Monday 31 May 2010

Balaga Bomb Reigning Global

Straight off the back of the exciting draw with Ma Duleas last week Balaga Tongo went into Wednesdays game determined to get their first 3 points of the season and first 3 points ever against reigning champions QEF Global.

With news breaking during the week that Dunphy had been signed to replace outgoing Parker and with both David W and Hurley available again after being shafted by the man last week it meant Balaga had a very strong squad for the game.



Pressure was put straight on QEF from the start with David W putting in a lot of hard work and reaping rewards as he created plenty of chances. There was to be no breakthrough though until O'Driscoll came on. A long attacking throw from O'Callaghan into area caused some difficulties for the defenders as Duggan and O'Driscoll challenged for the ball and a confused Global defender handled it in his own 6 yard box. Up stepped O'Driscoll to slot a beauty of a penalty into the bottom right as the goalkeeper went the other way.

At this stage Hurley was on and combined with O'Driscoll for Tongo's 2nd of the night. A one two saw Hurley through on goal and he fired a sweet shot high and right into net. 2-0 to Balaga.

It was O'Driscoll again to make it 3. Combining again in attack but this time with Duggan his flicked on ball put Duggan in a tough position, but the ball came off the defenders tackle back into the path of O'Driscoll on the right, who obliged with a wonderful strike from the outside of his boot across the goal and in.

Balaga were keeping QEF's attacks to minimum as Webz, Barrett, and Dunphy working hard and giving little space in midfield to their creative players while Broderick and O'Callaghan kept tabs on their plucky forward. Damo was called into action on a few occasions and was willing to come out to make clearances when QEF tried to put balls behind Balagas defensive line.

Half time came and David W was back on hungry for a goal after missing last weeks fixture and not getting on the score sheet in the first half he used his strength to hold off the defender and take down Webz's overhead ball, which came from in his own half, and fired it past the keeper to make it 4.

Another counter attack goal saw Balagas 5th of the evening and O'Driscoll's hat-trick. Taking the ball from a clearance he moved forward with his usual elegance on his favoured right wing before shooting a great effort in at the near post.

After a small uprising from QEF who never threw in the towel and managed to get 2 goals back Balaga finished the game through captain Webz. The ball was ping-ponging about in the box and as it came back out from the keeper the right man was in the right place as the prolific midfielder poked it in for Balaga's 6th of the night.

No goals from new boys Barrett and Dunphy, but fans will be very pleased with both players performances and quick integration with the existing players.

Captain Eoghan 'Webz' Kennedy spoke to our reporter after the game:

Webz a great win for your side last night, Congrats, What do you think was the difference between last night and the two games last season?
Well the first game last year we were muck. The wee fella had the run of the park and we couldn't score in a brothel with 50 sheets hanging out our fly. This time around the Punisher (Tom) and The Enforcer (Kev) absolutely battered the wee fella to the extent I thought he was going to cry. It was also handy to have a goal keeper this time.

With 10 players at the game last night, its tough competition for places at Balaga these days, O'Driscoll looked untouchable at times but it would have to be said great performances across the team.
 Competition is was tough only our rearguard played a full match but in that heat I think it worked to our advantage. Phil had an absolute stormer and probably got man of the match from footy. I would have given him it too had our 2 centre halves not been as awesome as they were. For me they were the man of the match as they were the one entity.

Its early days of course and this league is looking tighter than a nuns arse, I know Balaga always aim for the top spot but who do you think will be the main competitors after the first two rounds?
4 points against the teams that finished above us last year cant complain really. Tough game next week and after that one I'll give you my opinion on whether we can win it or not.


Other results on the night saw last seasons Thursday Division 1 champions Red Army take down Ma Duleas 4-3 in a heated battle. Racing Club do Termple Inn in 3-1 and DouglasMortgage draw with Friars Walk 4-4. This sees Racing and Red go top with 2 wins from 2 as Balaga sit 2 points behind. The biggest surprise so far being that QEF are rooted to the bottom on 0 points.


Next Wednesday sees the challenge of Red Army for FC Balaga Tongo with the air around the Cucumbers camp reported to be of confidence.

