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Junior Cup - Saturday 20th October 2007 14:00 Venue: Blanchflower

Too big a task

Football returned to its true  brightness with this Junior Shield game on Saturday.  Although suffering a heavy defeat only positives emerge from this week’s game.  Firstly AlberT Foundry are a lovely footballing side, quick, committed and deadly in front of goal.  Secondly they play their football in excellent spirit thus the match was foul and incident free a sharp contrast to the previous week’s encounter.  Thirdly, as a result of last weeks bruising encounter, Santos were no fewer than 6 first teamers sidelined with injuries 3 (which are long term)  But.we saw enough to make manager Mc Geehan happy with the fringe players he was able to use. Two others failed to make an appearance and have been released by the club so 8 changes in all 7 positional ensured that Santos would be vastly understrength.  But to their credit the players gave everything and luck played an enormous part again in proceedings.

Starting uncertainly, Walker at C back the only back four regular marshalled his defence and Moore making his debut was outstanding and looks to have solved the “goalie crisis “ at the club.  Paul Brady and Mc Carthy, raiding unsupported ,were doing their all to cope and looking dangerous but the hole in midfield where all the senior players were missing meant the Foundry were always going to exploit their dominance.  Yet it was 10 mins from the half when they did and luck played her first cruel joke on Santos. A corner was efficiently cleared only to strike another Santos player and fall to Mc Guinness who was delighted with the gift.  Undaulted Santos hit a great attacking spell and, Man of the Match ,Mc Carthy raced away on the right and dispatched a beautiful cross shot which hit the base of the far post and came back across the line and out through a hole in the side netting.   Sportingly Foundry players said “goal” but the referee announced “corner” to the astonishment of all.   This knocked some heart from the young Candy stripes and from a hesitant attack Albert Foundry produced a lightening break and a scorching drive to go 2-0 up. At the break.

Lady luck struck again as Murphy, at the break, innocuously twisted an ankle while leaving the pitch.  As substitute   Maguire entered the match half fit the only other sub on the bench was the manager himself so depleted was the squad.

So the second half was really a damage limitation…. which failed.  In an attempt to assist their flagging midfield Walker and Mc Cullagh bravely pushed forward and left holes at the back.  Against a goal hungry machine such as Foundry (their league’s top scorers) it was evident that punishment would be merciless. It was   Dawson completed a brace before the excellent Mc Guinness got his deserved hat trick with a superb piece of control and a rifling shot. 

To their credit Santos battled for a consolation goal and shots from Brady Mc Carthy and Mc Cullagh were excelleny saved by the foundry keeper. With 20 mins to go the inevitable happened.  Young Mc Mullan, on his debut, succumbed to cramp and veteran Mc Geehan was forced into action for the remaining twenty mins (some 40 years after his last appearance in the Junior Shield). 

Sportingly Albert Foundry played their game in great fashion and warmly congratulated the Santos youngsters and “ ancient “ at the whistle. 

The positives are the performances in goal and the excellence of Conor (Lazio) Mc Carthy up front and the general dedication of all on a hard day for Santos.  The negative that two players should fail to show and help their younger team mates had been turned into a positive by their instant dismissal from the club and subsequent raising of the old  “Loyalty” spirit within the ranks again.   So Skill and Loyalty remain the twin planks of Santos, even in defeat.