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.
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