Thursday 16 September 2010

New Look Balaga Given Lesson by Branigans

A cool evening in Garryduff last night as FC Balaga Tongo set out in their Autumn Footy.ie Division 1 campaign. Branigans were the opposition, a side who have not competed in footy.ie for several seasons now and were an unknown task for FC Balaga Tongo.

New jerseys (back in black) and signings were in full affect. Tim O'Connor, brought in from Douglas astro.ie summer champions Russian Roulette, is a striker with a deft touch and a great shot who is sure to add to Balaga's options up front. Graham Deane is the other signing, or re-signing as it happens, a player who previously suffered a broken ankle in Balaga action around May 2009 and who has now broken back into the Cucumbers squad. Deano 'the Rock' Deano is back. Absences included captain Eoghan 'Webz' Kennedy and Richard 'Dickie' Barrett. Webz is currently scouting the MLS in California while Dickie had boardroom commitments in Dublin. Experienced reserves Rob Rose and Rory O'Brien were brought in to cover the duo. Broderick, a long term injury sufferer last season, as his wrist was snapped and a new metal arm has replaced his old flesh arm he was back in the squad. The rest of the Squad, Damo Kennedy, O'Callaghan, Duggan, and O'Driscoll were all fit.


The game got off to a tentative start and it was Balaga who conceded first. A defensive miscalculation was profited on by a sweet strike giving Damo no chance. Then one became 2 as Balaga looked incapable of playing football they were again struck with a low hard effort from a Branigans striker. The second woke Balaga up and like a boxer they came back at Branigans with gusto, O'Connor and Rose were at the forefront as they saw a veteran scottish keeper block their efforts from all angles. Midfield dominator Duggan was pushing his side forward and he had 2 if not three good chances that on another day he would of put away. It was Rose who then got one back for the Cucucmbers. Picking the ball up outside the Branigans box he picked his spot in his usual classy fashion and placed the ball into the bottom left corner. Back in the game. Or so they thought as Branigans swept down the pitch again putting the ball past Kennedy to make it 3-1 going into half time.

 Stuff happens.

The general consensus around pitch 2 was that Balaga had it in them to come back into this game and were unlucky so far in their attack and punished for their few defensive errors. The second half would tell a similar story.

 Deano Marshalls Balaga's backline

O'Connor didn't wast much time, frustrated with the first half, he tapped in a first time finish with his right foot from infront of goal as O'Driscoll picked him out from a throw on the left wing. 2-3. Balaga continued to press and it was difficult as Branigans strong forwards made life difficult for Balaga especially on the break. Goals were conceded through some simple errors and only for a late O'Brien/Rose goal Balaga would of lost by 4. The goal came from an O'Driscoll corner on the right, pulling the ball back to Rose who fired his shot straight at the goal from an angle, coming through a lump of players a lurking O'Brien appeared to get a touch but the jury is out on who gets the notch on their belt. 6-3 the game ended and it was disappointing for Balaga as they will feel they deserved more from it.


Click HERE for HD version. Apologies for the dodgey tunes.

Damo was excellent at times, and considering it was his 21st birthday and he was coming off the back of one night and set to go out on another it was a miracle that he got to some shots.

Damo parties.

Food for thought for FC Balaga Tongo and fans will be hoping its not another long season ahead.

Elsewhere in the division newcomers Refugees had a 8-2 victory over Farcelona while Racing took Temple Inn apart 6-2 and QEF beat Duleas 4-1. Which leaves the league looking like so.

VIVA LA BALAGA

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