Points on the board

Style over Substance romped to a glorious victory during gameweek 2, winning 16-8 with a spread of goals throughout the team in a determined and balanced performance. 


Smarting from last weeks defeat the players had resolved to get their season back on track and that showed throughout. Style over substance started brightly and carved open some clear cut chances but like last week the shooting boots have yet to be found and the proverbial wagon load of opportunities was missed. 
Special mention must go to Alan Sheehy who blasted a shot over the bar, and cage, which took out a girl playing on the next pitch.Smack.Bang.Tears!


This pattern continued for much of the opening 15 minutes as Style over Substance tried hard to carve out openings while Young Cissies were funnelling back, protecting their keeper and playing on the break. 


The opening goal came from a strong run through the centre by Stuart who played a quick one two with Alan and then blasted a shot past the keeper. This was quickly followed up with a nice passing movement between Podge, Tim and Stuart which set up Alan on the edge of the box to finish with a tidy left footed shot into the corner. 


This 2-0 lead after 15 minutes settled Style over Substance but it also lulled them into some complacency and a few stray passes began to encourage Young Cissies to come forward with more purpose. Their opening goal was a passing move which set up one of their lads near edge of the square, and out of no where he rifled a shot into the bottom left corner. 


This inspired Young Cissies to up the ante and they began to pick apart Style over Substance with some nice passing moves. On two ocassions they basically passed the ball into the net with some crisp tiki-taki moves leaving the score 2-3 after 20 minutes. 


This was the first question of character asked of style over substance all evening and the team responded well. A quick goal from Brian Butler levelled the game, then another Young Cissies goal put them back in front, but then a sloppy pass was cut out by Alan Sheehy who had a one on one with the keeper, drew him and squared for Brian leaving him a simple tap in. This left the score at 4-4 with 5 minutes left to the break.


Style over Substance started putting moves together and reasserting their dominance and probing for an opening, Tim McCarthy was put through by Stuart and finished with a crisp right footed shot past the keeper. The game was now an open affair with both teams playing a quick tempo trying for the half time advantage and Young Cissies equalised again off transition ball and poured through to leave a simple tap in again and Eamonn Kennedy less than impressed!


With moments left until half time Brian Butler cut out a stray pass and quickly chipped it over the first Young Cissis' defender onto the chest of Alan Sheehy who played it nicely back into his support run and a first time volley into the top corner brought the half to a close with Style over substance 6-5 in the asendency. 


After the break the superior technical ability of Style over Substance came to the fore, now playing with more fluidity and a greater understanding of each player role within the team they started keeping the ball and working Young Cissies around the pitch. 


A ball down the right wing was crossed and Jim Butler arriving at full tilt smashed it past the keeper, Alan Sheehy and Podge Nicholas started linking well and some quick interchanged passes put Podge in for his first goal of the night with a slick pass under the keeper. Stuart started moving well down the wing and tee'd up Alan for a crack at goal, he faked it nicely on his right, turning the defence and slotted it past the stranded keeper. 


The three goal advantage took it's toll on Young Cissies who began to become more individualistic and this left gaping holes for Style over Substance to exploit. Podge Nicholas was revelling in the confusion, linking well with Tim and Brian to set up chances and his cool head in front of goal meant he picked up 3 goals during a 10 minute spell in which he dominated the game.


The last 15 minutes saw Style over substance with a 6 goal advantage and at 13-7 the only question was how to best play the game. Their passing, and focus on maintaining possession really took it's toll on Young Cissies who became very tired and ratty, some of their player started lunging into tackles and becoming over physical near the cage. In the face of this aggression Style over Substance continued to maintain a cool focus on executing their game plan and this led to more chances. 


Alan Sheehy picked up a ball on the right, cut inside and finished to the bottom right corner, Podge Nicholas took a ball from the left and dinked it past the outstretched keeper. Even Eamonn kennedy who played solidly in goals had a shot which the keeper struggled to save. This was all too much and one of the Young Cissies' lads was sent to the sin bin for persistent fouling and provocative aggression. With a man down and nothing more than a few minutes left on the clock Style over substance were content to keep the ball, until a momentary lapse in concentration resulted in a penalty for Young Cissies. 


Eamonn Kennedy was in possession, and like Shay Given a few years ago he didnt spot a lazy Young Cissies' player behind him, just as he went to clear the ball the player nipped in and Eamonn kicked him over. The penalty left it 15-8 with a less than a minute left on the clock.


Young Cissies won the ball and they brought their keeper into the play to try and work an opening. He tried to pick out a run down the flank but it was cut out by Brian Butler who looked up, saw the keeper off his line and from the opposite end of the pitch chipped a left legged curler over the midfield and destined for the net while the last defender lunged in desperation to try and save it, merely kicking it into the roof of his own net, which brought whoops of joy from the stands, a round of applause from his team mates and the game to a close.


Scorers: Alan Sheehy [4] Brian Butler [4] Padraic Nicholas [4] Stuart Barry [2] Jim Butler [1] Tim McCarthy [1]