Change to 7-a-side tournament date
Please note, the 7-a-side tournament will take place on Friday 7th May and not the 23rd April as previously reported.
Match Report for 12th March 2010
Muckross v Three Rock Rovers - Friday 12th March 2010
The official manager was in a dilemma as to who should play in goal due to the fact that with Dee in goal the team would only have 10 players but with yours truly in goal and Dynamite Dee outfield we would have 11.
The decision was taken on the night to play 11, the game got under way with Margaret Towers umpiring on the far side of the pitch which was a little unsettling as she normally umpires on the rugby pitch side. After about 5 minutes play a short corner was awarded to Three Rock - god knows why - anyway they scored partly because our goalie was crap although Bernie did try to stop the ball with her leg. A few minutes later our crap goalie was faced with 2 on 1 and obviously went for the wrong player - yes they scored again. One of their forwards swore but the umpire chose to ignore this - perhaps a letter should be written to the Leinster branch pointing out how un-lady like this is!!! Me thinks she may have been enticed into swearing by one of our players (no names mentioned).
Nora pulled a fetlock and swapped places with Helen as centre forward - hopefully she’ll be ok for our last match.
Half time arrived with us 2-0 down, there was a quick turn around and believe it or not our goalie (and she’s good - no not me) from last week did a spectacular dive in the circle and scored!!! For some reason Vanessa decided to come back and play in defence, perhaps she was hoping to get player of the match - your trick failed. All was going along swimmingly until about a minute to go when Three Rock struck again and we went down 3-1. Mary MacSherry and Bernie O’Sullivan shared player of the match.
It was great to see Eleanor back out playing. Good luck to the team on 26th March when they take on Hermes in Railway at 7.30pm as I won’t be there and have left Dee in charge - will she show up on time to open the changing rooms??
Match Reports for 26th February and 5th March
Muckross v Genesis Friday 26th Feb 2010
Having received a call from Genesis informing me that they only had 6 players and after a head count I said no problem as we have 12 you can have 3 of our players and we’ll play a friendly. Having struggled into my gear and chatted with my team mates in the changing room we headed down to the pitch to find that in fact Genesis had 8 players and we only had 10!!! Don’t ask??!!
Anyway the game got under way and we should have scored at least 6 times in the first half but our mids and forwards could not put the ball in the net even though there was no goalie and on 1 occasion nobody in front of 1 of our players (no names mentioned but she plays cricket for Railway). At last Vanessa managed to score (about bloody time) and about 10 minutes later Ursula put the ball in the net having received the ball with a great flick back by Colette.
Yours truly touched the ball once although Emer had to shout at me to move as I was rooted to the ground. Half time came and we were 2 nil up. The second half saw some lovely hockey with great passing between players on both sides but no goals were scored or conceded. Gormlaith was awarded woman of the match.
We retired to bar for our warm down and were joined by Railway who had travelled all the way to Botanic while we were using their pitch - who does the fixtures these days?? Railway beat Botanic 4-0 and as we drew with Railway I am expecting great things next Friday at 7.30pm in Railway against Botanic.
Muckross v Botanic Friday 5th March 2010
At 3.30pm on Friday 5th March a plea went out to all club members to come and help out the vets who were reduced to 9 players due to other commitments - needless to say there was no response and to make matters worse Hilary cried off as she had to work late and our sponsor forgot that we had a match!!!
With 7 players we took to the pitch to take on the 11 strong Botanic side only to find ourselves 1-0 down at half time which was a pretty good effort although Colette tried to take out Emer instead of one of the opposition. The girls were a little out of breath but went back out for the second half determined to try and score a goal. Nora got a rush of blood to the head and forgot that an outfield player is no longer allowed to stop the ball with a hand and gave away a penalty corner (we all thought this should have been a stroke!!??). Dynamite Dee lived up to her name and pulled off save after save although one of her dives was a little late but looked good and she was awarded player of the match.
The full time whistle went and we lost 1-0 but in my book that was a win with 8 (yes our sponsor Mary turned up with 5 minutes to go) against 11.
Our next match is on Friday 12th March v Three Rock Rovers in Railway at 7.30pm.
Match Report 5th February
Muckross v Avoca on 5th February 2010
With a squad of 13 players and three supporters we met in Pembroke Wanderers to take on a very young looking Avoca side. Birth certificates were produced by the opposition although some looked as though they were fakes!! The game got under way with a blast and Avoca put their feet hard onto the accelerator and scored within the first 2 minutes of the match with a 1 on 1 with Dynamite Dee who was caught off guard. Avoca struck again a few minutes later from a short corner which was beautifully struck and landed in the back of the goal off Bernie’s leg - bet she has a nice bruise to prove it. Half time came and the players insisted on switching positions so as to shore up the middle of the pitch - that told the manager how c**p she is at allocating positions.
