2004

2004 FOOTBALL MENU PAGE

MARYLAND/TANG U-12'S 2004

U-12’s 2004 Summary

Maryland/Tang had a terrific season playing a total of eighteen games. In Round 1 there were ten teams consisting of Rosemount, Tubberclair, Kilbeggan, Castledaly, Athlone, Moate, Caulry, Millmore Gaels and Garrycastle. In this section Athlone were the only team to defeat us and we finished second in the group. Thus we had qualified for the premier round consisting of nine teams where we finished fourth after defeating Ballynacargy, Delvin, The Downs, Garrycastle and St Malachys/Ballinagore. As the top four teams qualify for the semi finals, we were drawn against St Loman’s. Once again St Lomans proved to be a very strong and physical as they were the only team we were unable to match in the whole league.

The team really matured over the season and gelled into a very tight unit and a great togetherness and spirit formed which when the chips were down saw them win a few very close matches. Been mostly a very small and young team they had to rely on passing and teamwork which was a joy to watch and brightened the hearts of the many supporters that grew in numbers as the year progressed. We had some great performances from Tommie Coughlan at fullback, who was outstanding one match after another and has a very bright future. Trevor English was a rock at centre back as usual and it was around this duet our defence was built. At midfield Lorraine Duncan was a power house, often embarrassing her opponents with her sheer talent and work rate. It is with a hint of sadness we bid farewell to Lorraine but no doubt success will follow whatever sport she takes part in and we wish her well. Sean Coughlan was the other midfield star who improved in leaps and bounds as the year wore on and the biggest compliment is the fact midfield were only in trouble once against St Lomans. Our other star was Enda Kincaid at centre forward. Enda had a super season, setting up everything in attack, helping out in defence when under pressure and scoring 11-71(104pts) into the bargain, a real Mattie Ford with a Roy Keane engine. The future looks bright with John and Martin Rock, Darren and Ryan Allen, James and Philip Ganly, Emmet Moran, Owen Coughlan, Mark White, Dean Egan, Darragh Burke, Caroline Lowry, Christy Hermbusche and Darragh McCormack all underage next year. The coaching at under eight and under ten over the last few years is now paying rich dividends as can be seen with the latter results and this where the future of the Maryland/Tang lays. The club are indeed in a healthy state and we now eagerly look forward to 2005.

MARYLAND/TANG ALL CONQUERING CHAMPIONS 2004

PREMIER CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

MARYLAND/TANG 3-6 ST LOMAN’S 1-10

Maryland/Tang supporters travelled in large numbers to Shandonagh on Saturday last despite having the tag as no hopers and witnessed history in the making and also the best game of football all year beating a gallant St Loman’s side by two points. This was an outstanding achievement born out of confidence, determination, self belief, teamwork and willingness to play football to the final whistle.

Maryland/Tang showed no nerves and started the game brightly and should have had a goal in the first attack when Kieran Egan raced away from his marker only to see his shot screw off to his right and wide. However he was able to make amends 3 minutes later when he lashed the ball firmly over the bar for the opening score. Soon after, Kieran Martin picked off a lovely point from a difficult angle. At this stage Loman’s were finding it hard to win clean possession and even if they did found it even harder to do anything with it such was the tackling of our half forward line of Calum McCormack, Sean Egan and Christy Grimes, which was a feature of their play all day. The game was nip and tuck with both defences on top with Ronan Farrell and Trevor particularly impressive for us. Loman’s opened the scoring with a point and soon after scored a fluky goal which seemed to drift just under the crossbar in the corner from about 40 metres. This didn’t seem fair after defending so well and could have scored two goals ourselves. But this only made our boys more determined and soon after a long ball from Sean Egan (straight from the training ground) over the top found Kieran Egan inside his man and soccer style drilled it under the advancing goalie. Kieran Martin kept the pressure on adding another point but Loman’s weren’t finished yet scored three points and also crashed a thundering shot off the crossbar which probably made up for the fluky goal. On the stroke of half time Aidan Burke had a shot on goal saved and so we trailed by one at the break 1-4 to 1-3.

