News
» Match Report: DDSL Under 11A
» Civic Reception for the U12 squads
» Match Report: NDSL Under 12D
» Girls U16 Announcement!
» Kevin Doyle meets Portmarnock stars
» Match Report: NDSL U9B1
» Match Report: NDSL Under 12D
» Congratulations!
» Football Committee
» KICK START 2
» PAFC Easter Soccer Camp 2008
Tuesday, 26.02.08
Match Report: DDSL Under 11A
Portmarnock 5 – 1 Park Celtic
Paddy’s Hill, Saturday 16/02/08
Portmarnock, despite missing the services of the injured Gavin Eccles and the holidaying Barry Shearman, surprised league leaders Park Celtic with only their second defeat of the season. The highlight of what was a great Team performance was that centre forward Lee Duffy scored all of the Portmarnock goals. Duffy along with his strike partner Mathew Shorthall have been averaging over 2 goals a game between them, with Lee of having the distinction of scoring in each of the last 11 games.
The early 10am start must not have suited the visitors from Cabinteely, who never got out of the blocks, and with Portmarnock’s "in your face" style of pressure they never got their passing game going.
Both sides created a number of half chances but it was captain Eoin Shiels who created a moment of magic in the first half that lead to the first goal. Operating in a free roll behind the front two Shiels cleverly evaded two Celtic tackles before feeding a through ball from his own half for Duffy to run on to, and Lee left the defenders for dead to round the keeper to put Portmarnock 1–0. The Portmarnock mid field of Patrick Whyte, PJ Barron and Ian Smith never let the normal fluent Celtic midfield impose themselves on the game, and ensured Portmarnock went into the bread ahead.
The second half saw Celtic push forward but centre halves Conor Duggan and Adam O’Neill were steadfast in their tackling and after braking down another attack sweeper Shane Nangle broke out with the ball and fed Duffy wide on the left, at the half way line. Lee went by the full back and held off two defenders as headed for the Celtic goal, and as the keeper closed down on him he poked it over the keepers head for goal number 2.
Portmarnock were now in the ascendancy and when midfield general Aodan Fee was taken down in the box, after dribbling by two defenders. Up stepped Duffy to score his first hat–trick of the season.
With Celtic hearts broken Lee latched on to passes from substitutes Fintan O’Connor and Stephen Ryan to put away goals 4 and 5, in quick succession, with the confidence of a striker in form.
With remaining substitutes Lorcan Holden and Daniel Colclough already on the pitch the hard tackling Aodan Fee had to limp off injured leaving Portmarnock to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men. Goalkeeper Christopher Derby was faultless when he was denied another clean sheet as Celtic scored in the last minute direct from a well taken free kick from the edge of the box.
Portmarnock are now unbeaten in their last 5 games the first of which was against the Mansfield Town Under 12 academy team in December. Manager Kenneth Glover feels that the Mansfield match was the turning point of the season, when against an older team in atrocious condition the Team found its fighting spirit, which they have built on ever since. It’s no surprise that Duffy scored the two second half goals that saw Portmarnock win 3–1 that day.
Team (3–4–1–2): Christopher Derby, Conor Duggan, Adam O’Neill, Shane Nangle, Patrick Whyte, PJ Barron, Aodan Fee, Ian Smith, Eoin Shiels (Capt.), Lee Duffy, Mathew Shorthall. Subs: Lorcan Holden, Daniel Colclough, Fintan O’Connor and Stephen Ryan
TopSaturday, 23.02.08
Civic Reception for the U12 squads
This week will see a very busy week for the squad members of both our under 12 teams. They will embark on a trip to Barcelona where they will play and also get the opportunity to see Barcelona play at Camp Nou.
Fingal County Council invited both squads to a civic reception, to send the lads off. Not only will they be representing Portmarnock AFC, they will also be representing the County.
The parents of the players would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for there support of our trip and the Civic Reception…
Mr. Alan Farrell, Mayor of Fingal & Councillor.
Mr. Peter Coyle, Councillor,
Mr. Joe Kirby, Vice Chairman Portmarnock AFC.
Mr Stephen Peppard, Fingal County Council.
Getting organised for a group photograph. Members of PAFC U12 squads in council chambers.
Councillor Peter Coyle, Councillor Alan Farrell, Mayor of Fingal and Joe Kirby, Vice Chairman of Portmarnock AFC wishing the U12s the very best for the trip to Barcelona.
You can view the reception by clicking on the following link www.fingalcoco.public-i.tv/site/
Please enjoy!
TopWednesday, 13.02.08
Match report: NDSL Under 12D
PAFC 6 – 2 Lusk Utd
Sunday 10th February 2008
Expectation was high at Carrickhill for PFC. Disappointed with the result and conditions from the previous week, Portmarnock lined up with a tight 4–1–3–2 formation, not to forget their saviour in goal, Curtis Hayden. A later kick off clearly suited PFC with a 1–0 lead within the first attack of the first minute, courtesy of the ever present Paul Skully… and there was more.