With Nora moving into defence and Mary going to mid the team looked far better in the 2nd half and we probably should have scored at least twice, once with a break away by Vanessa from a through ball from Basher (I think - my apologies if that’s wrong) but she couldn’t make it count. The 2nd attempt was from a short corner which unfortunately Basher miscued.
Bernie, Nora and Jean worked tirelessly in defence to keep Avoca from scoring in the 2nd half and I am proud to say we drew this half!! Their umpire apologised for any mistakes she made at the end of the match explaining that she had never umpired before - this is a new one on me - whatever will happen next.
The final result was 2-0 to Avoca and Bernie O’Sullivan was awarded woman of the match.
Suzanne (Geriatrics Coordinator) will be missed as she heads off to Laos for about a year to work - her wonderful reports will be missed so you’ll just have to put up with me doing the job in her place.
Next match is Friday 12th February in Railway at 7.30pm against Botanic.
Vets Fixture List 2009-10
Oct. Fri. 9th Muckross v Old Alex Park Avenue 7.30pm 0-0
Oct. Tue.20th Muckross v Corinthians Alex College 8.00pm 0-1
Dec. Fri. 5th Muckross v Railway Park Avenue 7.30pm 1-1
Jan Fri. 22nd Muckross v Pembroke Park Avenue 7.30pm 0-4
Jan. Fri. 29th Muckross v Sutton Park Avenue 7.30pm 0-0
Feb Fri. 5th Muckross v Avoca Serpentine Avenue 8.00pm
Feb. Fri. 12th Muckross v Botanic Park Avenue 7.30pm
Feb Fri. 26th Muckross v Genesis Park Avenue 7.30pm
Mar Fri. 12th Muckross v T.R.L. Park Avenue 7.30pm
Mar Fri. 26th Muckross v Hermes Park Avenue 7.30pm
League 2008-2009
Yes – just in case you hadn’t heard, WE (Muckross) won the Vets League 2008 – 2009. (Pembroke are still recovering from the shock)
Our Magnificent Manager has been considering some very interesting and lucrative offers from rival clubs over the summer – but to date has resisted the temptation to cash in on our success – or maybe it was the promise of another major bonus from our cash strapped club that has made her stay. Anyway, like many of the celebrity circle she now mixes in, she has had some major “work” done over the summer (a nip here, a tuck there) and I’m glad to report that she is now back on form and sporting a very fetching new hair do!
Indeed, our success has galvanized some of our older longstanding members to dig out boots and sticks and put themselves forward for selection once again; welcome back Hilary and Basher!
Our performance at the 7 –a-side tournament in April perhaps reflected how “burnt out” we were after such a hard fought league season. Most memorable moments were Dynamo Dee taking on all comers for half the teams in the tournament and Mary MacSherry’s master class in “how to put your foot in it” with respect to our Magnificent Manager. “Should have gone to Spec Savers” Mary.
On a sad note – the Vets League will be the poorer for the absence of Ann Cox who passed away during the summer, may she rest in peace.
Match Report 9th Oct 2009
Match 9th Oct Muckross V Old Alex, Result - Nil All.
The weather was seriously wet all day Friday and some top level communications were required to ensure that rain did not stop play. Our Magnificent Manager rose to the occasion and after a bit of prompting by the Geriatrics Coordinator she had a word with the “man above” (he listens to celebs you know) who turned off the taps in time for a little sunshine to dry out the pitch before the match.
Ref Towers TRIED to explain the new rules re frees, hit outs etc to us all at the start of the match but I’m afraid it went in 11 ears and straight out the other 11, judging from the subsequent free taking etc. during the game!
Old Alex, however, seemed to be more familiar with the new rules. And don’t let the OLD bit fool you, you never saw such a spritely bunch of Vets in your life! These girls must have been in training all summer! The “young one” I was (supposed) to be marking had some sort of teli-porter installed and as soon as I would turn my back she would transport herself to the other side/end of the pitch!
Despite the fact that Alex were a player short, they kept up pressure all through the first half though Muckross made a good few incursions into their circle. Neither team managed to score.
In the second half, Alex were getting frustrated with not being able to get the ball past Dynamo Dee who as usual was not sparing herself and was rolling around on the ground in great style. Emer had a near miss near Alex’s goal mouth, Rita took over Tidy Bridy’s roll playing footsy with the ball and yours truly kept on getting Ref Towers mixed up with our backs and passing the ball back to her!
When the final whistle was blown at a Nil All score it was a disappointed Alex who left the field and a much relieved Muckross team.
Next match is tomorrow night at 8pm in against Corinthians at Old Alex grounds in Miltown. Based on the weather forecast, I think Judy is going to have to have a word with “him upstairs” again!!!