Glenmuir Celtic 4 Shamrocks 1

Last year’s U10 cup final was replayed again in Glenmuir park last Saturday morning when Glenmuir Celtic  played Shamrocks in the U11 Premier division of the Fast FIX DDSL.  Glenmuir came into the game carrying injuries to two of their star players, Andrew Hayes – Midfield and Stephen Myles – left back.  With a weakened team, this game was going to be a real test of character for Glenmuir. The pace of the game was fast from the whistle and within 5 minutes  Jordan McCrave was waved off side from an Aaron McGuigan pass through the Shamrock defense. McCraves pace was to prove a major challenge for Shamrocks defense to match and on the 15^th minute the same pair combined only to see McCraves shot skirt wide of the left upright.

After 20 minutes, McCave took a precision pass from Samson Tewogbade only to be fouled outside the box. Ciaran Carter stepped up and from the set play, slotted home Glenmuir’s first goal.  Shamrocks rallied quickly and fought back with some fine passing especially in mid-field which resulted in the awarding of two corner within a few minutes. Shortly before half time, their perseverance paid off with a shot that came from the left wing and found the net.  At the interval nothing separated the sides.

As the second half started, Glenmuir moved up a gear and within 2 minutes a  combination of passes from Tewogbade to McGuigan and finally to McCrave, who found the net for his first goal of the game. Shortly after the kickoff Colin Campbell in  midfield made a sharp pass behind the Shamrocks defense,  and, again, that man McCrave was fast out of the blocks to challenge the Shamrocks defense and slot home his second goal of the game.

Shamrocks challenged well throughout the second half and were unlucky not to have scored after Glenmuir conceded another corner. Lorna Moriarty (Last year’s captain) was the star in Glenmuir’s defense earning lots of praise from the sideline with some heroic challenges that proved crucial in keeping Shamrocks from threatening the Glenmuir goals.

In the last 10 minutes, with some composed and intelligent play by  Colin Campbell , McCrave skillfully received a pass through the middle of the Shamrocks defense and with one intention on his mind, scored his first hat-trick of the season.

From the kickoff, Shamrocks took a heavy challenge outside the square and from a well struck free kick unfortunately skimmed the top of the upright to slip wide. Leaving the game at 4-1 in Glenmuir’s favor when the whistle went.