PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Late drama as Dines comeback secures Champions League spot
Cappaquigley 2-2 Cutters
After we were left with just two games on Friday night, there was to be no shortage of importance as both games had a lot on the line. Cappaquigley who have had a real breakout year thanks to their tireless effort and quality knew a draw would seal them a place in the champions league places. They got off to the perfect start when a fantastic through ball was finished low to go 1 up. Cutters responded in quick fashion and a debit beautiful curling effort from Fionn levelled the tie and the sides went in level. Cutters really put the foot down and after being on top in the first half again looked the more dangerous team to begin the second. They were however undone and went behind again thanks to a superb breakaway goal from the students. Cutters again levelled a few minutes later when Locky found the back of the net. Cutters pushed and pushed for a winner and forced arguably the save of the entire Friday night soccer league campaign when a deflected effort was miraculously tipped over from the Cappa keeper. The game was to finish all square and Cappa secure that all important final spot in the champions league
Bluestreak 2-3 Wembledines
Another drama filled game with huge implications for the post season took place at 8pm where Bluestreak needed just a point to keep their Champions League spot. They got off to the perfect start when Micheal Blake headed home a great delivery to go 1 up. Bluestreak didn’t stop there and just 10 minutes later it was that man Blake again and they were 2 up and had the Champions League post season in sight. Wembledines however had other intentions and just before half time pulled one back when a whipped in corner was headed home to go in 2-1 down at half time. This wasn’t to be the last corner to cause agony for Bluestreak and yet again they were undone by a corner with 10 to go to set up a barrage of attacks from Wembledines for the last 10 minutes. Bluestreak retreated further and further back and had looked to have done enough until the literal last touch of the game. Yet another header from a corner sparked great scenes as Wembledines secured a vital win and their place in the last 4 of the Champions League. Bluestreak will be kicking themselves for not holding on and now instead venture to the Europa League post season
Sheffield and Bluestreak improve positioning for post-season
7pm Bluestreak 6-0 Cutters Pitch 1
A Valentine's Day depleted Cutters were no match for Bluestreak as Bluestreak got the vital win to confirm their top 4 finish in the league.
7pm Wembledines 2-2 Sheffield Thursday Pitch 2
Goals from Dwayne Griffin and Martin O’Dwyer saw Sheffield Thursday grab a crucial point from Wembledines which mean Sheffield earn their place in Group B of the post-season.
8pm Gems FC 1-2 Mulcair Rovers Pitch 1 (post-season Group C)
In the first tie of the post-season, Mulcair Rovers came out on top in a narrow win over Gems.
8pm Team Lightning 0-1 Team Polonia Limerick Pitch 2 (post-season Group A)
A regular season hangover from champions Team Lightning saw them fall to Team Polonia Limerick who will have Champions League ambitions in the Post-Season.
Polonia on track for top 4 with big win
7th February 2025 - Matchday 17
7pm Cappaquigley Athletic V Team Lightning Pitch 1
CappaQuigley get to the byline and cut the ball back into a dangerous area only to see their shot rattle the post. They immediately get another opportunity from range forcing a brilliant save from the lightning keeper. 12 mins
Lightning, usually so assured on the ball were struggling to deal with the energy Cappa were bringing to the game. Cappa will have been slightly disappointed to go into the half level and had it not been for some excellent saves from the Lightning keeper they would have been in front
HT 0-0
More chances fell to Cappa early in the second half but they just weren’t able to find that finishing touch
FT 0-0
7pm Sheffield Thursday V Team Polonia Limerick Pitch 2
Sheffield take the lead after a defensive mix up from Polonia 13 mins in allowed Kenneth Duggan to capitalise.