VIVA LA BALAGA

World Cup 2010 Sweepstakes Draw


€20 a man. Prizes are as follows, Winner: 260. Runner-up: 20. Best Shit Seed 20. Wooden Spoon: 20. Fair play to Tristan who pulled the names out of the hat and SOMEHOW got Spain, as well as Seany Nich who is always a lucky fook with these draws. Cant wait to get an Italy jersey now - Come on 2 in a row!

Click image below to make LARGE.


Webz and Tom hold the hats...


Tuesday 25 May 2010

Dunphy Signs on as Parker Moves on

John Dunphy this week signed for FC Balaga Tongo on a summer season contract. The player who trained with the squad in pre-season has been taken on as a direct replacement for outgoing Balaga legend Stephen Parker. Webz sealed the transfer not long after last weeks draw with Ma Duleas and with his vast Crosshaven international experience the clubs management are sure he is the right man to fill Parker's big boots. Dunphy will make his debut in tomorrows vital clash with last seasons champions QEF Global.



Parker cemented his name on the Balaga history books playing in 4 seasons of footy.ie football since joining the club in January 2009, putting in terrific performances week after week as well as scoring many memorable goals. He is now rumored to be going on trial at a number of clubs with the midfielder being courted by representatives from Bali Persegi FC, Melbourne Heart FC and Gold Coast Utd.





VIVA LA BALAGA.

Champions League final 2010

Friday 21 May 2010

Balaga and Duleas serve up a treat but share the points...

It was May the 19th 2010, and the biggest news of the day was not the closure of a Pfizer plant in Cork. It also wasn’t the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico reaching day 30. 

No, the biggest news of the day was the kick off of footie.ie’s summer season and the unveiling of new signing Dickie Barrett for FC Balaga Tongo. It was also a big day for new club captain, Eoghan “Webz” Kennedy. The new captain aims to do what both Tom O’C and Kevin B failed to do before him, and win a league title with Balaga. After a busy break from the league recruiting it was time to pick his first side and here it is -


Ma Duleas turned up in a new strip of red and with a new ringer up front this would prove to be just as tough a match as the previous seasons. Unlike the two matches last season, this time it was the Ma’s who took the lead. Balaga are traditionally slow starters in the league but that extra belief and will to win which they’ve developed over the last 2 season’s was once again evident as proceeded to piled on the pressure on the Duleas goal.
Corner after throw after corner were rained down on the Ma’s goal and only for a deacent keeper, Tongo would have draw level straight away as a high ball cleared by Ma’s dropped to a waiting Broderick outside the box, who lined up and smacked a well place volley which was heading into the right hand corner only for a defender and Parker to deflect it back out for a throw. More and more pressure was applied and after Dickie made way for Webz, Balaga’s all time top scorer eventually got the break through.





The ball was once more lamped into the Ma’s box and deflected back out where it bounced into Webzes path who just swung a boot on the half volley and connected with the ball which flew past the handy Duleas keeper. Balaga kept the foot on the gas and soon afterwards made it 2-1! With new signing Dickie more accustomed to staying back, both Tom and Kev got more freedom to go forward, and the second goal was a direct result of this.





Phil did some great running down the wing with Webz waiting for the cross. Tongo’s O’D (the self proclaimed most unselfish player in the squad!?)rounded the keeper and squared it to Webz. It missed the captain and landed at Tom O’C, who proceeded to smash the ball towards goal. Webz said after that he tried his best to get out of the way but it struck his chest and fell to the ground with his back to goal about 2cm out. He turned and knocked it in for his and Balaga’s second.





2 became 3 when Phil smashed it an effort from the right hand side of the box after some neat play by Balaga. The Cucumber’s were playing with real confidence. Tom and Kev looked comfortable on the ball with cover from a dogged Dickie who was there to break up the play and set up moves. JD was a bit worse from ware after the mid season break as his fitness began to fade near the half time whistle but he still caused problems for the Ma’s, and was always a great option to win a header or two in midfield along with Stevie P, who hounded and dribbled his way up the pitch every chance he got. But for all this, Ma’s were still dangerous and with all the players able to play ball this would still be a tough battle, and so it proved, as just before half-time they got one back from the small fellah up front. A great individual effort giving Damo no chance in goals. A roasting summer evening was taking its toll and half time was welcomed!!

