas heads.

There was some position changing in the second half and it wasnt to Balaga Tongos benifit and it turned out to be a bit of a goal fest of a half. Dulleas went ahead aswell as Balaga at some stage, but it was Ma Dulleas who got the last goal to make it 6-5. A brace from Webz, both cool finishes from the keepers right and a O'Driscoll goal from a corner had put Balaga in good stead. But Defense, not THE defense nessecarily, but defensive play in general was crap and Balaga got done.

All that being said... Damo was awesome tho and it must be said was brave as as as i cant think of brave stuff...lion??? warrior??? flying monkey??? but anyway he was coming out for situations that O'Callaghan would previosuly of dalked him in. fair play. Duggan was keeping tabs on Nala (? think thats what his name was, the unreal fella anyway) and if he was marking him for the game he prob would of not as scored as many. Deano was a rock for the whole game because well Deano is Deano the rock Deano and is a rock!!! Kevin was a god damn marvel superhero of a centre back and can be looking forwad to playing there for the rest of his days. O Callaghan was crap enough and will be starting on the bench this week. Webz was daycent scoring a hattrick and being mascherano in one game is no mean feat. Parker was everywhere as usual and must be frustrated he didnt score a couple more. Phil was prettttttty handy up front and i must say made my heart flutter when he did some of his skills that came off.

Other comings and goings in the league are as follows... (read in boring 5 o clock result readers voice for extra effect...) Partik Rosies 5 - World Class FC Ramblers 3... Seven FC Albion 2 - Sevin Caledonian Thistle Sinners 1... Manning Park Rovers Utd 9 - Sporting Upsetters Athletic 4...

As you prob dont know unless you really love the Balaga these results suck for the Cucumbers and put Seven FC well out infront aswell as Manning Park. Sevin Sinners, Ma Dulleas and the Upsetters are firmly up Balagas posteriors... League table after gameweek 8...




The public can only wait and see how FC Balaga Tongo react to this loss adding to a run of 4 games without a win.

But id say it will probably be with a splendid and convincing VICTORYYYYY!