7 minutes gone and 3–1 up, the PFC captain claimed a deserved effort together with Mark Keogh on the left and PFC were in unfamiliar territory, cavalier but strong in defence, and ahead early on. Lusk Utd had to play, and entered the challenge with a physical battle through midfield that kept the partnership of Wesley Lennon and Luke Kavanagh on their toes. Slide rule passes from the midfield duo allowed Mark Keogh and Ciaran O’Reilly to introduce pace and confidence that troubled the Lusk defence all morning. Any other team would have thrown in the towel – but not Lusk.
Fresh legs were introduced from PFC in the 2nd half, but complacency allowed the visitors to gain confidence. Thanks to a great finish from Andy Killeen for PFC a 4–1 lead could have read 3–2. But the ever present Curtis Hayden prevented the visitors goal tally with a continuous display of first class saves that injected confidence throughout the team.
Good passing and wide play through channels forced Lusk to tire further, but never give in. Further substitutions by PFC did not phase the opponents and their competition deserved a second goal. A familiar question was asked on the PFC concentration level, but answers were soon provided with a final score of 6–2 at the finish that should have been more. Another Hat Trick for Paul Skully was almost part of the script, but Shay Given beware – Curtis Hayden outstanding.
Where next for PFC… a trip to the Camp Nou perhaps?
Team: Curtis Hayden (GK), Leo McGuinn (DF) (Simon Prior), Luke Dowde (DF) (Daragh Scanlon), Simon Lenihan (DF), Luke O’Toole (DF), Wesley Lennon (MF), Luke Kavanagh (Capt.)(MF), Ciaran O’Reilly (MF) (Rebecca Hanratty), Mark Keogh (MF), Paul Skully (FW) (Karl Murray), Andy Killeen (FW).
TopTuesday, 12.02.08
Girls U16 Announcement!
Portmarnock AFC currently has an Under 16 Girls team, and we believe that there are more girls in our community would like to get involved in playing league soccer.
PAFC Girls U16 Team.
The under 16 team below are currently play in the NDSL and as can be seen have a lot of young ladies that are very keen. There are also two girls missing from the photo. Of this current squad five members are at present in South Africa working with Marion Finnucane’s Charity ‘Friends in Ireland’ as part of their Transition Year with Portmarnock Community School. We at Portmarnock AFC wish them well.
If you where born between 1990 and up to 1995 and would be interested in playing competitive soccer we would like to hear from you.
You can contact Sean Tansey on 087 669 0442.
Sean Tansey
PAFC Football Committee
Thursday, 07.02.08
Irish International Kevin Doyle meets Portmarnock stars
Following on from his superb performance in the green shirt against Brazil, Irish international Kevin Doyle was on hand for a photo shoot with players from or Under 12 section. The event was an Eircom League of Ireland promotion for a Futsol league due to commence shortly with 16 league of Ireland clubs and culminating in the semi–final/finals which will be held on the weekend of St. Patrick’s day.
Mark O’Connor, Rebecca Hanratty, Phillip Smith, and Bethany King, all had the opportunity to play ball with the Irish and Reading striker. Also invited on the day was Cian O’Brien who plays his football with St. Paul’s of Artane under 9s. (He looked well in the Portmarnock strip!!!!).
EA Sports were also present and the children had a wonderful morning.
Rebecca and Bethany both surprised Kevin with there skills, even to mention that during the session shoot, Rebecca, Phillip and Kevin, played keepie ups and managed 10 passes between them. Well done guys just goes to show that our coaches are getting it right. Well done Mark, Bethany, Cian, Phillip and Rebecca you done your clubs and parents proud.
Rebecca, Kevin Doyle and Phillip speak tactics for a small keepie up game. Rebecca steals the show.
The League of Ireland Futsol Trophy: L–R, Cian O–Brien (St. Paul’s Artane), Rebecca Hanratty (PAFC), Kevin Doyle (Reading & Republic of Ireland), Phillip Smith (PAFC), Barry Fergusson (Shamrock Rovers), Mark O’Connor (PAFC), Bethany King (PAFC).
Mark O’Connor, Bethany King, and Rebecca Hanratty, meet with Reading duo Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt.
Wednesday, 06.02.08
Match report: NDSL Under 9B1
PAFC 2 – 0 Swords Manor
Saturday 2nd February 2008
Our first game since December 1st and it took us a while to get going. The first half was tight, with most of the action in midfield and few chances on either side.
Alex Kavanagh had a good run mid–way through the first half, when he beat three Swords players, but saw his effort with the outside of his boot saved by the keeper.
