Under 7B 2009-10 Season Review

Wow it hardly seem like anytime at all since the season started and here we are and it is all over, it seems like yesterday when we set out for our first game of the season on a damp Sunday morning to travel to Lakeland’s in Stillorgan. The team went from strength to strength after that game.

The season was a huge success for the club and most importantly for the lads, each of them were brilliant in their own way, they all bring something to the team and not just football skills, each one of the lads is unique and the team has grown through the season not just in foot balling terms but we have also developed a camaraderie that would be hard to find in some premier league teams. The guys have become great friends with each other and it is great to see the smiling faces every week both at training and matches.

To say that the season was a huge success is a vast understatement, we were promoted from C1 to B, this is an achievement not to be underestimated, and is solely due to the effort and hard work that each and every one of the players has put in through out the year. We had a marvellous pre Christmas part to the season only losing two games, drawing one and winning all our other games with great stile. There was some fabulous football played in that run of games, the guys showed great spirit coming from behind on occasion to win games. They just never give up.

The second half of the season proved to be more difficult but we have stepped up to a different level of football, and this was immediately evident from the standard of teams we were now facing.

But we needn’t have worried because this bunch of lads are equal to each and every challenge they have faced, we were losing games but only very narrowly by the odd goal, every team we played knew they were in a game and never could they take us for granted.

The last game of the season stands out, and in many ways epitomised the spirit and attitude this team has developed over the last two years. We played away to Mountview boys and all the talk was about their goalkeeper who in the home leg kept a clean sheet and scored three in the second half when he came out of goal. We started the game very brightly but despite all our good play we just could not get the ball past their keeper, Ultan had two great efforts saved, Neil had a shot heading for the top corner only for the gaolie to make a super save and tip it over, Corey was in one on one twice only for their keeper to save at his feet. We found ourselves 2 down at half time and the lads were a bit deflated but we had a talk and tried to lift their spirits and boy did they give a performance in the second half. We completely controlled the game and chances came and went, Jack, Ben and fionn all had a go but the keeper stood firm, would we ever beat him? Ciaran and Daniel were solid as a rock at the back, our own keeper Josh did a superb job keeping us in the game. To their credit the lads kept going and were rewarded with a penalty kick, Ultan stepped up bravely to take it he placed the kick right in the corner their keeper got a hand to it but the shot was just to powerful and it went in, we were back in it and now our tails were up. We peppered their goal and eventually all the pressure paid off Neil hit a shot from the corner of the box and it curled around the keeper and into the bottom corner, what a goal, what a celebration. We tried to get the winner but time was against us and a battling draw in the end was a great result, we celebrated after with chocolate, lolly pops and fizzy drinks what a way t o finish the season

Once again I have to say that the lads behaviour both on and off the pitch has been magnificent and they are a credit both to their parents and to the club, both Adrian and I are very proud to be their managers. I can’t begin to list all of the compliments we have received from opposing managers. The team play the game in the right way and our motto has been and will always be "to enjoy ourselves no matter what"

Both Adrian and I would like to thank the parents for their help throughout the season and look forward to the next season with a great sense of excitement

Derek & Adrian