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On Friday, the 6th of October, St David’s Junior and Minor Boys Soccer Team faced off against Ballinteer Community School on Ballinteer Community School’s astro. It was both of the St David’s teams first game together this season and they both had a strong desire to start the season with a win.
Junior
Soon after the boys arrived Mr Doyle gave the Junior Boy’s their positions. The captain, Seán McLaughlin, fired the boys up with a motivational team talk and the boys were ready to win. In the opening minute Ben O’Connor received the ball out wide and went on a run. He got past two people and swung a beautiful ball into the box where Nathan Van den Bergh was waiting. Nathan jumped up and met the ball with the side of his foot, flicking it past the stunned goalkeeper, Mr Doyle couldn’t ask for a better start. Coming into the closing minutes of the first half, St David’s were on the attack again. Nathan had the ball inside the box and the attack was looking promising until a Ballinteer defender tripped Nathan up, giving St David's a penalty. Nathan stepped up and calmly slotted it bottom corner. Ballinteer kicked the game off once more but St David’s great press won them the ball back. In the dying embers of the first half, Craig Brock received the ball outside the box and smashed it top corner to the keeper’s disgust, ending the first half 3-0 to St David’s.
Coming into the second half Mr Doyle switched up the formation and team. St David’s wanted to continue their run. Minutes after the second half began Ben O’Connor received a through ball putting him ahead of the defenders, when he rounded the keeper and slotted it bottom corner. All of a sudden Ballinteer had a quick play which led to a well finished goal, switching the momentum of the game; David's were now on the back foot. After back and forth play between the two teams, Ballinteer passed their way up to a great team goal putting them back in the game. Not long after they played their striker through on goal who banged a brilliant finish into the corner. Although Ballinteer were playing great, David's successfully held them off until the final whistle ending the game 4-3 to David's.
After a great performance and battle from both teams St David's brought the win home.
Minor
After a great win from the Juniors, the Minor Boy’s Soccer Team wanted to follow in their footsteps. The boys were warmed up and ready to go after watching the older lads' game. The game kicked off minutes after the Junior Boys' match ended
The boys had a great start as Ben Mclaren won a penalty and Jack Corrigan banged it in. Minutes later Oisin Duff was played through and he slotted it past the keeper. The boys were on a streak and it didn't look like it was going to stop. The boys were expressing themselves and being creative on the pitch, playing liquid football. The match ended 10-1 to St. David's. The goal scorers were Jack Corrigan and Conor McLaughlin on a brace, Luke Murphy and Ben Mclaren both scoring beautiful volleys, and Ethan Morgan, Luca Martin and Jamie Lynch all scoring great goals as well.
This was a great win for St David’s and a great way to start the season and end an eventful day.
Report by Fionnán Gallagher (TY)
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