The second half kicked off and just like the beginning of the first, Duleas started the better and a lacklustre Balaga soon found the scores level. Balaga used the subs wisely though and slowly got themselves back up to speed.






But despite all the Duleas attacks, they couldn’t break down the Balaga defence, with Tom and Kev’s plan at half time working and Ma’s danger man and team captain, “Joe” tightly monitored. Balaga’s 4th of the evening came from a throw-in on the right, deep in Duleas half, which Kev decided to go up for. He targeted the back post as his best option to run to and Parker spotted him. Steve lobbed a great throw into the box which the keeper missed. The fumble by the Ma’s stopper  seemed to obstruct Kev’s view, and the defender missed it from 2 feet out with no one to beat, but, luckily for him, it went past him and deflected off the post and back out. A Duleas defender who was tracking back, was unfortunate enough  to get in the way and deflect the ball back into his own net!!!!!! YES BAI! 4-3.

With the one goal advantage back on, Tongo tightened up which allowed Ma’s to attack more and more. Joe appeared to lose the head for the Duleas, and at one point decided to kick the legs from under Phil, leaving the big man flattened on the sandy astro surface. The ref didn’t appear to think it was that bad though and allow him to stay, just awarding Tongo a free kick which didn’t materialise to anything. The fiery Duleas captain followed this by another “tackle” which the ref once more ignored, and allowed play to continue. This was the norm for the next 5 minutes as Balag didn’t get one call and Duleas got everything, it seemed to this reporter anyway! The free kick which lead to the equalizer was a good call though and from the resulting free kick the Ma’s managed to fire a shot under John’s foot and over Kevs attempted clearance into the goal. 4-4 with 2 minutes to go.

Balaga did have 1 final attack where they broke with 3 on 1. Parker had the ball out the right with Kev running through the centre, and JD free out the left. Steve squared it to John but he was one step ahead of himself and miscontrolled it leaving the ball to trickle out for a throw. With this the ref blew for time for all in all, probably a fair result.

The tough league saw last season’s champions QEF, lose to a fancied Red Army. Racing Club walloped a poor Fairs side and with possibly a few new faces, Temple Inn destroyed a douglasmortage side without the services of Chen who rejoined Racing Club. Here’s the first week table:  



After the match Tom O'C got some Q&A time with Webz over his thought's on the match...

Your first game as captain last night and although im sure disapointing at the time, surely it was a solid result, how do you think it went?

We could have lost that game. We could also have hammered them. A draw was a fair result. Duleas are a good side they finished above us last. Better than QEF in my opinion. Duleas wanted it more in the end as you could see they were winning every 50 50 ball in the last 10 minutes. We squandered chances and so did they. I don't want to make excuse but the ref gave a lot to them in leading up to the equaliser although the set piece they eventually scored from was a stone wall free kick. I was all over your man.


Dickie made his competitive debut last night and was a great asset, I hear there maybe some more new faces in the pipeline. Can you confirm anything?

Happy with dickies performance last night. I think the pace of the game surprised him but settled in well and should be an asset in the future. I did take him off in the last couple of minutes as he looked shattered. Fair play though. Yes soon after the match last night I was able to clinch the signing of John Dunphy quite happy with that although I may have jumped the gun as Tristan still has 6 weeks and Dave has left me in limbo over whether he is gonna play are what.


Two goals looks like you started as you finished last season, can you talk us through the two neat finishes?







First goal it was bouncing around there box and I just swung a boot at the half volley and it beat a better than usual goalie.
The second one I'm rather embarrassed about. Phil did some great running down the wing and i was waiting for the cross, he rounded the keeper and squared it. It was behind me but tom was there to smash the ball towards goal. I did my best to get out of the way but it struck my chest and fell to the ground. I had to put it in then.
Looking forward to next week and the arrival of dunphy and the return of Tristan and Dave.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

SUMMER 2010 PREVIEW

The summer season of footy.ie is upon us and kicks off at 7pm on Wednesday against old foes Ma Dulleas. The season will bring many changes to FC Balaga Tongo as some players will leave and others join.