Confidence was high now as we felt Loman’s didn’t like the game close and certainly didn’t like our tenacious tackling and it was only when they got running at us that they looked dangerous. Once we stopped that we felt we had a chance. Playing into the breeze didn’t unduly worry us as we felt our forward line would get more space and the two Kierans were causing all sorts of problems and, as it turned out, Loman’s had no answer for these two stars.

Loman’s did try and pile on the pressure in the second half as they had done already in the Feile Final but our defence, who have been outstanding especially in the last four matches, just rose to the occasion and limited Loman’s to far out shooting. However Loman’s did kick two points to lead by three but try as might they were unable to extend that lead and then Kieran Egan found Kieran Martin with an exquisite pass and, as the goalie advanced, Kieran dropped the ball but his soccer skills came to the fore and coolly slid the ball into the corner of the net to level. A few minutes later some fine inter play between the two Kierans ended in Egan planting the ball over the bar to lead again. Now, Loman’s were visibly shaken and as were their mentors and supporters on the side line. However Loman’s did respond with a point. At this stage play was end to end, Eanni Hermbusche who came on shortly after half time was making a big contribution with his speed and agility, played a neat one two with Kieran Egan and then shot a lovely cross field pass to Kieran Martin who failed to hold the ball but recovered extremely well having to chase behind himself and shoot another point to lead by one. But Loman’s wouldn’t lie down and soon pointed again. Maryland/Tang were biting at the bit and could smell victory in the air and with 3 minutes to go Kieran Egan kicked a glorious point with his left foot. Loman’s levelled again and then the full forward got in on goal but some how Trevor Farrell got back but conceded a fourteen yard free, minutes earlier a long ball inside appeared to going to the full forward but Trevor Farrell soared like an eagle to pluck the ball from the sky and save a certain goal. Anyway Loman’s pointed the free to lead by one with time just up. But Maryland/Tang weren’t looking at the watch and duly attacked up the field only to see Loman’s no 6 gain possession and drive down the field and a great block by Calum McCormack was picked up by Darren Malynn. He made ground before unloading to Kieran Martin who turned inside to find Kenneth Kincaid advancing up the middle but he was pulled and dragged down, he took the free quickly, sighting Aidan Burke on the 21 yard line who caught the ball and crashed an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the net for an unbelievable scene. Everyone was jumping up and down and hugging each other on the side line. The goalie kicked out the ball, the referee looked towards his watch and blew the final whistle, the sweetest sound in the whole entire world. There were jubilant scenes as the supporters invaded the pitch to greet their heroes. Heroes they all were starting with Trevor English in goals where he never put a foot wrong and couldn’t be blamed for the freak goal, Chris Connor was in stunning form giving his man nothing as was Joseph Reilly winning almost every ball that came near him. Darren Malynn had a supreme hour and set up many attack, indeed he was instrumental in our last attack and Dean Reddin had his best game all year seeing his man been replaced twice during the game. St Loman’s ploy of attacking down the middle was the rock they perished on as Ronan Farrell was superb at centre back blocking, tackling and urging the whole team forward and if anything did get by him then it wasn’t going by Trevor at fullback who had a stormer. Cometh the hour cometh the men and this was certainly the case of our midfielders Aidan Burke and Kenneth Kincaid whose work and running had contained Loman’s midfield all day and their combination at the end resulted in a match winning score which left us on cloud 9.Calum McCormack also had his best match, playing deep and winning a lot of possession leaving a lot of space in the forward line, Sean Egan played terrific, using his height and size to best advantage and caused Loman’s lots of problems, Christy Grimes had an excellent first half but faded somewhat in the second and was replaced by Eanni Hermbusche who gave us a lot speed up front and as the game opened up this was very effective. Enda Kincaid was brilliant winning ball that he had no right to and using it extremely well. What can say about our last two men Kieran Egan and Kieran Martin, nobody has held them all year and Loman’s were no different. Kieran Egan with his speed and running almost won every ball played towards him and Kieran Martin with his strength and his ability to lose his marker were a revelation and this was so important in the second half when we were under pressure that we able to hurt them almost every time we got the ball up front. Both men shared 1-3 apiece to end a perfect day. If you sat down to write a script for the match you couldn’t do any better and after playing 22 games all season and losing only one this has been a fairytale come true. Well done to our mentors John Burke, Declan Egan and John Malynn who have done tremendous work and especially for the confidence and self belief they have instilled in this team and let us all hope that this is the start of something of great and not the finish for Maryland/Tang club.