A few minutes later, a ball over the top of our defence saw the Swords forward through 1 on 1 with our keeper, Danny Corcoran, but he advanced from his line and won the ball in the tackle. The team played with great heart and determination which meant that Swords never really got to settle and get into the game.
First half team: Danny Corcoran (GK), Aidan Caffrey, Eoin Ingle, Alex Kavanagh, Ross Hayden, Ciaran Gregan and Robert Savage.
As we had 12 players available, it was all change in the second half. As in the first half, the match was tight, but little by little, Portmarnock began to take control.
Joey Lenihan was magnificent at the back and won every tackle he went in to. In fact, our keeper in the second half, Aidan Caffrey, only touched the ball once in the half. Joey Fagan and Danny Corcoran began to get control of the midfield and it was from an attack involving Joey Fagan that the deadlock was broken. Joey won the ball in the middle of the park and advanced down the right on goal. He was fouled outside the box about 20 yards from goal and from the resulting free kick, Danny Corcoran shot low to the corner of the net.
Our passing game improved as the half wore on and a good passing move lead to our second goal. Joey Lenihan played the ball up the left wing to David Dunne who played the ball across the face of the goal. Joey Fagan was unlucky not to make contact and score, but chased the ball to the right touchline and kept it in play. He crossed low to the outside of the box where Danny Corcoran, running from midfield, connected first time and drove the ball into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later, Joey Fagan again broke down the right and put a low cross into the box. Stanley Kinnane connected well but saw the Swords keeper pull of a brilliant save to push the ball for a corner.
The game ended with Portmarnock well in control. As with the team in the first half, it was the honesty of effort and determination of the team which won us the day.
Second half team: Aidan Caffrey (GK), Joey Lenihan, Curtis Daly–McGrath, Joey Fagan, Danny Corcoran, Stanley Kinnane and David Dunne.
TopMonday, 04.02.08
Match report: NDSL Under 12D
Priorswood 4 – 1 Portmarnock
Sunday 3rd February 2008
Following an excellent win against the league leaders last week Portmarnock travelled to Belcamp in an effort to overturn a 3–1 home defeat earlier in the season.
The conditions were terrible and as the referee said after the game it was a credit to both sides that they produced such a fine game of football.
Priorswood went one up in the first minute and added a second halfway through the first half. 2–0 down at half time having faced into a very strong wind meant that the game was winnable but an early goal from the home team left Portmarnock with an uphill task.
Chance after chance went untaken to close the gap and when the home team broke away for a fourth it was obvious that it was not our day.
Karl Murray pulled one back with ten minutes left and even so late in the game enough chances came and went to have managed a draw from the game.
At one stage in the second half conditions were so bad that an abandonment seemed likely but both sets of players persevered in trying to play football in the heavy rain, however not even a man of the match performance from Simon Lenihan, backed up by great displays from Wesley Lennon and Luke Kavanagh was enough on the day.
Team: C.Hayden, L.Dowd, L.McGuinn, L.O’Toole, S.Lenihan, C.O’Reilly, W.Lennon, L.Kavanagh, S.Boland, P.Scully, D.Scanlon, K.Murray, R.Hanratty, A.Killeen, M.Keogh, S.Prior.
TopFriday, 01.02.08
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Martin Tier’s Under 18 team who have qualified for quarter finals of the FAI Youth Cup… the lads are away to Cork City this Sunday – best of luck to Martin and all the boys!
TopFriday, 01.02.08
Football Committee
Recent development within your club sees new members to the football committee. The committee will be made up as follows…
Barry Flynn (Chairperson/Seniors), Derek Downes (Schoolboys 9–a–side), Gavin Mc McCormack (Schoolboys 7–a–side), Richard Corcoran (Schoolboys 7–a–side) and Kieron King (Schoolboys/girls 11–a–side).
It is hoped that we will also have another name going forward to assist Barry at Senior level. If you think you can, please contact Barry immediately.
The work of the new committee will be a challenging one, and the above members are starting with immediate effect.
Barry Flynn.
TopFriday, 01.02.08
KICK START 2
The FAI are holding the following course for coaches who are interested in furthering there coaching skills. We have been told that there are only five (5) places available for our club members.
The course will take place in St. Paul’s Artane on weekend 28th, 29th and 30th March 2008. This course is a positive step for any coaches wishing to advance the development of young players.
For further details please contact any of the below.
REMEMBER ONLY 5 PLACES.
Gavin McCormack 086 244 1013
Derek Downes 087 295 9017
Richard Corcoran 087 223 9192
Kieron King 086 388 0238
Thursday, 10.01.08
PAFC Easter Soccer Camp 2008
PAFC in association with SocaKids is running a Soccer Camp on March 18th – 20th.
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