Match Report Arva v Templeport 15th July 2014 I know !!!!! Templeport !!!! Again. The second match in the Under 13 League and that word alone gets the Arva hearts racing ! So off we headed. Adrenaline pumping, hearts racing, breathing shallow and rapid. They took their positions. Positioning was important. Wolfgang has said so all along. They rotated their shoulders and necks. Suppleness is important. Arms shaken to loosen fingers, shuffling from foot to foot. Breath through the nose, out through the mouth. Seconds to go. Water taken. Always important to hydrate and have it close to hand. They looked along the line. All were where they should be. The ref took up the ball, checked his watch, looked around. Deep breaths all round. Some were on their toes, itching to start, leaning forward a little. The ref threw in the ball as he blew the whistle. The game was on ! They started immediately. The man on the left was first - “ go faster, reach for it, go left, go right !” Further along another took up the roar “ skin her, grab it, hold it, let it go, move, behind ya!” all said at the same time. The women next, screaming too for the ball to go wide, up front, left, right, in ,out ...... only short of shaking it all about ! “Behind ya ! Pass it ! Go yourself ! Lee Lee, Naidie, Claire, Kee Kee, Ash, Holl, Em, Jo, ...” all screamed at, at the same time, with the determination and absolute assurance of being right that only spectators can have ! It was tough going screaming like that. “Go yourself, ah why didnt you pass? Pass it ! Ah why didnt you go yourself? Move forward. Stay with her. Leave her ! Ah how did you miss that ? Shoot ! You should have passed!” a quick few drinks from the bottle. Hydration vital now, the knowing nods and short summaries to the person beside all the while staring at the pitch ! Tough going watching the Arva Ladies play. Thankfully, the girls on the pitch ignored the noise and did as told by Wolfgang earlier ! And what a match we had. These teams always serve up a visual treat. Today was no different. Templeport attacked fast from the beginning before some of the Arva defenders realised the game had started and quickly got two goals. Arva responded with several points. The second quarter of the first half was all Arva. Claire O Connor was fantastic up front today. Sinead and Holly reigned in defence. Leah, well Leah did what Leah does. She ran, caught, passed and scored. The passing brought the other girls more into the game as Templeport double marked here. Clare Scott made some great saves and her kick outs started some wonderful attacks. Aisling ran from the half back line to forward positions. Johanna was incredible, running both sides of the pitch, passing into the waiting forwards and taking points. Kayla fought for every ball, soling the pitch, passing into Jessica and Emma or taking points. And we discovered Templeports secret weapon. A devious one it was too that took years to perfect. They called their girls the same names as ours ! They had a Leah, a Sinead, an Emma, a Kayleigh, an Aisling and a Claire ! Very very cunning !!! Especially as mentors from both sides called out the names with new instructions ! The spirit shown by Arva was magnificent. Leah displayed it best when falling to the ground she still managed to reach out, kick the ball and score a point. Then, from a free, spotted a small gap and chanced a daring kick under the cross bar to score Arvas first goal ! But Templeport were relentless and continued to attack. Arva took their points ! The half time talk focussed on their strengths and what to improve on. Give Clare options for the kick-outs, take the points, be first to the ball ! The second half started like the first and was at a frantic pace. Arva kept scoring and soon added goals to their tally. Eabha, Sinead and Holly kept Templeport at bay. Kayla fell to the ground in tears of pain. Her knee. She had to be carried off and through tears looked at her big sister saying “ youll have to go on alone now !” Wolfgang reassured her that the other ten on the pitch would step in to help ! In fairness, the Templeport mentors arrived to the Arva dugout with ice for Kayla. Maeve Finnegan brought fresh legs to the attack, hassling the Templeport keeper. Jessica and Kate ran the width of the pitch. Kate was a dream to watch as her left foot worked magic with the ball. Sinead, Eabha and Johanna gave options for the kick outs, fed the ball forward and Arva attacks continued. Leah never slowed. Arva inched back. Scores grew closer. Supporters grew louder. Mentors grew agitated along the line ! Time grew shorter ! Arva were two points down and the ref kept checking his watch. Emma and Kate were relentless. Claire O Connor scored a wonder point from near the 45 ! Templeport retaliated. Two points still separated us. Then Kayla returned ! Bandaged, playing through the pain. This was Templeport after all ! Arva brought it down to a one point deficit !Kayla took a pass from Jessica and ran for goal. The Templeport keep pulled off a great save. Emma was first to the ball. Defenders blocked her. The ref lifted the whistle to his lips. Emma passed to Kate. Defenders surrounded her. The ref inhaled. The ball returned to Kayla who blasted towards the goal, only for the wall of defenders to block the shot and clear out. The ref exhaled and the shrill whistle brought the game to an end ! Templeport the victors by a single point. “ For a while there ” said the Templeport manager smiling, “ I nearly regretted the ice pack been given to Kayla !” Hands were shaken, smiles exchanged and all agreed a great match . Again ! These two teams always deliver ! And Lady of the Match award went to a girl who showed determination and spirit from the start, ignoring pain and played on showing the best – Kayla Brady ! Well deserved !! Remember, not just girls but Giants !! Team:- Clare Scott, Sinead Mullally, Eabha Whelan, Aisling McManus, Holly Lynch, Kayla Brady, Leah Brady, Claire O Connor, Jessica Pratt, Kate Madden, Emma Walch, Maeve Finnegan and Fiona Gormley.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:30:28 +0000
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