MARYLAND/TANG 2-12 CORALSTOWN/KINNEGAD 3-1

On Saturday last in Springfield Maryland/Tang captured the Westmeath u-14 Club 2 championship with a deserved victory over Coralstown/Kinnegad.

Coralstown/Kinnegad started the match brightly and almost scored an opening goal only for Trevor English to bring off a brilliant point blank save. Coralstown/Kinnegad maintained the pressure and were rewarded with a point. Maryland/Tang replied with a point from Calum McCormack in the 4th minute and another point by Kieran Martin put us back in the lead before the same player finished an excellent move to the net in the 8th minute. In the 10th minute Kieran Egan kicked a free to extend the lead to five points before Coralstown/Kinnegad replied with a brace of goals to win back the lead. Despite more pressure from Coralstown/Kinnegad our defence held firm and Maryland/Tang hit a purple patch with Aidan Burke, Christy Grimes and Calum McCormack all kicking fine points between the 21st and 23rd minutes. Maryland/Tang was on top and failed to capitalise with many chances going a begging. Kieran Egan finished off the scoring with a point for Maryland/Tang to lead 1-7 to 2-1 at half-time. With the nerves well and truly gone Maryland/Tang totally dominated second half proceedings. Kieran Martin kicked an excellent point from a free in the 3rd minute. Kieran Egan then added a point from a difficult angle in the 9th minute before finishing off an excellent move to round the keeper and shoot into an empty net in the 10th minute. This stretched our lead to eight points and with Maryland/Tang’s defence marshalled by a brilliant Ronan Farrell. Darren Malynn and Dean Reddin in the half back line and Trevor Farrell winning everything at full back aided by Eanni Hermbusche and Joseph Reilly Coralstown/Kinnegad could make no headway. Maryland/Tang looked like scoring with every attack with Kieran Egan unlucky to see his shot just shave the post and two minutes later a great move started after a great catch by Kieran Martin who played a neat one two with Enda Kincaid then found Kieran Egan who in turn found Sean Egan only to shoot narrowly wide for would have been a marvellous score. Kieran Egan was now tormenting the Coralstown/Kinnegad defence adding a point in the 18th minute and then beat his marker and was bearing down on goal only to be chopped down brutally from behind. Kieran Martin duly stepped up and planted the ball between the posts with 5 minutes to go. Kieran Egan then kicked an excellent point to win by eight points. This was a marvellous team effort with our fore mentioned defence in excellent form and good performances from Aidan Burke and Kenneth Kincaid in midfield and up front Kieran Egan was in brilliant form as was Kieran Martin winning a lot vital possession in the half forward line, Sean Egan who did tremendous at centre forward .Other good performances from Enda Kincaid, Calum McCormack and Christy Grimes ensured that this was a wonderful day for Maryland/Tang.

Trevor English, Joseph Reilly, Trevor Farrell, Christopher Conner, Darren Malynn, Ronan Farrell, Dean Reddin, , Aidan Burke(0-1), Kenny Kincaid, Kieran Martin(1-3),Kieran Egan(1-5),Christy Grimes(0-1), William Flanagan, Sean Egan(Capt), Calum Mc McCormack(0-2), subs: Enda Kincaid, Martin Donohue, Joe Connor, Tommie Coughlan. Aaron McKnight. Eanni Hermbusche.

PREMIER SEMI-FINAL