| 22nd September 2023 - Matchday 2 | |||||
| 2 | 7pm | Polonia Limerick | 0-0 | The Black Swans | |
| 2 | 7pm | Wembeldines | 0-3 | Bluestreak FC | |
| 2 | 8pm | Sporting Viking 2-3 | Brazuca Legends | ||
| 2 | 8pm | Alfies Heroes | 3-1 | Cappaquigley Athletic | |
The defences came out on top in the tie between Polonia Limerick and The Black Swans. Both teams cancelled each other as clear cut opportunities were hard to come by in the first half. The teams traded yellow cards in the second half but there was still to be no breakthrough for either side. In the 45th minute, the Swans received a red card and had to dig in whilst finishing the game with ten men. The Black Swans nearly nicked it in the 54th minute when a long clearance bypassed most of the Polonia defenders and found their forward in the final third. A difficult shot from a wide angle was dragged wide and the smash and grab was not to be. Polonia pushed hard in the final minutes but the Swans keeper was equal to whatever Polonia had to throw at him. 0-0 the final score.
As the two top teams from last season met on matchday 2, it was Bluestreak who got off to the perfect start taking the lead in the 2nd minute. The Wembledines keeper saved the initial Bluestreak shot but could do nothing as the incoming Bluetreak forward knocked in the rebound. It went from bad to worse for Dines as Bluestreak doubled their lead in the 10th minute. With some breathing room, Bluestreak were able to manage the rest of the half well. Wembledines had a chance to get back in it early in the second half. With a lot of bodies in the box, Dines attempted several shots but Bluestreak put their bodies on the line and didn't allow any clean attempt from Dines and eventually managed to clear the ball. The game was killed off in the 53rd minute when a well struck near post finish snuck under the keeper and gave Bluestreak a 3-0 win.
If the form from matchday 1 was anything to go by, one would be forgiven for thinking the tie between Sporting Viking and Brazuca Legends was going to be one sided. With both teams recording 6-1 results in matchday 1 - Brazuca on the right side of the scoreline; Sporting Viking on the wrong side - it was the underdogs who got off to a fast start in the 3rd minute. A good finish by Mike after an Ian assist saw Sporting Viking go one up. Viking nearly doubled their lead in the 15th minute when a long through ball was lifted over the oncoming Brazuca keeper. With an open goal, the ball just trickled wide of the wrong side of the post as Brazuca kept the deficit to one. As the game wore on, Brazuca started turning the screw calling the excellent Sporting Viking keeper into action several times. In the 18th minute, an audacious attempt was made from a very acute angle at the side of the box. The Brazuca forward attempted to lift the ball into far top corner but missed by just a few inches as the ball grazed the upright. In the 22nd minute, Brazuca couldn't believe how they weren't level as some trickery down the left side of the box allowed a ball to be squared back to Hector. Getting under the ball slightly too much, the resulting shot hit the cross bar. The ball still wasn't cleared and Brazuca got another shot away but the Sporting goalkeeper was equal to it again. The breakthrough finally came for Brazuca as Hector equalised in the 24th minute. On the stroke of half time, a silky shot from distance was lifted over the Sporting goalkeeper and Brazuca took a one goal advantage in at half time. The second half saw plenty more action as the Sporting Viking goalkeeper made yet another top quality save in the 44th minute when a shot from distance looked destined for the bottom corner. All these saves gave Sporting the chance to capitalise and they did just that in the 48th minute as they equalised after a scramble in the Brazuca box. A cross from the left in the 52nd was met by a Brazuca head but another save from the Viking keeper solidified his man-of-the-match performance. In the 54th minute, Sporting Viking managed to knock down a ball in the box, but the resulting shot went over. It was to be heartbreak for Sporting Viking though as 3 minutes from time an aerial ball played into the box fell Brazuca's way and the Brazilian boys snatched the win from right under the noses of Sporting Viking. A back and forth game with a final score of Brazuca Legends 3-2 Sporting Viking.
In the second of the 8pm kick-offs, Alfies Heroes met Cappaquigley Athletic. With both sides getting the measure of each other in the opening minutes, it was Alfies who struck first in the 19th minute (video below). Alfies doubled their lead in the 28th minute as the onrushing Alfies midfield was pushed wide by the Cappa defenders. From the wide angle just inside the box, the Alfies player managed to just get the shot away and see it nestle right in the far bottom corner. The medical students came out strong in the second half and began to have some joy with Jayaweera down the left hand side. In the 35th minute, Jayaweera cut in from the left wing, but the resulting shot was saved by the Alfies keeper. In the 48th minute, the Cappa keeper was called into action and made a sharp save knocking over a hooked shot from Alfies. Alfies added a third in the 50th minute and looked to be home and hosed. Cappa weren't giving up though and found a goal in the 52nd minute. Attacking down the right side, the Cappa winger cut in and took a shot. A slight touch from the defender saw the ball finish in the top corner and Cappa had some hope heading into the dying minutes. In the 56th minute, Freddy found himself with the ball at his feet inside the Alfies box. A smart touch allowed him to get his shot away but a good save from the feet of the Alfies keeper kept their 2 goal lead in tact. It was not to be for Cappaquigley as Alfies ran out 3-1 winners.
Alfies goal