Polonia were level 5 minutes later when a shot took a big deflection leaving the Sheffield keeper with no chance
Just before the half time whistle Polonia pulled ahead with a clean strike across goal into the bottom corner
HT 2-1 Polonia
Polonia went 3-1 ahead after another shot across goal nestled in the corner
Sheffield hit back with a devastating counter attach with Diarmuid O'Regan on the end of the move to set up a nervy final 15 mins. 3-2
FT 3-2 Polonia
8pm Gems FC V Brazuca Legends Pitch 1
Hector Barriga was the star of the show as he scored 5 for Brazuca in a convincing 7-1 win over the Gems
8pm The Black Swans V Mulcair Rovers Pitch 2
The Black Swans were in fine form as they ran out 5-0 winners over Mulcair Rovers
Competition for Champions League places heats up
A win for Wembledines against fellow top-4 hopefuls Bluestreak has put them in prime position to secure a top 4 berth. Team Polonia Limerick have points in the bank with Bluestreak and Cutters game in hand coming against each other on the final day of the regular season. Meanwhile Cappaquigley and Sheffield Thursday could finish in the top 4, middle 4, or bottom 4 depending how their final two gameweeks go. Sheffield took the points off Cappa on matchday 14 but Cappa recovered exactly with a huge win vs Barely Athletic the following week. Black Swans will hope to hang onto their place in the middle group with Brazuca - who have a game in hand and are coming off the back off a 2-1 win vs Mulcair - their biggest rival.
Team Polonia Limerick 5-0 GEMS
It was a tough night at the office for the students as they suffered a tough defeat at the hands of Polonia. As always, Gems battled hard and created a couple of chances of their own. Harko grabbed his first of the evening with a lovely finish and it was no sooner 2 nil thanks to a fantastic strike outside the box from Legia which put Polonia 2 up at half time. Again the students came out fighting but it proved in vain as 3 more goals were added by Harko, Bartek and Legia which sealed the game and the 3 points. Full credit goes to the passionate Polonia team who were truly in ruthless form.
Brazuca 2-1 Mulcair
A competitive game between Brazuca and Mulcair where both teams had chances to go 1 up but it was through the extremely impressive Wesley Guilherme who scored a true goal of the season contender. Wesley took the ball from halfway and dribbled past 2 players before firing a rocket from inside the box into the top right corner to spark great scenes with his team mates. Minutes later another fantastic goal this time through the enigmatic Hector as he latched onto a cross and fired a powerful volley into the left corner and sent Brazuca into the half 2 to the good. Mulcair came out strong in the second half and went agonisingly close to pulling one back with a header from Joe. Mulcair kept the pressure up and eventually did break through when a shocking mistake from the Brazuca keeper gifted them a chance with a mis kick and they duly obliged through Mikey. Mulcair pressed hard for an equaliser and in truth deserved one. They thought they had one with the last kick of the game but the celebrations were cut short when offside was called. Brazuca hang on for a 2-1 win.
Bluestreak 0-1 Wembledines
The experienced Wembledines came out on top in a close game which really could have ended all square. Chances were at a premium for both teams in an uneventful first half which went in 0-0. The deadlock was broken when a fantastic ball over the top from Al Finucane was taken down Bergkamp esque in the words of the spectating Robbie Hammond by the classy Blackie and he made no mistake firing home on his left foot. Bluestreak, missing a few notable players plugged on and had two major chances to level, first a snapshot squandered on the 6 yard box and then a back post header cracked against the post. Wembledines saw the game out after this for a valuable 3 points.
Cappaquigley 3-0 Barely Athletic
A truly dominant win for the medical students against a usually strong Barely Athletic team. Cappa can really show quality in their games and at times can rue periods of inconsistency but there was no worry of that creeping in tonight. The first goal was scored when a great pull was pulled back to the on rushing Arvin who made no mistake and curled a beautiful strike into the corner of the net to go 1 up at half time. A response was needed from Barely but in truth it was the students who looked the more likely to extend the gap and that’s exactly what they did. Captain Tyler struck a powerful free kick that evaded the barely keeper to make it 2-0. The game was then put to bed when Same cooly slotted home a 3rd. Barely will go back to the drawing board knowing they are capable of far far better than they showed whereas Cappa will now be buoyed by putting together a performance everybody knows they are capable of.
Cup Competitions Format 2024/25
1st-4th in Regular Season League qualify for Group A
5th-8th qualify for Group B
9th-12th qualify for Group C
Champions League Semi-Finals
A1 v B1
A2 v A3
Europa League Semi-Finals
A4 v B3
B2 v C1
Inter-toto Cup Semi-Finals
B4 v C3
C2 v C4
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