Pre-Season Tour around Ireland 2013
Matches
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Wexford 1-0 Bray F.C.
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Longford 3-3 Bray F.C.
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Home Farm 1-3 C.D. Bray F.C.
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Waterford United 0-0 Bray F.C.
Transfers
In
Review
First, the transfers. I'm really pleased with the players we got. Two major coups, as we got two great players by the name of Conor McMahon and Chris Mulhall. Conor McMahon can tutor players and play key part in our push for promotion. Though, we did miss out on Connor Clifford (Former Chelsea youth) because the IPL didn't appeal to him.
Now, onto the results. The results were not the greaat, but the team played extremely well, spilling some goals though.
We need to improve our goalscorers during the competitive season.
Back Home
It definitely was a weird sensation. A sense that its sweet and sour for you. If you support the two teams and they face each other. That's what exactly how I felt. Your whole throat closing down. A loud clapped at me when I entered the Home Farm stadium. The same stadium I had made my debut some decades ago. It was good to be back home, but I still had to get a win after two below par games. Of course, I had some sweat on my forehead and armpits before the twenty minute mark and I scolded at myself for using that shitty deoderant "Right Guard".
1' The team started up the game and were cooly passing the ball, a tiki-taka style, ready to counter, very Borussia Dortmund like. Waters slided through the defender and slotted the ball to the low-right corner. Things were looking for my team, but the sourness came back down my throat.
6' Byrne got tackled heavily outside the area and it didn't look good. I called my assistant Kevin Long and told him to bring the drinks for Mulhall and Waters as I got a word with them. I then saw our physio,Nick Kavanagh going out of the field with Byrne. I told Mulhall to tell Gary (Dempsey) to take the corner. He swinged the ball and Shane Connor rose up to head the ball to the top left corner.
35' The first half was going to end soon and the team looked good. Two quick goals and Home Farm didn't even got close to us. We waited and waited for a gap, and that's how Waters scored. I analyzed and found their best player, which happened to be a striker. The Home Farm manager told him to get more ahead to play as a playmaker, a role that he was uncomfortable, but played well. I asked Kevin," How old is he?" He replied," Give me 15 minutes and I'll get back to you." I suspiciously looked to the striker and continued to watch the boys play.
45' It was half-time. The team had 15 minutes to listen to my plans and to have a rest. I talked to Gary (Zambra) and told him that he'll be on for Dempsey. I approached to Mulroy and told him he was going off for our most promising youngster, Adam Cox. I grabbed the team's attention and passionately told them," As you all know, I grew in this stadium and Home Farm was a great push for me to get my transfer to Liverpool. I hold a fond memory of them, but it was some decades back, and we need to start winning our games. Keep it up!" The whole team roared and we ran back up to the pitch to score more goals.
60' Kevin approached me and whispered to me," His name is Evan Whelan and he has 29 years old.. What would you like to do?" I answered," What are you suggesting Kevin? I have no plans to sign him and I have other players that perform better. Damn, that Cox is better than him!"
62' I saw Waters pass the ball to Cox who faked to shoot the ball inside the penalty area, and he did what he aimed to do, get a penalty. I yelled at Cox to get close to me and told him," Tell Byrne that this is his last minute, he looks tired. Good job kid." Cox nodded while he drank his Gatorade. Byrne smashed the ball to the middle as the opponent's goalkeeper threw himself to the right side.
80' Nothing much had happened in the match, except some substitutions and I was confident that youngster Tommy Dunne would get his first ever clean sheet. I had spoiled the party once again. Evan Whelan decided to have a shot at the ball and it was pretty much a lucky shot, as the ball had a deflection in Peter McMahon's thigh. I looked at Quigley and told him to warm up for a minute. I glanced at Dunne and he was smiling at me, knowing he was about to be subbed off. Quigley came on and I whispered to the kid," Expect a start against U.C.D." Tommy's eyes opened and gave me a hug. He had deserved it.
90' The ref finished the game and the team had played it's best and Waters came out of the substitution bench to grab his MoTM award.
FT: Home Farm 1-3 Bray F.C.
Great match report Jeremy. Lovely.
Awesome match report nicely done mate
Great in depth match report
Just started reading this and it is definaltey interesting. a tough challenge but I think if you stick with it and put in the hard work, the IPL will have it's glory
Wexford 1-0 Bray F.C.
Longford 3-3 Bray F.C.
Home Farm 1-3 C.D. Bray F.C.
