United Int'l 1:5 Green Briar O30's
In a somewhat poetic symmetry, the Green Briar finished their Fall season as it had begun, with an inspired victory in terribly wet conditions. Just as they opened their campaign with a win over Fernandes & Friends, they finished in similarly impressive style with an emphatic win over the Division champions. Those wins serve as impressive book-ends to a season that was over all a disappointing one.
The fact that the Briar needed a result on the last day of the regular season to avoid relegation paints a grim picture of what was a very subpar campaign. The margins between the teams in the division this season were fine. A yellow card here, a missed chance there, these are the things the Greens are left to rue.
The Briar finished on 10 points after losing 2 due to yellow card accumulation. Looking back on the season it is easy to count another 10 points that were squandered from winning positions, sometimes comfortable winning positions.
The statistics of the season also tell a tale of their own. The Green Briar were the top scorers in the division with 22 goals, but they also had the worst defense, conceding 22 goals. That's a goals against average of 2.2 goals per game over the 10 game season. It is hard to win anything when spotting your opponent such an advantage.
That observation is not an indictment of the Briar defense either. There are 11 players on the pitch at any one time (Governor often times being the exception!) who are responsible for maintaining a clean sheet. On 10 occasions Gary Keane sent his men out with that task and on 10 occasions they failed. Not a single clean sheet for the Fall season.
On the up side however, after the terrible run of 4 defeats mid season, the Briar finished the Fall on a run of 5 games unbeaten.
Looking at the 2011 Spring and Fall seasons as a whole there are plenty of positives to draw from. Let's not forget that 2011 was Green Briar's inaugural season. Gary Keane and Paul Glynn along with the GB Committee established a viable and successful Over 30's side that claimed silverware in its first season.
The dedication of Glynn and Keane shouldn't go unnoticed. There is a lot more to a Club than a game of a Sunday. Paul Glynn works tirelessly behind the scenes, securing field permits, rating match officials, dealing with the league commissioner and attending board meetings. On the other hand, Gary Keane is a talented player that has been stricken with injury in recent months. To man the sideline all season and commit so much time to training and game days, knowing he'd rather show us how it should be done, is commendable.
Let's get back to the small matter of the game itself. Needing the victory to distance themselves from the bottom of the table, the players were focused on the task at hand. United Int'l had taken the 3 points in the 1st meeting and nothing less than 3 points would have done for the Briar in the return fixture.
With the first attack of the game Kevin O'Donnell tested the keeper, a test he duly failed. Kevin's powerful shot from 20 yards found its way through the keeper and into the net for the very early lead. The following minutes of the game belonged to the Briar. Good movement and passing opened up the United defense on a few occasions and the lead was almost doubled by Leo O'Connor.
Gavin Hall was in command of the middle as usual and set Michael Graham away down the left. His first time cross was beautifully flighted to the back post to an unmarked Leo O'Connor, whose eyeballs were dilating in anticipation of the blog write up describing what he was to do next. Unfortunately, O'Connor did not finish spectacularly, but instead got his legs in a complete tangle as he attempted the volley with his right foot, when in fact a left footed finish was warranted.
United conjured up a terrific equalizer minutes later. Gaining possession at the edge of the box the United midfield advanced the ball unchallenged and dispatched a wonderful strike to the top left corner of the net. The Briar response was immediate however.
Excellent interplay between John Flannery, Michael Graham and Davey Coen resulted in a free kick on the edge of the area. Kevin O'Donnell was injured on the play, but would be able to return later in the match. Davey Coen took responsibility of the kick and drilled it low past the wall and onto goal. The United keeper spilled the rebound into the path of Conor Hannick. Rejuvenated from his recent adventures in Florida, his tanned dome glistening under the flood lights of Kelly field, Hannick had the simple task of restoring the lead and picking up a goal to go with his 2 assists on the season.
Soon after, Petey McNamee and Gavin Hall combined well down the right to slip John Hickey through on goal. John steadied himself and struck the ball low and hard to the corner of the net. Another classy finish to add to the catalog for the season.
The fourth was not long coming either. This time Hickey turned provider, as again United were exposed down the right. John Hickey's beautifully weighted diagonal ball tempted the keeper off his line as strike partner Leo O'Connor attempted to latch onto the pass. O'Connor won the race to the ball and learning from the mistakes of his previous chance, clipped the ball over the keeper with his left foot and watched it skip home between the puddles.
A terrific half of football from the Greens but the job was only half done. United seemed to up their game in the second half and held the territorial and possession advantage. Clear cut chances were at a premium for United however as long range efforts were the fruits of their labour. One of those efforts hit the left hand post, but was cleared to safety as the Briar defense held firm for the remainder of the match.
The death knell of the tie was provided by John Hickey. What else can be said without digging out every superlative to make the point? The man knows how to finish! Petey McNamee was again instrumental in the move. Petey beat his man and delivered a low cross from the bi-line. Leo O'Connor succeeded in dummying the ball as the cross made its way to the centre of the goal. Hickey gleefully took the chance to slam home his 9th of the campaign from all of 3 yards.
Hickey was in rare form at this stage. Safe in the knowledge that he had secured the O30's silver boot, the tricks came out. In the final moments of the game he played a cheeky back heel to Brendan Joyce to create a decent look at goal for the Galway man. Brenny's shot was high however and the Green Briar's assist king was denied a highlight reel moment.
And so the 2011 campaign comes to a close, next week's Banquet/Social will be a time to reflect and relive all the Club has achieved in its first year. From great goals, to huge gaffs, there will be plenty to talk about and plenty to look forward to for 2012.
Line Up: Fallon, Glynn, Meehan, Hannick, Flannery, O'Donnell, Hall(c), Coen, Graham, O'Connor, Hickey, Joyce, McNamee, Nassar, Kelly
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