It's safe to say that the weather won out this weekend with a lot of games postponed. Liffeybank had ten teams idle because of the weather but we did manage to get three teams out onto the pitch. Pride of place must go to the U11 B Girls won are the first underage team in the club ever to reach a Cup final after they defeated a very good Swords Celtic team in dramatic fashion today. The U11E boys also had a cup win while the U10E boys had a good league win.
MGL U11 Academy Cup Semi-Final; Swords Celtic 3, Liffeybank 3 (Bianca, Amber, Holly) AET, Liffeybank win 2.1 on penalties. Absolutely super match full of drama and excitement. Liffeybank played against the wind and came in the first half and found themselves 2-0 down at half time despite a great effort. A great team talk by Andrew and Amanda had the girls going out with grit and determination for the 2nd half.. Bianca scored a powerful goal early to make it 2.1 before Swords hit the visitors on the break to restore their two goal advantage. The Liffeybank girls never gave up and Amber motivated the team with a goal to make it 3.2, Then Holly broke through the strong Swords defence to go one on one with the keeper, the young striker kept her nerve and slotted home brilliantly past the advancing goalkeeper. Both sides battled hard to get the winner in extra time but as the final whistle went the sides were still level, so onto the dreaded penalties. Caoimhe became a hero when she saved the 2nd Swords penalty just after Amber had scored for the girls in blue. Bianca then kept her cool to blast home the winner giving the good home keeper no chance. Huge congratulations to every player today. A well deserved win and now the Clubs first ever underage Cup Final.
NDSL Muscle & Mind Cup; Balbriggan 1, Liffeybank 6 (Ryan x2, Dylan x2, Josh O'R, Josh K).
Liffeybank had beaten their opposition twice already in the League but the Seasiders are a tough bunch and were well up for the challenge. It took twelve minutes before Ryan finally managed to break down the defence, the same player got his second minutes later before Dylan got a brace himself. Josh O'R made it five nil at the break to give a lopsided picture of how close most of the game was. Balbriggan came out fired up in the second half and matched the Liffeybank boys all the way. Josh K did manage one more goal just after the home side had pulled one back. Congratulations to both sides who battled the elements as much as each other.
NDSL U10E; Liffeybank 4 (Paul, Dara, Dante, Maitiu), Artane Beaumont 0.
A good game of football played by two committed teams in terribly wet conditions. Liffeybank were the stronger of the two but the visitors had many good players that were always a treat. The lads from both sides battled the elements as much as each other but it was the home side who took the 3 points as they were just a bit more clinical in front of goal.