Stephen Parker and Tristan Hurley are certain to leave in June but will be playing their last games for the club at the start of a campaign Balaga will be hoping to win.

Eoghan Webz Kennedy will be taking over the reigns from O'Callaghan as Team Captain and the outgoing man is surely frustrated with the lack of silverware won during his captaincy over the past 4 seasons as the team grew from strength to strength to crapish to strength. But with Balaga a now steadier machine fans are sure Webz will be the on the field leader Balaga needs to bring the cucumbers to the next level and take championships in the coming seasons.


Webz made his first mark on the club with the signing of Richard Dickie Barrett to the side on a full-time contract.

With Barrett making his club debut in a pre-season friendly against the Expats(9-5 loss), scoring a superb long range effort from midfield, and then making his second appearance in the 'Green Giants V Black Cocks' Balaga Challenge Match won by Webz Green outfit, again showing his athleticism on the park. Fans are sure that he is the perfect fit for the club.


Hopefully Barrett and the rest of the team can step up to the challenge as the league fixtures were released this weekend and it is looking more competitive than ever before.


VIVA LA BALAGA

STATS UPDATE - Jan-Apr 2010

FC Balaga Tongo ended up third in the league but with 67 goals scored it was they're second highest goalscoring record in history. Webz broke his own Balaga scoring record in the January to April Season and playing as a swashbuckling centre midfielder for most of the season it is a credit to the player. Duggan came in second with a commendable 13 goals as he was played as much as possible in a attacking midfielder role as the early leader and striker O'Driscoll finished with 12. David W the other striker was 4th with 9 as all 4 has 1 goal per game or better records.

Check out the chart below to see how it all sizes up! [CLICK image to make LARGE]

Friday 7 May 2010

Balaga find out Its a game of two halves against Connects

With nothing to play for in the final game of the season…. (well besides 2nd spot, but that’s just as bad as 3rd) FC Balaga Tongo decided to start with Damo out of goals. Old skool bit part player Skinty kid came into the side and started in goals!


  
Balaga got out of the blocks the fastest as Abtran were 1 if not 2 men down. In fairness the game could have been over before there levelled up the sides but Balaga just tried some street footie flair and lost the opportunity, although they did score 2 in those opening 5 minutes or so.
GOAL!!!!!!!
The first of the game came from Webz. A good move by Balaga which involved Parker, Kev and then Webz out on the right wing. He steadied himself and took a low shot which megged the keeper for 1-0.
GOAL!!!!!!!
Number 2 came from a throw in taken by Kev, who found a run by Parker into the box. The midfielder hit a nice right footed shot past the Abtran keeper… 2-0.
GOAL!!!!!!!
John D made it 3-0 when he picked up the ball and charged through the mid-field before letting fire a rocket which wizzed past the keeper and crashed it into the net.
In between Balaga’s next 2 Abtran may have got 1 or possible 2 back.
GOAL!!!!!!!
Balaga #1 Damo kid Kennedy sprang off the bench and sprang straight into action. He showed the strikers how to do it with nearly his first touch as the ball broke free in the Abtran box where Damo blasted in a Alan Shearer special from two yards out.
GOAL!!!!!!!
Soon afterwards 4 became 5 as once more Damo got the final touch - He took the ball with his back to goal with 2 defenders between him and the onion net! With the passaz of a ballet dancer driving a number 10 bus he turned and dribbled 2 or 3 feet, somehow leaving the defenders behind him and the goal in front of him. He smashed it in the keepers near side to make it 5-2 to Balaga at half time.
Half-Time
The second half was a bit of a disaster for Balaga as they were over confident and didn’t turn up. They scored zero in the half and conceded 3 from that Scottish fella living in Cork with a Mayo top? Although his sence of patriotism is questionable his first touch or eye for goal wasn’t. 5 goals in the game for the Scot put gave him the golden boot for the league.



A great season all in all for Balaga. The title was theirs only for a BoB Deep major fook up by Damo and a loss to the QEF’s fella’s handed it to the hoors. Each player did their part with everyone from Damo to Phil O’D playing out of their skins.

NEXT YEAR WILL BE OUR YEAR!!