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The Blue Nuns Defeat St. John Bosco 3-0
Clontarf - 3 St John Bosco - 0
Sunday 14th December
On a bitterly cold day and again missing some key players, the Blue Nuns lined out in St Pauls for a tricky assignment against the well established St John Bosco from Drimnagh, a club steeped in soccer tradition who have produced an array of Irish soccer internationals including Jimmy Holmes, John Devine, Tony Dunne and Eric Barber. What our girls lack in soccer history they more than make up for in terms of pure skill and determination. Even with a player less than their opposition for the entire game showed the establishment how real soccer should be played in the modern game.
Playing against a strong wind in the first half the Nuns wasted no time in getting stuck into the opposition with a fearsome midfield trio of Lucy Barrett, Tara Beary and Sarah Fagan taking charge of the game and sweeping the ball quickly into our impressive forward unit of Sarah Farrelly, Aoibhe Bell and Ailbhe Byrne. Early chances fell to Sarah Farrelly who hit the crossbar and the tricky Ailbhe Byrne who had a shot cleared off the line, before the Nuns took the lead after 15 minutes when the impressive Aoibhe Bell beat a couple of players and stuck a left footed bullet to the roof of the net from the edge of the box. A candidate for goal of the season.
St John Bosco are a strong side and had 2 very dangerous wingers who were always a threat as they countered for the next 15 minutes with a series of attacks. Our impressive teak tough defence hung tough with razor sharp tackler Aoife Toal (whose Dad John played top level league football for Shamrock Rovers), Hannah Lyons (who could well be the next narrator of the Xfactor with her 10 Decibel voice) calling the shots at the back and the speedy Heather Bolger who snuffed out their most dangerous winger. Behind this wall of steel is that dependable socialite Laura Brennan who was well dressed for the cold. This defence is truly mean and have impressively only conceded 3 goals all season, well less than any other team. Things took a turn for the worse when Hannah Lyons picked up an injury and we were reduced to 9 players for the last 15 minutes of the first half. Despite the numerical difference the Nuns hung on well until half time as Sarah Fagan deputised very well in defence and closed off any real danger with some skilful defending reminiscent of Alan Hansen in his day.
A battle hardened and now strapped up Hannah came back on at half time to lift our spirits and the took off like a bullet again with Sarah Fagan now back in midfield now rampaging around the park like Atilla The Hun. After lots of pressure on the John Bosco goal area the second goal came 30 minutes into the second half when Ailbhe, Aoibhe and Lucy magically combined with some slick passing to rip open the heart of the JB defence for Sarah Fagan to sidefoot the ball into the corner of the net (straight rom the Ian Rush catalogue) giving their keeper no chance,. We could all rest a bit easier now. A little complacency set in after this goal as the girls discussed their nights out over Christmas and JB almost scored direct from a corner kick when our defence seemed to freeze on the spot. Luckily the ball crept inches by the post to go wide almost in slow motion. In the last 10 minutes as JB chased the game our midfield opened up the JB defence a couple of times and after a few near misses from Lucy and Sarah Farrelly , Aoibhe sent in a great pass to an unmarked Ailbhe who scored from close range to close out the game.
This win now means that the Blue Nuns rise to the top of the Under 16A table for the first team this season. Heading into a well- deserved four week Christmas break now, the Nuns have yet to be beaten this season in the league. Great team spirit was shown today in adverse conditions and with a numerical shortage but nothing seems to deflect these girls who are improving all the time and playing some champagne football. Man of The Match today was another fine call with great performances all round but for her overall link up play and aggressive and direct running at the JB defenders , terrorising their defence, and for scoring the crucial excocet first goal, the MOTM award goes to that urban fox of a striker Aoibhe Bell. Well done Aoibhe and all of the Nuns who are having a great season as we look forward to more total Dutch football in the second half of the season.
Team: Laura Brennan, Aoife Toal, Heather Bolger, Hannah Lyons, Tara Beary, Sarah Fagan (Captain), Lucy Barrett, Sarah Farrelly, Ailbhe Byrne, Aoibhe Bell.